Ghost shrimp and plants? 1 gallon tank?

Question

I have an established 1 gallon tank I used to house my betta in, but now I have him in a 10 gallon. I want to use my 1 gallon for something else so I was thinking shrimp and plants. The easiest shrimp I could find were ghost shrimp at my lfs. How many ghost shrimp do you think I could keep in it and what type of plants would you recommend with them? Also what type of light would be sufficient enough for the plants, but still small enough to attach to my 1 gallon?

Also would I need a filter or heater for the tank??

Also will the gravel substrate be ok for the ghost shrimp?

Answer 1

Anacharis really isn't a great option for micro tanks because (when it is doing well) it grows EXTREMELY quickly, and extremely large. If you want the same effect, try some small groundcover plants like Microsword or Dwarf Sag and a "centerpiece" plant that might have an unusual color or texture [like Cryptocoryne wendtii Tropica, which has lovely red-brown, hammered leaves (hammered meaning that it looks like it had been plated with a hammer)].

You could keep up to 6 Shrimp, but they may have issues with space, so 3-4 would be much better.

If you have a small desk lamp that uses incandescent bulbs, a good idea is to use a high wattage, daylight compact fluorescent (the cool swirly kind) that cost about $3 for lighting that is FAR superior to incandescent. Also, the compact fluorescents will not produce nearly as much heat as the incandescent, preventing temperature swings. You don't need a heater for Ghost Shimp, and very few plants will mind room temperature...

Soop Nazi

EDIT: The Shrimp really don't care what kind of substrate you use, but it is much easier for plants to send out runners in fine substrate like sand... Diatomaceous earth (pool filter sand) is also very high in nutrients plants need (iron, calcium, silica, and magnesium).

A small filter (like a sponge filter) wouldn't be a bad idea. Having a place for biofiltration is very important in providing your plants with nitrite and nitrate (instead of just ammonia).

Answer 2

Aboout half a dozen.

Anacharis (hard to grow indoors but it will sprout some and last awhile. It's best for small tanks. It's cheap so you can replace it).

The lightings gonna be a problem with such a small tank, I think. Put it somewhere in the bright part of a room (not in sunlight) and control the algae growth via water changes and scraping the glass.

Answer 3

You could keep 3-4 shrimp in there.

Answer 4

i have a gallon vase that i love i have natural rocks three ghost shrimp 2 dwarf frogs and feeder guppies all living in complete harmony . along with this i have a really pretty plant growing out of it. i love my little biosphere.