Complete Shrimp Tank Setup Guide for Beginners

Last updated: February 2026 | 12 min read

Setting up your first shrimp tank is exciting! We cover everything you need to know to create a thriving environment for freshwater shrimp like cherry shrimp, blue dreams, or crystal reds.

What You'll Need

Before diving in, here's your complete shopping list:

Essential Equipment

• Tank: 10-20 gallon recommended for beginners
• Filter: Sponge filter (baby shrimp safe)
• Heater: Adjustable, 50W for 10 gallon
• Substrate: Active substrate or inert gravel
• Lighting: Basic LED light for plants
• Test Kit: Liquid test kit (API Master Kit recommended)

Recommended Supplies

• Dechlorinator (Seachem Prime)
• Beneficial bacteria starter
• Live plants (java moss, anubias)
• Indian almond leaves
• Shrimp food
• Feeding dish

Step 1: Choose the Right Tank Size

While shrimp can technically live in tanks as small as 5 gallons, we strongly recommend starting with at least 10 gallons. Here's why:

• Stable Parameters: Larger water volume = more stable water chemistry
• Room to Grow: Shrimp colonies grow quickly when happy
• Easier Maintenance: Small tanks require more frequent water changes
• Plant Space: More room for beneficial live plants

Our Top Pick: A 20-gallon long tank gives you the best balance of space, stability, and viewing area.

Step 2: Select Your Substrate

Your substrate choice matters more than you might think. There are two main options:

Active Substrates (Recommended for Beginners)

Active substrates like Fluval Stratum or ADA Amazonia buffer your water to the slightly acidic pH that shrimp prefer. They also provide nutrients for plants.

Pros:

• Automatically maintains ideal pH (6.5-7.0)
• Great for plant growth
• Looks natural

Cons:

• More expensive
• Needs replacement every 1-2 years
• Can cause initial ammonia spike

Inert Substrates

Pool filter sand or aquarium gravel don't affect water chemistry.

Pros:

• Cheaper
• Never needs replacement
• No break-in period

Cons:

• You'll need to manage pH yourself
• Less ideal for rooted plants

Step 3: Set Up Your Filter

Sponge filters are the gold standard for shrimp tanks. Here's why:

• Baby shrimp can't get sucked in
• Provide surface area for beneficial bacteria
• Shrimp love grazing on them
• Affordable and reliable

Setup Tips:

1. Connect your sponge filter to an air pump
2. Position it in a back corner
3. Run it during the entire cycling process

If you prefer a hang-on-back (HOB) filter, cover the intake with a sponge pre-filter to protect baby shrimp.

Step 4: Cycle Your Tank (Critical!)

Never add shrimp to an uncycled tank. The cycling process establishes beneficial bacteria that convert toxic ammonia into less harmful nitrates.

How to Cycle (Fishless Method)

1. Set up tank with substrate, filter running, and heater at 78°F
2. Add ammonia source (pure ammonia or fish food)
3. Test water every 2-3 days
4. Wait for ammonia and nitrite to spike, then drop to zero
5. This typically takes 4-6 weeks

Signs Your Tank is Cycled:

• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: 5-20 ppm

Speed Up Cycling

• Add bottled bacteria (Seachem Stability)
• Use filter media from an established tank
• Add live plants (they help process ammonia)

Step 5: Add Plants

Live plants aren't just decoration-they're essential for a healthy shrimp tank:

• Absorb nitrates
• Provide hiding spots
• Grow biofilm for shrimp to graze
• Oxygenate the water

Best Beginner Plants for Shrimp

Plant	Difficulty	Notes
Java Moss	Very Easy	Shrimp favorite, no planting needed
Anubias	Easy	Attach to rocks/wood, don't bury
Java Fern	Easy	Attach to hardscape
Marimo Moss Balls	Very Easy	Shrimp love rolling them
Hornwort	Easy	Floating or planted

Step 6: Establish Ideal Water Parameters

Shrimp are sensitive to water quality. Here are the ideal parameters for most neocaridina shrimp (cherry shrimp, blue velvet, etc.):

Parameter	Ideal Range
Temperature	68-78°F (72-74°F optimal)
pH	6.5-7.5
GH (General Hardness)	6-8 dGH
KH (Carbonate Hardness)	2-5 dKH
TDS	150-250 ppm
Ammonia	0 ppm
Nitrite	0 ppm
Nitrate	<20 ppm

Pro Tip: Neocaridina shrimp are more forgiving than Caridina species. Start with cherry shrimp if you're new!

Step 7: Acclimate Your Shrimp

When you finally get your shrimp, proper acclimation is crucial:

Drip Acclimation Method

1. Float the bag for 15 minutes to equalize temperature
2. Open bag and secure it to tank edge
3. Set up airline tubing with a knot to control flow
4. Drip tank water into bag (2-3 drops per second)
5. When water volume doubles (1-2 hours), net shrimp into tank
6. Discard bag water (don't add it to your tank)

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Adding shrimp too soon - Always cycle first!
2. Overfeeding - Feed small amounts every 2-3 days
3. Large water changes - Stick to 10-20% weekly
4. Using tap water without dechlorinator - Chlorine kills shrimp
5. Keeping with aggressive fish - Most fish eat baby shrimp
6. Ignoring water parameters - Test weekly

What's Next?

Once your tank is cycled and your shrimp are settled:

• Learn about feeding your shrimp →
• Understand breeding basics →
• Troubleshoot common problems →

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Have questions? This guide is regularly updated based on reader feedback. Check back for the latest information!