View Full Version : Substrate for Tanganyikan tank
Skittyfish
04-30-2003, 9:30 AM
What type of sand do you use in your Tanganyikan tanks?
I am planning on shell dwellers, but I need a substrate and am having a hard time finding it around here. I did find a 40 pound bag of live crushed aragonite sand(?) for $43. I thought that was a bit much since I only need 20 pounds at the most for a 10 gallon tank.
Please, any help is needed.
thalassic park
04-30-2003, 2:06 PM
If you have sand in your yard. It can be cleaned and used in the aquarium.
Skittyfish
04-30-2003, 5:30 PM
The only sand in my yard is in the kids sandbox...do you have any idea what all has went on in that sandbox....yuck!
Anyway I bought 30 pounds of Carib Sea aragonite. My kh is nearly non-existant, so I guess the buffering capabilities of this sand will help a lot.
Thanks for replying.
Now I just need to recycle and find some fish.;)
Oxboy666
04-30-2003, 10:34 PM
Go to a pool supply store and check out pool filter sand. It's very cheap - $5 for a 50 lb. bag. Make sure you rinse it in a bucket really well or it might take a while for your cloudy water to clear up.
I'd spend the $5 for the peace of mind of NOT using sandbox sand. :)
Why don't you want to go ahead and use the sand you already bought? Sounds good to me.
The sand you bought is an excellent choice. Please don't ever use sand from your yard. You never know what is in it and there is no way to clean it well enough to put into an aquarium.
stik6shift98
05-01-2003, 12:34 AM
what do u guys think of using silica sand?
Silca sand won't raise your buffering capacity. Although Tanganyikans will tolerate softer water than is in the lake, the one thing that they don't like is fluctuation. Lake Tanganyika is huge and temp., pH, don't fluctuate by much (they may fluctuate greatly as to area of the lake, but each area of the lake stays pretty stable).
stik6shift98
05-01-2003, 1:04 AM
is it safe tho?
Yes very safe and desirable.
Skittyfish
05-01-2003, 4:17 PM
I did use the aragonite sand, mainly for the buffering capacity. Now I need the shells and the fish.
I have to reestablish the bacteria though..I am feeding the tank shrimp pellets. I have never fishless cycled. I hope this works.
Thanks for the replies. Anyone know where to get some good shell-dwellers?
Oxboy666
05-01-2003, 5:01 PM
Here is a very reputable mailorder cichlid service:
http://www.ohiexchange.com/armke/
They do a fantastic job. I use them from time to time when I can't find certain fish locally.
Skittyfish
05-01-2003, 6:52 PM
Thanks, I book marked it, just in case my LFS can't get some in.
Are wild-caught specimens better than first or second generation?
Does it really matter other than life span. i.e. wild-caught are usually adults.
Skittyfish
05-02-2003, 7:13 AM
how does this look?
pic of 10 shell dweller set up (http://community.webshots.com/photo/63655872/71675268xsAFTQ)
any opinions?
Looks good except you should have 2 shells per fish, it cuts down on squabbling as they like to change shells sometimes. What type of shellie are you looking for? Some. like ocelatus are not really good in a 10 gallon tank as they are pretty aggressive. Multis and brevis would be good in a 10.
stik6shift98
05-03-2003, 2:13 AM
looks good
Skittyfish
05-03-2003, 10:59 AM
Planning on multi's if I can find them. Yeah I know I need shells, i'm trying to find some without having to pay the $2-$3 a piece at the LFS.
Right now I'm having a fit! I fed the tank some shrimp pellets to cycle it...snails that must of been hiding laid about a billion eggs on the broken down pellets. I siphoned as much out as I could, but i am sure there are still a million escapees!
Most grocery stores will sell snail shells for escargot. I have seen them near the tuna and sardines but ask someone in the store. They are much cheaper.