Every aquarist dream of having a beautiful shrimp tank at home! Whether you are planning to raise Amano Shrimp, Cherry Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp, or Crystal Red Shrimp, the experience may always be incredible. Generally, hobbyists get confused about finding the best shrimp tank among several options available in the market. Well, the article below may guide you better to make a potential purchase decision.
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Important Facts about Shrimp Tanks
Before you pick any equipment from the market to raise a bunch of shrimps at your home, it is good to go through some important facts. Here we have listed a few important aspects about shrimp tanks to make the process easier for beginners.
Why Do You Need Shrimp Tanks?
If you are eager to nurture some aquarium creatures at home, shrimps could definitely be a great idea. The freshwater shrimps have beautiful colors, and they require very little care as compared to fish. Experts advise keeping a separate shrimp tank for their healthy growth, and one should prefer raising them in the troupe. When they have the right equipment and well-maintained tank, shrimps become the most durable creatures.
Shrimps are very delicate creatures; they can sense even minute changes to the chemical composition of tank water. Experts always advise to raise them in dedicated containers with controllable water parameters. You may also need a shrimp tank to show the unique aquatic habitat at your place.
What to Look for When Buying a Shrimp Tank?
Although shrimp species are tiny, it clearly doesn’t mean that you can keep them in tiny tanks. It is observed that the chances of their survival are usually higher in the bigger tanks. While buying a shrimp tank, you should always be careful about picking up the right size and equipment. If you are planning to raise Caridina shrimp or Neocaridina shrimp, you can go ahead with a freshwater tank; however, few other species may survive better in the saltwater tanks. For beginners, the preferred size of the shrimp tank is 10 to 20 gallons. Furthermore, a sponge filter is the best recommendation for shrimp tanks; the other option could be a corner box filter.
Other than this, buyers should also check the type of filter. It should not be too strong because such an arrangement can harm the small shrimp species. A simple sponge filter is the most recommended choice for shrimp tanks since it is gentler and safer. If you have a bigger tank, I recommend using a canister filter, but it is not suitable for shrimp only tank.
How Many Shrimp Can You Have Per Gallon?
Generally, you can have around ten dwarf shrimps per one-gallon water. It means if you have invested in a 10-gallon shrimp tank, you can raise up to 100 dwarf shrimps with ease. However, many beginners prefer to experiment with only five shrimps per gallon as a starting point.
The selection of size for shrimp tanks usually depends upon how many shrimps you want to raise. Experts advise maintaining the ideal shrimp to a gallon of water ratio somewhere around 5-10:1. Beginners can start with tiny tanks; it is possible to raise almost 13 to 25 shrimp species in a 2.5-gallon tank.
Best Recommendations for Buying Shrimp Tanks
1. Fluval Spec III 2.6 Gallon Shrimp Tank
This shrimp tank may appear a good choice for beginners, and you can decorate it with your favorite aqua plants with ease. Once the water is properly conditioned, you can add almost 25 freshwater shrimp species into it. In order to promote a long life for your shrimps, you should keep the pump dial to the lowest settings.
This tiny 2.6-gallon tank may help you raise nano shrimps. This nice-looking aquarium is made up of etched glass, which is durable as well. Although you may not find it super impact-resistant, it looks classy and is hard to scratch. Its advanced filtration system can handle almost three times tank water volume per hour to ensure adequate cleanliness. Furthermore, the 31 LED lights provide beautiful illumination. I find it more useful since the center hole makes it easier to feed my shrimps.
Pros
- I love this shrimp tank more for its sleek and compact design.
- It comes with a hidden filter mechanism that promises efficient water cleaning.
- I find it easier to maintain and clean.
- The real glass construction may ensure higher durability.
- It comes with an efficient three-stage filter and nice illuminating LED lights.
Cons
- LED lights have a considerably lower lifespan.
- The filter pump is too powerful for small shrimp species.
2. Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Glass LED Shrimp Aquarium Kit
One of my friends has invested in this beautiful looking shrimp tank, and it is proven as the best addition to his aqua life collections. If you have limited space at your home to accommodate a standard size shrimp tank, this tiny version with 5-gallon capacity may serve you better.
This aquarium is convenient to manage and clean. The manufacturers have added a silent filter motor to it that offers quiet operation. The glass canopy provides additional protection to the aquarium from debris, while the base is sturdy and solid as well. The sleek and elegant looking design with an advanced 3 stage filtration system makes it suitable for the long life of shrimp species.
Pros
- I love its elegant portrait orientation.
- It comes with a silent filter motor that ensures quiet operation.
- Easier to set up and maintain for beginners.
- Manufacturers have included good filter media and adjustable flow rate filters into this tank.
- Scratch-resistant glass with decorative blue and white lights.
Cons
- Beginners may find a filter compartment tricky to clean.
- The material is not very impact resistant.
- The lid is not that convenient to use.
3. Penn Plax Vertex Desktop Aquarium Kit
I was willing to start with a tiny tank during my first shrimp keeping experience, so I chose this unit at that time. It appears a convenient choice for smart apartments and can be kept easily on any desk or old file cabinet. The 2.7-gallon capacity is good for keeping a small group of shrimps, and you can enjoy a 360-degree view of their activities inside.
