20 Gallon Long Shell Dweller Tank Videos & Photos Added!!!

**jeffs99dime** · 10-08-2012, 06:37 PM

I have substrate to buffer the proper ph already but my question was about adding crushed coral or something like it to my canister filter. Thank you for the link. I have not seen that one yet.

**Lady Hobbs** · 10-08-2012, 06:47 PM

Why not just add it to the substrate?

mommy1......what a cute shellie. I should do something with my 10 gallon!

**Honey Badger 1** · 10-08-2012, 07:27 PM

Well, I was referring to tests for KH and GH to test the hardness of the water, not the ph and probably used the wrong word with buffer/buffering. If you already know you need substrate to help with the ph, then the tests are probably not necessary.

**jeffs99dime** · 10-08-2012, 07:30 PM

I've always tested for GH/KH in all my tanks because where I live the water is very alkaline and hard because of the fact of living by mountains. It only takes a few weeks to develop lyme scale here.
I was talking about filtration and crushed coral/ adding it to my canister filter in addition to my substrate already having buffering capacity and if there are advantages/ disadvantages to doing so when you are keeping African's. I've never kept African's before so I am asking as many questions as possible because I simply do not trust a good amount of what is on the net.

**Northerly** · 10-08-2012, 07:53 PM

I think buffers like aragonite and crushed coral dissolve at a certain pH. I use a marine buffer as I said, which I add to a 40 gallon tub of water with a powerhead and heater when doing my waterchanges. You may choose to keep your tangs at a higher pH, but I just keep mine at an 8.3 with the buffer and the aragonite sand and they do well. What sort of hardscape will you be using?

**jeffs99dime** · 10-08-2012, 09:20 PM

Maybe a few rocks and escargot snail shells most likely unless I find something better. The sand is Eco complete Cichlid mix.

**jeffs99dime** · 10-09-2012, 12:15 AM

Just picked up 6 dozen escargot snail shells on amazon. I don't think i'll be able to use them all so my friend with a reef tank said he'll be able to use what is left.

**Northerly** · 10-09-2012, 02:14 AM

I only used 1 dozen in mine:p You'll get a nice filled out look with even 2 dozen. Although, I DID make 2 rock formations out of black lava rock which took up a bit of space. Look forward to seeing the pictures when completed. I've never used the eco-complete cichlid mix, but have been interested in it. Let us know how it works for you:)

**jeffs99dime** · 10-09-2012, 01:33 PM

I definitely will.

**jeffs99dime** · 10-10-2012, 01:41 PM

Yesterday-Picked up Eheim 2215 canister, Eheim Jager 100w tru temp heater, t5 H.E.(14Wx2) lighting fixture. Tested tap water parameters: ph-8.2, ammo-0.0, nitrite 0.0, nitrate 5.0-10.0 (hard to tell on that one.) Gh-16, Kh 10. I also have escargot shells coming and picked up two decent-sized pieces of Texas Holey rock. Cycling (fishless of course) will commence, hopefully tomorrow.