Sand/Gravel

[twiztid1980]

Ok I am getting a 50 gal tank 36x18. I was wondering if doing part gravel and part sand if this would be a good setup for shell dwellers to maybe get them to spawn. I dont want all sand so doing maybe a 70% gravel and 30% sand substrate could be a solution. Tell me what you think.

[Drumachine09]

What type of filtration and how powerful will your filtration system be?

[twiztid1980]

going to get a penquin 350 will also use the extra media slot

[Drumachine09]

As long as your intake tube isnt too close to the bottom, and there isnt a large amount of sub-surface current, you should be fine.

[twiztid1980]

Ok well im definately not gonna have the filter on the side with the sand

[Drumachine09]

OHHH you are seperating them, i thought that you would be mixing them

[twiztid1980]

sorry I wasnt specific yes im seperating them.

[Drumachine09]

I think htat will be pretty interesting, be sure to take pictures of how it turns out!

[twiztid1980]

It'll be awhile im gonna start building the stand soon so once thats done ill be picking up the aquarium and everything else I need. Gonna take my time on this one b4 any fish get put in. I was thinking deep river gravel and tahitian moon sand.

[Drumachine09]

Sounds like a sweet setup. Just be careful of that sub-surface current, because it could carry the sand to the side with the filter and eventuall clog and or destroy your filter.

[twiztid1980]

hmm so do you think the current may be too much with a penguin 350?

[Drumachine09]

You shouldnt have too much trouble with it. If you do notice the sand moving around a lot, put one or two handfuls of gravel ontop of the sand to decrease the movement of the sand.

[twiztid1980]

Thanks that sounds like a good idea if that problem arises. I hope this setup induces spawning from what ive read it'll be cool to watch them dig the sand away from the shells and form it to their liking.

[Drumachine09]

Yea, that would be a pretty sweet setup. What fish are you going to put in?

[twiztid1980]

The sand is for the shell dwellers "multifacitus" something like that will have kribs and few others in tank but sand is for the shell dwellers.

[Drumachine09]

Ive always admired kribs, but i cant find them in my area, so i am going to do a labidochromis caeruleus tank instead. 1 male, 3-4 females, and 1 or 2 syndontis catfish. I am going to have a slate formation, and natural lake gravel. I am hoping i can get them to breed, so i can make some cash to suport my addiction.........my fish addiction that is.

[twiztid1980]

Nice fish love the bright yellow hope you have luck with them. have local breeders in my area so can get almost any dwarf cichlid breed I just hope the shell dwellers are in when the time comes probably gonna do same 1 male 3 to 4 females.

[Drumachine09]

Sweet, now i know my ration isnt weird. What kind of rock formations and plants are you going to have?

[twiztid1980]

Havnt decided yet I want it to be as natural as possible but finding the right decorations may take some time probably gonna keep the flower pots for the kribs. For plants I'll be transplanting what I have in my tank now like my lilly, cryptocoryn, and some others but not sure of names. Maybe a few hiding places like caves. Do you maybe have an idea for a center piece maybe like driftwood or something?

[Drumachine09]

For me, i am going to have a stacked slate formation for my tank, with 1 or 2 java ferns. For you i would sugest a large peice of bog wood or drift wood, accented by a rock cave or two so you can have many territories marked out.

[twiztid1980]

good idea that sounds great. Do you mean have the caves under the wood or near it and what should they be made of?
For your slate how big will it be and can you describe what it will look like when finished

[Drumachine09]

I would put your wood in the middle, and have several small stacks of rocks scattered around, and tryto get one large flat rock for spawning purposes.

My setup, i will have alot of slat, and i will stack it up, kind of like a brick wall, but leaving some "bricks" out and creating small caves for them to hide in.

[twiztid1980]

Ok got ya that might be what I'll do depends if i get creative or maybe buy some prefab caves on the net at cichlidbreeding.com not sure yet bc the flower pot seems to work great for the kribs.

your setup sounds like it will look great did you mention the size of tank you are going too use?

[Drumachine09]

29 as for right now

[Drumachine09]

What size is your tank?

[twiztid1980]

50 gallon 18x36 will be my upgrade from my 20gal. heres a pic of my 20
http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/twiztid1980/?action=view&current=DSC03053.jpg

[Drumachine09]

looks Great!