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Well, no need to keep the extra in your room! Garages are great for this, or perhaps you could give the rest to fishy friends.
You certainly can buy sand at the fishstore, just be aware it may be somewhat pricier. I wouldn't call it a waste; play sand etc is very serviceable but fishstore sand can be just lovely.
If you decide on brevis, an inch and a bit of sand will do. Make sure to stir it regularly and/or keep burrowing snails in the tank.
If you go with multis, only a small layer is necessary, perhaps a quarter of an inch - then just cover that with as many shells as you can get ahold of.

-Molly
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Hey everyone! I am back from Israel...sad to be going back to school but happy to be back home (aka fp lol) Well i was so happy that my boyfriend followed all my directions and i had no fishy deaths or any huge algae blooms! The sand settled really nicely and i am so excited to get it up and running! Now i guess it is just a waiting game, i have a molly fry in there are she seems to be doing great. My mom went to florida for spring break and she brought me back some shells so i think i am going to put those in the tank as well. What is the best way to raise the pH naturally? I really hate the idea of chemicals.

Well i am leaving tomorrow morning, i am going to miss fishprofiles! (wow...i am such an fp junkie..lol but i love it!) Thanks so much for all your help, the sand is settling a little by little. Have a great week everyone! I am going to leave the whisper on and hope to see everything all right when i return! Talk to everyone soon!

Fine, be that way. >:^(

Seriously, though, where could one obtain these neothauma shells?

I'd wait till the sand settles to put the Aquaclear in - if you leave for Israel before that, you can just leave the Whisper on, no worries.

And hey, don't worry about it - giving advice is why we're here.



People do sell Neothauma shells, but they're usually about $1 each and there are cheaper (and prettier) options, so they're not terribly popular.

-Molly
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ive seen some baby neothauma snails come shipped in the bags with the shell dwellers at the distributors. but most are dead or will die in a few days from what i was told dont know why, it might have to do with how they catch the wild fish..

You know, if someone sold neothauma shells, I'll bet they could make a killer.

I just placed it in the tank, of course i should be packing but this is more important lol. Ok well i put it in, it is still very cloudy, but i am going to replace the water. Right now i only have a whisper internal filter, but i have an auqaclear on the way. Should i put it in? Or should i wait till all the sand settles? I wish i could repay you somehow for all your assistance! Do you live anywhere near chicago? I've got tons of sand and a light fixture for a 20 gallon?

Is it in the tank now? Just do a few very large water changes and then give it some time to settle out.

-Molly
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I did that buy it is still so cloudy! How can i help that?

Just put the amount you're going to use in a bucket and rinse it with the hose or in the bathtub - just be careful not to get much sand down the drain if you can help it.

-Molly
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well i went out and bought the sand, how can i wash it? i stopped by home depot and just picked up all purpose sand. Well i stuck it in a bucket and washed it through with cool clean water and i poured it in my tank. the tank is completey clouded with sand. How long should it take to clear?

Last edited by Hooktor at 25-Mar-2005 17:29

OK - but without a source of ammonia the tank's not cycling, just running.

-Molly
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Well i am leaving town saturday for israel, so i just added water to the tank and a filter and heater. Then when i come back i am going to add the sand. I thought now would be a good time to start cycling. I just bought a hood and now i have an automatic timer...so now just the waiting game.

Well my mom told me she would buy me a colony of shelldwellers for my birthday, may 1. So i thought now wouls be a good time to start preparing the tank. I need to know what kind of filter i should get for the sand, i have an intank filter, but i do not think that will do. What sand? (or other substrate?) Also, i need some suggestions on what kind of shellies, and which shells. What should i do for decorations? I would like to not have to do plants since my community is planted, any suggestions?
:%)

OK i just thought it was a an alternative to having 45 extra lbs of sound in my room...but w/e i dont really mind. Also, could i buy sand at the petstore? or is it just a waste? Furthermore, how many inches of sand should i place in? Should i put the sand or the water in first?

The problem with "wild" sand is the stuff that could be living in it - bacteria, general vermin, pollution. Lake Michigan may not be Lake Ontario (she says, lovingly) but it's still not exactly water I'd drink without treatment. Play sand and pool filter sand are so cheap and so much safer I can't see a good reason to risk it.

-Molly
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I was just wondering, do i need to go out and buy the sand? I live two blocks away from lake michigan, can i use that sand?

Thanks so much for the information! The more i look at shellies the cuter i think they are!! I just need to pick out a filter and a hood. Do you know of any reasonably priced hoods since it does not seem they great lighting? Any filter suggestions? Thanks again every one for your quick and awesome responses!

i think i am going to just get an aquaclear, i think they work really well.
http://thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/F28/Class/Fish+Supplies+Power+Filters/T1/F28+0171+0283/EDP/9551/Itemdy00.aspx

Last edited by Hooktor at 23-Mar-2005 21:58

"It varies a lot, but I've not personally seen them at more than $10 per."

AAA they're $18.99 each around here. It %^$#&s becasue they are in a mixed African tank with every other tang. you could imagine. That means you pay the same price for a multi as you would a frontosa or a calvus.

3 Morals. Pet shops near me &$&%^#*&%^. Never buy from a mixed African tank unless you have no other choice. And, always barter with the guy.