Negative effects of high nitrate readings are:

• Nitrate (as other unwanted elements) has negative effects on shrimp health
• Offspring may disappear and/or might be growing very slowly
• Algae will bloom everywhere in the tank
• Oxygen level will sink due to chemical processes in your tank, which stresses inhabitants additionally

Unfortunately, there are regions where tap water is coming with high nitrate already; especially in summer. The second source for nitrate is the nitrogen circle in your tank itself. Detritus, decaying plant material contribute to nitrate levels.

However there a basic possibilities to keep your nitrate low:

• keep the tank clean and remove detritus from time to time
• don’t overfeed
• do water changes on a regularly basis
• use plants and fast growing plants which will utilize nitrates for growth

If your readings are constantly in undesired height, use active nitrate filters in line or in your canister filter. Be aware that manufacturers offer filter media with bacteria population or with ion exchangers for denitrification.

You may also want to prepare your water for water changes with an RO/DI system or an Reiser filter with ion exchanger module.

Well, one perhaps should have asked: “Is greed good?” ^[1]

It’s a pity that the health of the animal is not as important as the financial benefit. Some avaricious shrimp keepers also sell juveniles smaller than 1 cm. There’s not only the DOA (dead on arrival) risk, but the problem that this shrimp kindergarten is not fully colored - and experienced keepers know, that coloration get’s even worse when shrimps grow.

Sometimes I wonder how we deal with animals – having tanks without lights, capture snakes in little fauna boxes, feeding carnivorous puffer fish with frozen food only and let crayfish fight until death in overpopulated tanks. I used to give away some shrimp offspring for free, and interested parties overrun me.

Even when I was just kidding and offered planaria for free I had people seriously being interested – although they had not the faintest idea what planaria is…

In sum, this is an investment of 2.178 Euro without shrimp *lol*

If the UV unit uses high intense ultraviolet light to irradiate the water within the filtration line set up. UV light has the ability to effect the function of living cells by altering the structure of the cells nuclear material, or DNA. Bulbs must be replaced regularly according to the manufacturers advise.

If the UV unit is installed properly and runs 24/7, the benefit is that it avoids spreading of floating microorganism and undesired bacteria in the water column (=lower density of bacteria). Be aware that it should never be run when treating with any drugs or medications. A moderate flow rate is also helpful.

The helpful bacteria in the filter and the gravel are not decimated. Hence your newly arrived shrimp have less acclimatization trouble. I agree that in general shrimp keeping without UV unit is preferable, thus a deliberated usage is okay.

UV sterilizer set up after the canister filter

Another aquarium store worth visiting is aquatailors in Osaka, Japan. The company was founded in 2002 and presents nano fish, shrimp, freshwater and marine tanks on 150 m². It supplies layouts for large-sized freshwater tanks and offers tanks with full layout and equipment ready for instant take-away. The local store is mostly opened from noon til evening (12.00-21.00); thus foreign visitors may want to drop them an email before planning a visit.

Aquatailors have organized the first Asia Pacific Shrimp Contest 2009. For 2010, they will run a second championship which will held in october: contest website