List of item to prepare:
1) Jug with lid
2) Lava rock (small)
3) Coral sand
4) Stirrer
5) Net
6) Refractometer or hydrometer
7) Marine aquarium salt
8) Small container
9) Measuring Jug
10) Aquarium air hose
11) Adjustable air valve
12) Clothes peg
13) Brick
14) Weighing scale
15) Paper
16) Distilled water
17) Volcano Shrimp (opae ula)
I prefer glass over plastic as it is less likely to scratch. The glass clarity is better and it is also easier to clean. The main disadvantage is the heavy weight.
Here I am using a VARDAGEN Jar with lid, clear glass 1.8 litres from ikea.
Ikea VARDAGEN Jar with lid, clear glass 1.8 Litre
Choose a few pieces of lava rock small enough to fit in the jar.
Small pieces of lava rock to fit into the jar
Coral sand is bright. It contains calcium that also buffer the alkalinity of the water.
It buffered the alkalinity of the water
You will need a stirrer to dissolve the aquarium salt in distilled water.
Use a spoon or stirrer to mix the salt into the distilled water
You need a net or sieve to catch the volcano shrimp or opae ula.
I use a plastic fine mesh flour sieve or strainer to catch my shrimp
You need a salinity refractometer or hydrometer to measure the salinity of the salt water solution.
Salinity Refractometer for Seawater and Marine Fishkeeping
Use only Aquarium Sea Salt. Do not use other types of common cooking salt !
Use a small container to temporary house the volcano shrimp (opae ula). We will use this container to adjust or acclimate the shrimp.
Plastic container use to acclimate the volcano shrimp
A measuring jar is used to measure the volume of water for the tank.
Measuring jar to measure the volume of water
I use an aquarium air hose and an adjustable air valve to acclimate the volcano shrimp (opae ula).
Use an air tubing and an adjustable air valve to acclimate the volcano shrimp
Use an air tubing and an adjustable air valve to acclimate the volcano shrimp
You need a clothes peg to help you hold on to the air tubing.
Plastic clothes peg to hold the air tubing
The brick is used to elevate the jar of salt water.
The brick is used to elevate the jar of salt water
If you do not wish to get a salinity refractometer or hydrometer, you can use a weighting scale to measure the weight of the sea salt.
I use a weighing scale to measure the weight of the sea salt
Use a piece of paper to hold the sea salt
I use a piece of paper to hold the sea salt for measurement
You can make your own distilled water or buy bottled distilled water for your volcano shrimp tank.
You can buy bottled distilled water
The tank size will determine the number of volcano shrimp (opae ula) you can keep. Usually for small tank, I will keep a population between 8 to 20 shrimps. This allow a higher ratio of having male and female shrimp.
A population of between 8 to 20 volcano shrimp (opae ula) in a bag