Care Guide

Plants

• I received my plants and they do not seem to be in the best shape. What do I do?
• How should I care for my plants after I receive them?
• Do I need co2 injection to grow any of the plants you sell?

Shrimp

• What do I do with my shrimp after I receive them?

I received my plants and they do not seem to be in the best shape. What do I do?

Aquatic plants may turn partly yellow/brown during shipping and the roots may fall off. That is OK—floating plants are extremely resilient and will begin multiplying within several days of being placed in your tank. What you are buying should be viewed as a "seed" from which you will eventually get more plants than you know what do do with! If your plants are not in the best shape, it is even more important that you follow the below care guide.

How should I care for my plants after I receive them?

General Care: Aquatic plants are extremely hardy and resilient. Simply place them in your aquarium and they should begin to multiply within a week after receiving them. An all-in-one fertilizer, such as Seachem's Flourish or Aquarium Co-Op's Easy Green can help keep your plants lush but is not necessary in a well-stocked aquarium (e.g. an aquarium with fish or shrimp producing waste products that the plants utilize).

Quarantine Info: All established aquatic environments, including ours, contain microfauna such as seed shrimp, limpets, microworms, and infusoria. A few of these "hitchhikers" are unavoidable and are safe in your aquarium. However, if you really don't want these guys around, you can take the following steps to eradicate them from your new plants:

1. Mix one part water with one part hydrogen peroxide (standard household 3% concentration)
2. Place plants in the solution for 10 minutes (do not dip the tops of floating plants into the solution -- let them float on top)
3. Rinse the plants and place in your aquarium

Do I need co2 injection to grow any of the plants you sell?

No. All of our plants grow fine without co2. While all underwater plants will grow faster with co2 injection, floating plants will not benefit from co2 injection because they obtain their co2 from the air.

What do I do for my shrimp after I receive them?

Cherry shrimp are known for being a very versatile species of shrimp that can thrive in a wide variety of water parameters. However, there are a few steps to take to help them best acclimate to your tank.

1. Make sure your tank water is dechlorinated: Tap water is treated with small amounts of chlorine or chloramine. While this level is fine for humans, it is harmful to shrimp. Place shrimp in dechlorinated water only.
2. Acclimate your shrimp using the plastic container they shipped in:
1. Cut open bag and gently pour its contents into the plastic container.
2. Place container in your aquarium (it will float).
3. After 10 minutes, add 1/8 cup of your aquarium water to the container.
4. After another 10 minutes, add another 1/8 cup of your aquarium water to the container.
5. After another 10 minutes, gently empty the container (including your shrimp) into your aquarium. You can remove the moss ball or keep it if you would like.