First off I want to say I love the site and ALL the wonderfully helpful people and advice. It's people and sites like this that have gotten me even more addicted to aquariums. 
I've had tanks for several years now, but they have always been the easy to care for live bearers and such. Well now I am going to be setting up a 30g Long tank and have been completely taken by the "shellies" and their habitat and want to set up a shellie tank. Overall I have two questions:
1. I understand that shellies really need a sand substrate and I have to admit that I really like the way that sand looks However, I want to have the tank "split" with about 2/3 of the tank (from left to right) being a sand substrate and the remaining third being gravel. On the gravel side I would like to build up about 6" - 8" of rocks so there are lots of holes and caves for any other fish to hide and play in. My idea is with the rocks being stacked on the gravel, I wouldn’t have to break down my stack of rocks to stir the sand. That and I might have a little room to grow a plant or two if I later decide to try that.
2. What, in your opinions, would be the best tank mates for a couple of N. Multi shellies. From what I have read there are many many threads on what might work, but they are all for smaller tanks. I'm thinking of 3 or 4 pairs of N. Multis, and will go from there on what else I can add. I like loaches but know they may be a problem since they are also bottom dwellers, so I know I need some mid tank and/or upper tank friends as well. Would glass Shrimp survive?
Our tapwater normally runs a pH of 8.2 to 8.4 and a KH of about 180 (can't remember the exact at the moment) so that narrows down the list of tankmates I can add without starting to make advanced (other then the standard chlorine/chloramine treatment). On my existing 20g tanks I do weekly 25% water changes so that shouldn’t be a factor in fish choices. Anyway, I'm rambling now but I appreciate all the suggestions.
-Jeff-
I've had tanks for several years now, but they have always been the easy to care for live bearers and such. Well now I am going to be setting up a 30g Long tank and have been completely taken by the "shellies" and their habitat and want to set up a shellie tank. Overall I have two questions:
1. I understand that shellies really need a sand substrate and I have to admit that I really like the way that sand looks However, I want to have the tank "split" with about 2/3 of the tank (from left to right) being a sand substrate and the remaining third being gravel. On the gravel side I would like to build up about 6" - 8" of rocks so there are lots of holes and caves for any other fish to hide and play in. My idea is with the rocks being stacked on the gravel, I wouldn’t have to break down my stack of rocks to stir the sand. That and I might have a little room to grow a plant or two if I later decide to try that.
2. What, in your opinions, would be the best tank mates for a couple of N. Multi shellies. From what I have read there are many many threads on what might work, but they are all for smaller tanks. I'm thinking of 3 or 4 pairs of N. Multis, and will go from there on what else I can add. I like loaches but know they may be a problem since they are also bottom dwellers, so I know I need some mid tank and/or upper tank friends as well. Would glass Shrimp survive?
Our tapwater normally runs a pH of 8.2 to 8.4 and a KH of about 180 (can't remember the exact at the moment) so that narrows down the list of tankmates I can add without starting to make advanced (other then the standard chlorine/chloramine treatment). On my existing 20g tanks I do weekly 25% water changes so that shouldn’t be a factor in fish choices. Anyway, I'm rambling now but I appreciate all the suggestions.
-Jeff-
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