Project DIY LED

Hello Shrimpers,

Today I have some free time, I'm going to show you my first DIY Led, using an old T5 light fixture that I have. I actually have 4 old lights fixtures that can be used for this project.

After doing some reading and research, I decided to experiment this project for a simple reason why not give a second life to an old light fixture instead of throw it in garbage?

For this project, I purchased some materials which are not quite expensive. I decided to go with the cheapest LED ribbon model 3586. It has 250-300 lumens/meter. Color temperature 6800K-7000K which is fine for moss and shrimps.

1 x LED ribbon 5M Super Bright (Model 3586)
1x Adapter AC/DC 12V 2A
5x Connection DC standard LED
5x Connection Switch On/Off
1x Red/Black Wire cable for LED 22AWG

Total cost $22.61 CAD

By the way, I bought 5 DC connections and switches in order to use in another lights fixtures that I have. But you Don't have to buy AC/DC adapter. I'm sure you can find some old around the house, make sure it's 12V and at least 1.7A or more in order to work with this LED ribbon.

And here are equipments that I already own:

To begin, I had to remove all oldies wires of this T5 light fixture and clean all the dirt. This light fixture has Plexiglass acrylic safety protection.

For this fixture, I start with 2 Rows of LEDs but then decided to add another row. Therefore I cut 3x LEDs ribbons, each is 25" which fits for this fixture.

Then comes the fun and interesting part of this project, I have to solder each wire in its right place. In order to get a good solder, you must put some iron in red and black wires but also on the positive and negative of ribbon LED. Push the solder into wire until it melts and they fuse together. I personally use a tweezer for precision. :)

 

After that, all you have to do it's to connect all the wires together to its correct place and then connect them all to connection DC. For protection, I put electrical tape in order to separate the positive and negative wires.

Here is the result when switch On. The light is pretty white.

Now testing on 3x5gal tanks. As you can see, it's bright enough for the moss to grow. There is No crappy Blue, Red or Yellowish colors pop up. Noticed for this LED model it fits perfectly on 5gal but in larger tanks, you better get stronger LED ribbon model.

Overall, I quite happy of the result. Like to experiment things and to find a way to do. It's Not that difficult at all if you have some patient and time to find what you need and How you will do it in order to get the result you want to...:)

I have been using it more than a month now, no issues. Will update this project later on. All LEDs are working pretty good and I still have enough ribbon, connection wires to make a few other LEDs fixtures. In my opinion, it's a cheap way to save your money and to invest on other thing... ;)

Project Blue Royal Update

So I put lots of effort and time on this selective breeding project. First batch is growing quite fast than I though they were, lost two juveniles due to water change mistake but the others are perfectly healthy. Yes still do mistakes and this is How I learn and paid more attention to details. For some of you wonder and ask if I bought any pure Blue Royal shrimps then start to breed from it? Well the answer is NO. Like I said in my previous post, I took another direction to develop them...

Second batch has hatched successfully about 3 weeks ago. Shrimplets are in good shape, no deaths, some start to have slightly blue color. This project starts to get really interesting though. ;)

Evolution of Red TiBees

Today the weather isn't nice, winding and snowing outside, after my workout and since I have some time, I decide to share one of my favorites projects on process of development Red TiBees (aka Fancy Red Tiger shrimps). It's kinda challenging project from the beginning, I didn't achieve what I was looking for. It took me some time before I succeed of crossbreeding a batch of Tibees F1. To me, creation/development are important.

The current generation throws many different patterns, got a few regular and spotted head. My main focus to get some of beautiful solid color and unique patterns.

These are the youngs F1, a year and half ago. They are the key of... :)

This is how it looks once it reach to adult with deep dark black stripes.

Another generation of Red Tibee and in background his young born. Notice white color starts to cover their body. 

Another RT female berried again for second time. Noticed her pattern, very deep solid red color. I have to find a name for her. She's so gorgeous! :)

Project Blue Shrimps

An update of my recent hatch of these shrimplets which I believe they are BR tiger shrimps with silver eyes. Let me tell ya, they are so gorgeous with their deep dark blue color. It's obviously one of my favorites shrimps.

Unlike many, the thing is I Never bought any pure blue royal shrimps, then tried to keep and breed them from there. I went to another direction of development, for sure they were born and raised locally. I'll let you figure it out how... :)

So far everyone are healthy, still young. Their blue color will get darker when they'll reach to adults. I take really good care just like any others of my local shrimps, will build a solid colony of them.

