When trying to build a shrimp-only fish tank, you may wonder whether or not you need a filter.
You can check out this guide at Aquarium Blueprints to see what are the benefits of having a shrimp aquarium with a filter as well as having a tank that isn’t equipped with a filter.
Quick Summary
You don’t necessarily need a filter for your shrimp tank as biological and chemical filtration can be added directly into the aquarium. The only benefits you will be missing out on is mechanical filtration.
To build a filter-less shrimp tank, we recommend adding an air stone, deep substrate, lots of live plants and cuttlebone to keep the invertebrates in a healthy environment. You may also want to get a heater or natural lava rocks as well.
Benefits of having a filter in your shrimp tank
If you get a filter for your shrimp-only tank, you will receive the following benefits:
Mechanical Filtration
Mechanical filtration usually composes of pads and sponges that are designed to trapped debris and organic wastes in your shrimp tank. As a result, the water clarity and cleanliness of the aquarium will improve.
Chemical Filtration
With a canister, hang-on-back or other filters that have compartments, you will be able to easily add chemical filtration in your aquarium.
Chemical filtration, such as carbon, can remove odors, discolorations and medicines. There are also other types that will alter the pH, GH and KH parameters.
With that said, you should get the same effectiveness with chemical filter media without a need of a filter as you can simply add them directly in your tank.
Biological Filtration
With a canister, hang-on-back or other filters that have compartments, you can also easily add biological filtration in your shrimp tank.
The most common biological media provides high density surface area for the beneficial bacteria colonies (which will reduce the ammonia and nitrite levels in your tank) to grow. Special filter media products, such as the Biohome Ultimate and Seachem Matrix, will also help reduce nitrates along with ammonia and nitrites.
Just like the aforementioned chemical filtration, biological media will maintain its effectiveness without the need of a filter as these products can be added directly in your tank.
Oxygenation
Another benefit of adding a filter to your shrimp-only aquarium is that it will increase oxygenation of the tank waters. Of course, your pet shrimps need to breath oxygen in order to survive.
The outtake of a canister, hang-on-back or other filters should cause the water to stir near the surface. This movement will promote gas exchange, which will result in your tank water being more oxygenated.
For oxygenation, you can use an air stone instead of a filter.
Benefits of not having a filter in your shrimp tank
If you don’t want to use a filter with your shrimp aquarium, then you will get the following benefits:
Save Space
The main benefit of not having a filter in your shrimp tank is that it will save space. Some filters, such as sponge filters, can be quite bulky.
Avoid Shrimps from Being Sucked Up
If you do plan on using a filter for your shrimp tank, then you need to either get a sponge filter or a pre-filter sponge. Otherwise, your shrimps, especially those that are very small, can be easily sucked into the canister, hang-on-back or other filters.
How to build a shrimp tank without a filter
If you want to build a shrimp tank without a filter, then we highly recommend that you add substrate that is at least 2 inches deep. With a deep substrate, you will get plenty of surface area to help grow beneficial bacteria in order to keep your ammonia, nitrite and nitrates at safe levels.
For shrimps, ammonia and nitrites should both be at 0 ppm while nitrates should be at less than 20 ppm.
In addition to a deep substrate, you should also add lots of live plants in your tank. Live plants will consume ammonia and nitrates in addition to also providing surface area for beneficial bacteria. If you want even more surface area, then you can add natural lava rocks as well.
We also recommend adding a cuttlebone to maintain the GH and KH levels in your shrimp aquarium.
For oxygenation, you can add a simple air stone.
Last but not least, you may also add a heater depending on whether or not your tank water is warm enough for your pet shrimps.
As long as your shrimp tank is fully cycled, and you keep up with the water changes, then you won’t need a filter at all.