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

**Taurus** · 10-10-2012, 02:18 PM

You picked up some great equipment for your shellie tank.

**jeffs99dime** · 10-10-2012, 02:21 PM

Yup, thanks. I've been a fan of Eheim for a long time. Had several over the years. Can't beat them. IMO

**jeffs99dime** · 10-14-2012, 12:37 AM

I just put the substrate down (cloudy.) Put in two pieces of holey rock. Hooking up my Eheim canister now. Getting closer.

**jeffs99dime** · 10-14-2012, 06:51 PM

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(Tank is still a bit cloudy from adding substrate yesterday but is clearing up nicely)
This is what I did today thus far. I think I may need some more Texas holey rock, maybe. I still have a another box of 3 dozen escargot snail shells maybe I need more? I'm also thinking about doing a few low lght, rugged plants. The sparaybar is set up to run across the entire length of the tank and it does ( I had to shorten the spraybar with a hacksaw because it was too long. lol I'll probably drill a few more holes in the sparaybar at different angles to lower the velocity of the current across the top a little bit. Also to direct the current towards different areas a distribute the heat more effectively. I will be running a sponge or foam prefilter on the intake (for the fry) and also so the sand does not get sucked up so much. I'm about to put a black background on the tank as well. I wecome and encourage any comments, suggestions or otherwise. One more thing, the Eheim/Jager 100 watt sub. heater is a beast. lol That heater is longer than more stealths were on the 55. I'm still contemplating placement of it.

**Northerly** · 10-14-2012, 07:59 PM

Looks awesome man. Good job:)

**jeffs99dime** · 10-14-2012, 08:50 PM

Thanks man. I just picked up some smaller pieces of Texas holey rock. I'm going to re-arrange it a little. I need to get more depth out of it. Once I "finish" the hardscape I will start the cycle. I'm not sure what stocking plans are for the tank yet, maybe a colony of multies only.

**190MPH** · 10-15-2012, 01:55 PM

Jeff, the setup and scape look great! Your parameters are fine, higher than mine(kh4.5, gh9, ph8), and I keep plenty of africans(13 tanks). The shellies will absolutely love that tank. Keep me posted.

**jeffs99dime** · 10-15-2012, 02:45 PM

Thanks. I changed up some stuff yesterday. Got two smaller pieces of Holey rock so that it looks like an underwater ridge now going into the shells. I also put the black background on.

**jeffs99dime** · 10-19-2012, 11:40 PM

Well, the tank is officially cycling now. I also got rid of the t5 fixture because it was malfunctioning and went with an l.e.d fixture instead, what a difference. Changed up some of the hardscape before cycling began as well.