Update

The shrimp still seem happy. They are a lot of fun to watch, sometimes they run/swim around the tank and sometimes they crawl on the decorations or bottom looking for food. They don't seem to really like to hide, except when I feed them then they all grab a little piece of the algae pellet and try to get as far from the other shrimp as possible. I am going to be sad when the puffers come and the shrimp hide a lot, but I think it will be worth it.

I have been slowly watching as nematodes, cyclopses(copepods), and bugs grow in the tank. Its amazing how many of the cyclopses there are, they are all over the gravel. I was worried about them being in there although I read that they are harmless and are a good sign, apparently they can't take very much nitrate at all so them being in there means that the nitrate is good. I don't so much like the nematodes although it is kind of cool having all the different critters, but I doubt they will last long when the puffers come. I think as soon as they get picked up off the bottom by the water current(which seems to happen fairly often) they will get eaten. The bugs are little bugs that sit on top of the water, sometimes at night they fly around but they can't get very far. I like them but they are multiplying very quickly and I don't want to many of them. The filter seems to be a big threat to them as usually when they get close they get pushed under it and underwater, I don't think they usually survive the experience.

I started another snail tank, same size tank as the first one. I am going to put the pond snails in this one, they don't seem to be as tolerant of the water condition as the pond snails and there are less of them so they will hopefully do a little better alone.

My big grassy plant seems like it might not be happy, but I don't really know what it needs. It would be really helpful if I could figure out what kind of plant it was. It probably needs new lights, and I had denizens order 20 watt lights (twice the wattage of the ones I have and cheaper) but I don't know how long it will take them to get them in.

Still no pictures but I found out that its a short circuit in my camera and that I might be able to get it replaced.