In The Meantime...

DelawareJim · Post by **DelawareJim** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:42 am

Dave;

I'm not sure actually. I got them from Dennis from around the Ellicott City area. I can't remember off hand if he's in CCA or PVAS. He was at Aquafest.

I'm using aragonite and Tangyanika lake sand 50:50 as the substrate and using Seachem Tangyanika buffer and cichlid lake salt according to label directions as that's how Dennis was keeping his.

Lessons learned: I need less sand and way more shells. Like maybe an inch of sand and a shell layer 2-3 shells deep.

Cheers.
Jim

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Fri May 09, 2008 3:05 pm

with me already having a ton of the pool filter sand, I would like to hope I do not have to change the substrate. might the shells I would add not be enough to buffer my water, which is already fairly alkaline out of the faucet (8.0 pH)? I am not a big fan of messing with any of my tanks pH, and did not even do so for my discus... opinions?

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:28 pm

ah... I find myself teetering back and forth with this. now I am hopelessly intrigued by the multies... but at the same time, I am picturing shrimp.

decisions, decisions...

ingg · Post by **ingg** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:13 pm

Any of them'll eat shrimp.

Only reason that things like the mroe gentle Rams might work is densely planted areas the shrimp can take refuge in...allowing for a colony that can persist, though not thrive like in a shrimp breeding tank.

Multies, on the other hand, it'll be sand and shells, and the shrimp are goners.

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:20 pm

oh... I know. that is what I was implying... I'm torn on which direction I want to go in... build around the mulities, or build around a shrimp colony. I am just really torn. I had been thinking of doing a shrimp colony for quite some time as you know. now is the chance... but now I am also intrigued by the multies.

too many options, not enough tanks! lol... I suppose I could do both, at the end of the day... Lord knows I have plenty of pool filter sand, and I do have both the 55 AND the 45 empty. but then that'll make things tough when I am ready to get back to the discus, after the big move.

hmmm....

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:21 pm

Rich?

I should have a 20L available soon if you wanted to do the shrimp in that tank.

It has a cork background (shrimp and fish safe).

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:32 pm

hmmm... add ANOTHER tank... wonder how wifey would like that idea... lol...

let me mull on this a little longer... I appreciate the offer. I'll let you know by Wednesday, because I will be making a decision by then. cycling this tank is as simple as switching out some filter media with my 55, and tossing in some fish, so really, for me, its only about which way do I setup the decor... multie way, or shrimp way...

speaking of multie way... any good sources for the shells? thanks!

DelawareJim · Post by **DelawareJim** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:45 pm

I found Marky's caviar to be the best price. Escargot shells come in bags of 24. If you decide to spring for some, I'll take another bag too.

http://www.markys.com/caviar/customer/p ... 624&page=1

Cheers.
Jim

JMLenke · Post by **JMLenke** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:53 pm

15h as well if the 20L is too big.

Ugly but totally functional homemade hood, glass top and again a cork back wall.

rich_one · Post by **rich_one** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:58 pm

nice... and the price is right.

okay... I think I am just going to go ahead, get the multies, which is better from the standpoint I do not have to have it too well planted... or planted at all, really. I'll need plants attached to rock and driftwood anyway, of which, I have no extra.

that said, multies go in the 55... and I will setup the 45 soon for the shrimp.

which means, of course, I'll be buying a new discus tank when I move... but maybe I can take advantage of wifey's euphoria over moving into a new house... here to hoping? lol...

thanks for the shells contact... I will order them on Wednesday. anyone else interested, let me know before then.

In The Meantime...

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