Shell Dweller Tank (from stream tank to African cichlid)

[crazy42bmx]

What type of shellie are u looking at ?

[nightster]

Be careful not to get bored with cichlids! Lol just giving you a hard time since you gave me so much crap about building a cichlid tank.

[mnemenoi]

Cyprichromis Leptosoma (sardine cichlids) are pelegic mouth brooders from Tanganyika. They stay relatively small (4-6") and can do very well with any benthic species in the lake usually. There are quite a few different species (microlepidotis and a few others) that are generally very similar in habitat and behavior. There is a boxer that was selling some microlepidotus fry and I know Sunny had some he might be willing to part with. Color variations differ greatly amongst the collection points, especially in the males. We have some black bees that are breeding well and know it won't be long before we'll need to get rid of a few.

[R_sustaita]

Set the manifoil

[sunkenmetal]

Do it!

Do what?

[R_sustaita]

Do it!

[sunkenmetal]

I am new to African fish so I don't know what cyps are lol

[sunkenmetal]

Wait I am just going to stick with my plan changing stuff is what got me into trouble last time...

If I need more flow I can start the manifold again.

[sunkenmetal]

Tangs and shellies both love water flow and I doubt it would be too much. Most are found in shallow waters just under the breaking surface waves and prefer a highly oxygenated tank.

I know you'll have great success with those choices. Shellies are a lot of fun and their social interaction is their most endearing quality. I saw you were considering some goby cichlids, have you considered adding some cyps? They are terrific as dithers and will occupy that upper stratum the crespicular shellies and gobies never move into. I know aquabee uses blue eyes for the same effect and they appreciate similar water parameters

I guess I could un cap the manifold sand isn't in yet....

[mnemenoi]

Tangs and shellies both love water flow and I doubt it would be too much. Most are found in shallow waters just under the breaking surface waves and prefer a highly oxygenated tank.

I know you'll have great success with those choices. Shellies are a lot of fun and their social interaction is their most endearing quality. I saw you were considering some goby cichlids, have you considered adding some cyps? They are terrific as dithers and will occupy that upper stratum the crespicular shellies and gobies never move into. I know aquabee uses blue eyes for the same effect and they appreciate similar water parameters

[sunkenmetal]

Because I want shell dwellers

[Notsoballinxhobo]

Why not find something else that could ultilize the river manifold? Just dial it down a bit.

There's many other options that would benefit from the flow.

[sunkenmetal]

All right my attempt at a stream tank with hillstream loaches and Rhinogobius was a total disaster. Since then my wife has helped me out a lot since my back is all messed up right now.

So far she has removed all the rocks and sand and scrubbed the inside of the tank to like new condition.

Next we ran a soultion of bleach and water through the tank to kill pretty much all the bacteria good or bad. we have run so much water through after the bleach the water bill is going to be crazy.

After a week of twice daily water changes to clean out the bleach and a few with water conditioner to neutralize any bleach left in the tank. I started testing the water to see if any of the bio filter was left alive. Since the water parameters didn't change at all I am pretty sure the tank and filter are sterile.

The river manifold has been drained and capped off so when I get the confidence to attempt rhinogobius again I will be ready.

Right now we are draining the tank so we can add some new LPFS and some petrified wood and start the cycle.