Do shrimp add to the bioload or reduce it?

[Dave Noel]

Just got a couple of ghost shrimp today and while I was watching them (when I found them) I got to wondering, they are constantly eating from the gravel so had a thought do they reduce the waste in my tank thus reducing the bioload. If you understand what I am asking, maybe not wording it right.

 

[spudjnr123]

They do increase bioload, but not by very much. I believe I was told that they "use" about a 1/4 gallon each

 

[deadxero]

Simplest explanation...

Every living creature creats waste. What it eats, it poops.

 

[gmh]

They poop and consume O2 just like fish but they have very little biomass so you can put in several with no worries.

 

[Dave Noel]

What it eats, it poops.

haha, true.


thanks guys, so much for that thought.

 

[rodgeryng]

Dave

While it is true that the shrimp eat and create waste I think I understand what you where getting at. Is the waste created by the shrimp less than the waste created by the uneaten food they consume IF they were not there to consume it. My gut answer is yes, since the food that would have decayed is being "used" and metabolized less of it would ultimately become waste. This assumes that there is not an increase in the amount of food added to accomodate to the shrimp.

Pretty awesome question imho and I wish I had the data to answer definatively.

 

[msjinkzd]

Shrimp do have a bioload...significantly less than fish. You can safely put 100 shrimp in a 10g tank if that gives you an idea. Shrimp eat algae, leftover food, and even pick out the undigested food from fish/snail poop.

 

[slotzero]

You can safely put 100 shrimp in a 10g tank if that gives you an idea.

Wow I had no idea you could get that many in a 10g tank - maybe I'll reconsider adding a few to my tanks.

 

[Dave Noel]

Dave

While it is true that the shrimp eat and create waste I think I understand what you where getting at. Is the waste created by the shrimp less than the waste created by the uneaten food they consume IF they were not there to consume it. My gut answer is yes, since the food that would have decayed is being "used" and metabolized less of it would ultimately become waste. This assumes that there is not an increase in the amount of food added to accomodate to the shrimp.

Pretty awesome question imho and I wish I had the data to answer definatively.

Thanks Rogeryng, I agree with what you are saying. The only thing now is, does the ammonia from the rotting food equal the amonia from the waste of the shrimp.

My mind is a scary place.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

10 per gal on the smaller sized shrimp.