Although the glass material is not fully impact-resistant, it appears hard to scratch. You can fit in some attractive decorative items inside this tank to raise healthy shrimps. The kit comes with the glass tank, hang-on filter (20GPH), full-range digital thermometer, and quick-net fishnet. It means beginners may get all necessary items in the single kit.
Pros
- This tank comes with a hinged lid, which ensures easy feeding experience for beginners.
- Tiny, space-saving unit with a 360-degree view.
- Exterior filtration unit that doesn’t consume unwanted space inside the tiny tank.
- Easy to set up, clean, and maintain for beginners.
Cons
- The frameless design reduces durability.
- The package doesn’t include any lighting system.
4. Koller AquaView 2 Gallon 360 Aquarium
This tiny 2-gallon tank is another good choice for beginners to raise a few shrimps. I love this tank more for its unique and attractive round shape that offers a seamless 360-degree view. The great news is that this tank is made up of impact-resistant plastic material, which makes it a durable choice as well. However, you have to be a little careful about its maintenance because it is not scratch resistant.
Another great reason that motivates me to recommend this product to all my friends is the fact that it is available in seven attractive colored lights. The list includes red, purpose, aqua, amber, green, blue, and daylight white. The included remote can help you to switch between them with ease; you can also set up timers for automatic changes. Furthermore, it is loaded with a powerful filter that can process all water in just one hour.
Pros
- The filter cartridge is pretty easier to change.
- Impact-resistant and durable plastic material.
- Comes with seven attractive colored LED lights.
- Quiet and easy to maintain filter system.
- Adjustable flow rate with seamless 360-degree view.
Cons
- Filtration unit could be improved.
- It is not scratch resistant.
5. Hagen Marina 360-Degree Aquarium Starter Kit
Here is another wonderful addition to the list of best shrimp tank. It has an attractive round shape and offers an undisturbed 360-degree view except for the portion where the filter is stored. Same as Kollar tank, it is also made up of highly impact-resistant plastic material, which enhances its durability and life. However, it is prone to scratches, so you have to be more careful while handling it.
This 2.65-gallon tank is an ideal choice for small shrimp species. The filtration unit included in this tank is fairly good; it engages biological and mechanical filtration. I found its media easy to maintain and change. This tiny tank also includes advanced LED lighting with attractive blue tinted night-time and bright daylight settings.
Pros
- The round shape, 360-degree view, and decent finish make it a fantastic choice for every home.
- Comes with two color light with easy daytime and night-time settings.
- Decent filtration system with included media.
- Small, space saving design.
Cons
- It doesn’t include chemical filtration phenomena.
- The plastic material is prone to scratches.
- The flow rate cannot be adjusted.
6. biOrb Classic 8 Gallon Freshwater Shrimp Tank
Although this shrimp tank looks more like an ordinary fishbowl, it has a large capacity to nurture almost 40 shrimps. I recommend this shrimp tank more because it comes with a five stage filter system that helps to keep water healthy for the shrimps. Furthermore, the LED lighting makes this fishbowl look more beautiful at night.
Note that this classic freshwater shrimp tank is not made up of glass material. Rather, manufacturers have used clear acrylic material for this purpose. The biggest advantage of this material is that this tank appears much lighter than the traditional fishbowl. This 8-gallon shrimp tank includes biological, chemical, mechanical, oxygenation, and water stabilization filtration system.
Pros
- Classic bowl shape freshwater shrimp aquarium.
- It comes with a stable and solid base.
- The integrated filter unit makes it a reliable choice for beginners.
- Attractive LED lighting arrangement.
- Light in weight and spacious enough to keep 40 shrimps.
Cons
Acrylic construction.
7. Aqueon 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank Aquarium
I have been using this eye-catching 10-gallon shrimp tank at my office from the past one year, and it looks quite amazing with the clear glass panels. The low-profile hood keeps the water stable while providing additional protection to the aquarium. The cool white LED lighting makes it an attractive choice for offices and apartments.
It comes with a QuietFlow 10 LED Pro power filter that flashes provide an automatic indication when the owner should change the cartridge. Furthermore, the pre-set heater helps to maintain water temperature constant at 78 degrees so that shrimps can survive with ease. The package comes with all essential accessories, including thermometer, food, water conditioner, filter, and net. Hence, beginners may find it a more affordable choice.
Pros
- Complete shrimp tank kit that makes the setup easier for beginners.
- I love its sturdy glass construction.
- The reliable filter mechanism ensures healthy water for shrimps.
- This tank comes with a heater so that water temperature can be consistently maintained.
- The lighting arrangement is attractive.
Cons
This tank doesn’t include the hinge.
Conclusion
Shrimps are not difficult to nurture; they just need a well-controlled environment for safe living. If you are a beginner, you can start with the smaller shrimp tanks; however, I am more in love with biOrb Classic 8 Gallon Freshwater Shrimp Tank. It can accommodate several shrimp species at a time while offering a five-stage filtering mechanism.
Other than this, it is made up of durable acrylic material, and the clear round shape offers a seamless 360-degree viewing experience. You may find this bowl-shaped shrimp tank more attractive with colorful lighting arrangement.
