Setting Up A Sulawesi Shrimp Tank (Advice Needed)

[sthh]

Good luck with you setup.
Don't worry about the PH. It will get progressively higher. Mine reaches 8.5 and above with minimal pieces of large coral chips hidden in inert substrate.
Do layout the stones so that you can see your shrimps. This is one thing that is difficult to re-arrange later on.

[marle]

Good luck with you setup.
Don't worry about the PH. It will get progressively higher. Mine reaches 8.5 and above with minimal pieces of large coral chips hidden in inert substrate.
Do layout the stones so that you can see your shrimps. This is one thing that is difficult to re-arrange later on.

That's a great point raised! I will put into consideration. Black shiny substrate or sand as substrate now. hmm..

[Emokidz]

Hi there! It's great to see more people getting interested in these great shrimp.

I think you must have spent quite a bit on those 5 rocks! For my tank, I'm using coral chips and Japanese Sudo sand (inert). The sand is mixed in with the coral chips at some parts of the tank, while others are covered by the sand. My pH was similar to yours initially, hovering around 7.5-8. Don't worry about it, it'll take about 2 weeks to climb slowly up to a stable 8.2-8.5. You may want to wait for this, as some of these shrimp may be stressed by constantly changing pH.

I have no plants in my tank. Rather, I use large pieces of driftwood which the cardinals seem to love. Also, have a pait of sula rocks that I got from Y618. If you want some sort of plants though, I recommend pelia or java moss as other plants do not seem to do well under such high pH.

All the best in your sulawesi adventure. I hope you'll succeed!

[marle]

Hi there! It's great to see more people getting interested in these great shrimp.

I think you must have spent quite a bit on those 5 rocks! For my tank, I'm using coral chips and Japanese Sudo sand (inert). The sand is mixed in with the coral chips at some parts of the tank, while others are covered by the sand. My pH was similar to yours initially, hovering around 7.5-8. Don't worry about it, it'll take about 2 weeks to climb slowly up to a stable 8.2-8.5. You may want to wait for this, as some of these shrimp may be stressed by constantly changing pH.

I have no plants in my tank. Rather, I use large pieces of driftwood which the cardinals seem to love. Also, have a pait of sula rocks that I got from Y618. If you want some sort of plants though, I recommend pelia or java moss as other plants do not seem to do well under such high pH.

All the best in your sulawesi adventure. I hope you'll succeed!

Thanks for the advice dude. Yeah, the darn rocks are sold at $16 for a small piece at lfs. Bought 2 of them there. I have decided to use purely coral chips as base mixed with abit of filter materials. Adding in more Coral chips at the base after i purchase them tomorrow. Going to on the lights for an extended period of time for algae growth.

Here's a picture of it.

[sthh]

Coral chip is not a stable substrate. They get dissolve slowly.

[boxedfish]

will the amount of coral chips make the GH go out of the range of these shrimps?

[marle]

Coral chip is not a stable substrate. They get dissolve slowly.

Noted. Thanks for the advice

[marle]

will the amount of coral chips make the GH go out of the range of these shrimps?

I think it will but i read more so with Coral Sand. I was more convinced that purely coral sand and chips works with a set up by this Taiwanese guy. But you are right, to play safe, should not add too much coral stuff.


Pictures from the Taiwanese Blooger:

[anakkucing]

I have tested the water coming from my sulawesi shrimp's supplier aristocratama. GH is 12 and TDS 500. And they told me they are successful in breeding some species of these sulawesi shrimps. So high GH and TDS might not be a bad idea...

[sthh]

The medium size coral chips can trap alot of air pockets. These are air pockets can be dangerous. Also, if you shrimp starts breeding, the little ones could be stuck at the lower substrate. Hence I line any coral chips with inert substrate like river pea gravel.

[marle]

The medium size coral chips can trap alot of air pockets. These are air pockets can be dangerous. Also, if you shrimp starts breeding, the little ones could be stuck at the lower substrate. Hence I line any coral chips with inert substrate like river pea gravel.

True. I have heeded your advice and have covered the coral chips with inert sand. I am probably going to get algae growing in the tank as well.

[sthh]

Oh.. you use sand. Sand has a knack of compacting and becoming a breeding ground for anerobic bacteria.

[marle]

Oh.. you use sand. Sand has a knack of compacting and becoming a breeding ground for anerobic bacteria.

urm, is that good or bad?

Another reason why i used sand was because of this post. http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...highlight=lake

[sthh]

I had a Sulawesi tank that had sand substrate. Tore it down, partly due to built up of gas and partly due to cladophora infestation.
We cannot compare sand in a lake with sand in a tank. In a lake, I suppose there are creatures that burrow in the sand, hence aerating it. And there is such a large volume of water, so the water is very stable. Unless you want to consider keeping malayan trumpet snails. Hmmm...

[marle]

Now you are making me worried. Shall go do abit of research on it.

[marle]

What are my options now?

1) Re-do the tank by removing the sand.
2) Mix the sand with gravel
3) Add Trumpet snails
4) Aww, forget about it, everything will fall into place.

I might consider option 2 due to convenience. But the long term effects are worrying, suggestions?

[sthh]

If you haven't added any livestock, then you have all the options open. But I seriously wouldn't add trumpet snails. Multiply very fast.
Even with sand substrate, it's not too bad. If you not having any deep sand substrate, some rabbit snails will burrow in the sand and rotate the sand for you, but they will not go too deep, unlike trumpet snails.
Speaking of which, if you plan to keep rabbit snails, they like areas where they can burrow, so you may want to clear an area from coral chip and use only sand for those area.

[boxedfish]

I use sand for my sula snails. But I notice they prefer more coarse sand compare to fine ones. I will vacuum the sand out to wash and clean once in a while. Just don't have a thick sand base is fine

[marle]

so in conclusion, i guess the best kind of substrate are those $1 for 1kg normal gravel..

I have dumped the sand already. The feeling sucks but i guess its good for the long term.

[marle]

Sand Look (stthh's words killed it.)


Current Setup (Dead beat. No more changes...i hope.)