I learned they are sensitive, picky enough in term of food, shy shrimps and grow pretty slow. IMO it ain't an easy shrimp to keep especially for beginners. :)

Mosses & Pellia

I decided to transfert a few of my mosses into this tank. It's been 2 weeks and half, they seem to grow pretty well under BeamsWork LED light. This tank is currently residents my colony of TWB shrimps.

You can see new attached Spiky Moss (Taxiphyllum sp.) starts to develop new leaves...

This is Monosolenium Tenerum (aka Pellia) seems really appreciate this LED light.

One of my favorites mosses Fissiden Fontanus (aka Phoenix Moss) :)

Shrimp Foods Review: Shirakura Ebi Dama Soft vs Dennerle Shrimp King Complete

Hello Shrimps Fans,

Today I will compare two Premium types of shrimp foods. Both contains 100% natural ingredients, no artificial and low quality.

Let's start with the Japanese brand Shirakura Ebi Dama Soft. I trust this food many years now, it's actually the main food and I usually give them at least twice a week. Shirakura Ebi Dama has been in market for very long time in Japan.

The Shirakura Ebi Dama Soft pads are larger and softer than the original Ebi Dama, I always break into half and feed them once a day. I keep the other half later, never waste it. In my experience a package of Shirakura 80g could last for more than 10 months to a year if you carefully use it.

My Crystal Red shrimps (local breeding) just grazing around this food like nuts, none stop killing machine! LoL! They love it. Usually they finish half of pad within 2-3 hours.

Once I add this food in the water and it sinks down for a couple minutes, it doesn't break and doesn't make a big mess in my tank unlike a few others cheapo, crappy brands. What is interesting to know, this food keeps fresh and hard shape even if the shrimps don't finish eating it. But remember, you have to figure it out the amount of food for the population of shrimps you have.

Here's another quick shot of them, enjoying Shirakura food. I drop one small pad and my Red Tiger shrimps (local breeding) are going crazy over this food, they're getting on the top of it in few of seconds. It's kinda Cool to watch them... :)

Next it's Dennerle Shrimp King Complete, another premium food brand but it's from Germany. Dennerle is well known German Company, the largest European supplier. They sell many food products, aquatic plants and equipments for aquarium.

I started using it about 6 months now. It's actually my second alternative food. My shrimps like it too, especially my Red Tiger, Taiwan Bees and CRS, they finish until the last piece of it. Just like the first brand mentioned, this pad doesn't break easily after sinking down at bottom. However what is interesting about this Dennerle pad, it will swell a bit bigger from its original size. Another thing to consider when the pad is in water for hours, it won't stay as hard as Shirakura pad which I think it could pollute a little your water.

If I compare to Shirakura to Dennerle pads are actually smaller, darker and softer. Here are a picture I took of both pads beside. You can see the difference right the way.

Bottom line, these are two Excellent food brands. I personally use both and highly recommend them. Dennerle might be softer but the choice is yours.

I hope this review will help most of Beginners of this hobby out there to get a better idea which brand to buy. Keep in mind this is my personal review as shrimp breeder/keeper and remember rotate your feeding, don't just give same food to your shrimps every time. They will get bored of eating same stuffs over and over again... 

Feeding Shrimps

They are enjoying boiled spinach. Mine are always hungry not that picky. I heard some said their red crystal won't eat spinach. Well I had experienced it before, for sure they won't eat it if they are not hungry, they don't care about any food you put in either. As for my own experience, if I Don't give them anything to eat in a day or two, they will go nuts whatever I give them.

You should be aware of the capacity of your own shrimp population. You need to know the shrimps won't eat that much. If you give too much food, it will pollute your water and that will cause lots of harm than good eventually. As for portion, I always give small amount. When I notice they Don't eat the whole food, I will remove it within 2 or 3 hours right the way. Usually I give many different types of food switching them between during week. But I don't feed them everyday though.

Why give them different food? Well the benefit from a variety food sources is a good balance diet from dry natural food to veggies ones. Obviously there are too many different brands in market out there, some is really worth to get and some Just Don't, they are Only here in purpose to make profits. Avoid food that breaks down easily in water. That's kinda confuse for beginners who search for good quality food and have no idea which one is the best to purchase. Therefore, I will try to explain in another review. But keep in mind a more balance diet will keep your shrimp active, happy and healthy.

Here's a video of them in action. Don't forget to switch in HD :)