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Okey Dokey folks...I have decided that I want to turn my empty ten gallon into a shellie tank for sure. Now I need to save some money and plan out the tank, so I need some advice on what to get. I read Mez's post, but I'm still not entirely sure about everything.
I have the tank. Now it needs some sort of lid and lighting. Ideas for lighting?
Needs filter, I heard small HOB, ideas?
Needs sand substrate, thats easy
Needs shells, I'm going to call around for large escargot shells
Needs rocks, I will be able to pick those up from LFS, and thanks to Mez I know which kinds
Needs heater, whats the ideal temp for multis? and what should the wattage on the heater be?
Needs thermometer, thats easy...
Needs plants, probably not real, thanks to Mez again So plastic or silk?
Needs fish, obviously!!! I think I'm going to go with 3 multis. Can anything else go in there, or am I done?

I know this is a lot to ask, so whichever questions you can answer feel more than free to do so. Thx in advance! Can't wait to do this tank, I just gotta save some money first. I'll post pics when its done.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Lighting - up to you. I'd be curious to see how a bulb that's more the blue end would light these guys, but any bulb is fine. Shouldn't matter much at all, they have a little irridescence, but we're not talking Texas cichlid here.
Filter - I like the second-smallest Penguin for 10s, biowheel and everything, v. nice. Of course you could combine this issue and the one above by getting an Eclipse hood.
You don't need rocks - they can just be nice. On the one hand, pretty and can help keep your pH up. On the other hand, they take up floor space, and shellies are all about floor space.
50 watts for a 10 gal, I'd say set it at around 78.
Plastic or silk is fine but again, minimal floor space taken up. Don't cover the tank with plants - you don't actually need any at all, the shells are their hiding spots, but you can certainly have them if you like.
I'd stick with the multis alone. Sooner or later (probably sooner) they'll breed and you'll have more multis. Probably best to start with a male and 2-4 females.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

For a filter I suggest a penguin mini with biowheel. Aqua clears are good too, get one rated for 10-20G.
For a heater, 50W is all you need in 10G. I think they like temps in the mid - upper 70's.
Silk plants look the best.
I think perfecto makes glass hoods, I like those...kinda$$
No need for super lighting, just make sure you get Flourescent, home depot sells good compact stuff.
Someone who knows more specifics about tang. cichlids can come and reccomend stocking for ya.

HTH


oops looks like I'm late

[span class="edited"][Edited by mattyboombatty 2004-08-07 00:08][/span]

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks for the quick responses guys, more opinions please!
And one more question- what to feed? I've never kept any type of cichlid before, so I have no cichlids foods. I want the best for these little guys. So I'm looking for a staple food and some goodies too

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Any cichlid pellet should be fine, although personally I'm really liking this Newlife Spectrum stuff. Supplement with some other cichlid foods and flakes, a little frozen, maybe a little live. They'll eat anything, the little scamps.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

sounds like my dad, maybe he'll like them

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Okay here's my list that I'm going to need to bring to the pet store, I know this is the one place I wont lose it.

10 Gallon Shelldweller Tank
*Filter:
Penguin BIO-Wheel Mini or 125...which?
*Heater:
Submersible 50watt, probably Tronic or Rena
*Thermometer
*Rock:
1 Tufa probably
*Plants
1-3 small assorted
*Shells
Large escargot, at least 2 per fish
*Substrate
Sand, 2"-3" worth
*Food
Either Hikari or New Life Spectrum (thx Molly!) if I can find it
*Fish
Multis or Brevis, whichever is available. I'll probably start out with 1 m/2fm, and 1-2 more females as tank develops
*Lid and Lighting
AGA Glass Top and a flouro strip, or AGA full canopy for 10 gallon, or would the Eclipse lid be cheaper in the long run?
---I need opinions on this please!!!--- :%)

EDIT: I mean opinions on the lid and lighting mostly, by the way I wrote it, it looks like opinions on the whole list, so feel free to critique whichever


[span class="edited"][Edited by ferretfanatic 2004-08-07 13:07][/span]

[span class="edited"][Edited by ferretfanatic 2004-08-07 15:24][/span]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Looks good,

Those eclipse hoods can be a little expensive, but are all inclusive. You are probably paying for convenience.

Are you going to fishless cycle, because I'm not sure that any cichlid is a good cycler.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

If you happen upon Brevis rather than multis, I'd start with a pair - they're really more of a pair breeder than a harem spawner (they even share a shell, it's very cute).

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

I wasn't planning on fishless cycling, I was thinking to cycle with a feeder or two, then release them into my friends pond. But I might do fishless, I'm not sure yet. I don't mind having the tank cycle for a long time, that'll give me the chance to save some more money so I can get 1m/3f at the same time. Which do you guys think is better?
Molly---thanks, I think I'm going to have more luck finding Multis, but just in case I'll keep that in mind.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I'd recommend fishless, especially if you can seed it from another tank. This would definitely speed up the cycle, and not have the possibility of killing anything. Feeder fish are people too you know.

I did one with my friend who was new to the hobby and worked perfectly for him. It took about 3 weeks to complete.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I know they are, thats why I was going to put them in my friends pond, so they have a long healthy life.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish