Monthly Archives: May 2020

What kind of natural decoration can I use in my volcano shrimp (Opae ula) tank 2 of 2 ?

I also like to use coral chips in my volcano shrimp tanks as a decoration.

It contains calcium, magnesium, boron, nickel, sodium, sulphur, strontium, uranium and and other trace elements.

Coral chips are used in my shrimp tanks as a decoration and also buffer my water parameters

These elements buffer the water and helps in the growth of the volcano shrimp (opae ula).

As the shrimp mature, it shed away its shell or exoskeleton, this shedding process is called molting.

Coral chip and lava chip comparison. I used both in my tanks.

What kind of natural decoration can I use in my volcano shrimp (Opae ula) tank 1 of 2 ?

I prefer mostly natural decoration for my volcano shrimp (opae ula) tank.

My favourite piece of decoration is a piece of natural lava rock.

It has a beautiful texture and is light weight and comes in a few colours like black, brown or maroon and lightweight.

The holes in the lava rocks provide a good hiding place fot the volcano shrimp (opae ula)

Pregnant volcano shrimp are often found hiding in there.

Lava rock can be used as decoration or hiding place for the volcano (Opae ula) shrimp

If you unable to purchase big pieces of lava rock, you can also use small lava chips too.

I love to use them for my miniature and nano size volcano shrimp (opae ula) tank !

Big lava rock or lava chips can be used in the volcano shrimp (opae ula) tank

What kind of substrate can I put in my volcano shrimp (opae ula shrimp) tank ?

What is substrate ? It is the material at the bottom of your tank.

There are many type of  substrate to use in the volcano shrimp (opae ula) tank.

I prefer natural substrate over artificial substrate.

I am afraid of colours or chemicals leaching out of artificial substrate into the shrimp tank,  killling all my volcano shrimp (opae ula).

I prefer to use fine coral sand for my shrimp tank

My favourites are lava rock, lava chips, coral chip and coral sand.

Coral sand contain calcium carbonate and it is good for shell or exoskeleton of the volcano shrimp.

Coral chips are used in my volcano shrimp tank as a decoration and also buffer my water parameter

The small lava rock chips provide many hiding place for the volcano shrimp (opae ula).

Big lava rock or lava chips can be used in the volcano shrimp (opae ula) tank

Seachem also sells a wide range of natural substrate. There are many you can choose from,  such as:

a) Flourite Black Clay Gravel

b) Flourite Red Clay Gravel

c) Fluorite Black Sand

d) Onyx Sand

Can I use other kinds of salt for my volcano shrimp (opae ula) tank ? No, it killed my shrimps !

Common Sea Salt killed my Volcano Shrimp

The answer is NO !

I made this mistake a few years back when I used Portuguese Sea Salt and Himalayan Rock Salt for my shrimp tank. It was affordable and easily available in any supermarket.

But the moment I put the volcano shrimp into the mixed salt water, they swam in circle and upsize down in distress ! Many shrimps died as a result.

Perhaps some chemicals were used in the packaging of these salts. But I have no way to find out.

My advice is to use Aquarium Sea Salt for marine fishes and invertebrates. Be safe than sorry.