Recent content by FishWorks AK

This was the tank when I started maintaining it This is the tank now

I do as much saltwater as I do fresh, it's all the same to me. It's so strange every other Shellie I have ever owned (maybe 12-15) have stuck to there shells. Maybe they were the odd balls.

My males are 1 3/4-2 inches long. The shells are 25 turbo snails and the other 25 are authentic Tanganyikan shells

Sorry about no pics yet... Live rock and sand, the same stuff that's in a reef. Only mine was dry (dead). It naturally keeps the ph and hardness at perfect tang levels. And it looks great. Pics soon

Shells are plenty big I have seen the biggest of them go inside the shells plus I have a large colony of barnacle shells for them as well

They were being threatened by a Ventralis, but I took him out a while back

They sleep closer to the sand, but still not in the shells. As for the number of them... These are the high end golds and at dealers cost they still ran 25 a pop, and thats if you can find them, so for now I have to stick with five. Thanks for the help

I have a 72 bowfront, with live rock lots of sand and 50 shells, plus barnacles. I have 5 gold occalotus and there are no bullies other than one beusheri, and he's not that bad. But they will not house in the shells, they stay at the top of the water, healthy, and happy Any ideas?

That is not much light for ground cover. But if you are willing, the best way is to start over and do a semi submersed. Start with Eco complete and plant say baby tears, fill the water to the top o the gravel, cover the tank with plastic and let it sit until it is where you want it then finish...

Be sure to do root tabs cut in half, and flourish excell

My shrimp don't mind it at all, breeding like crazy. I put glacial silt under it " if you have that option"

55 is a fairly small tank for Malawi, if you are stuck on malawi cichlids you would be wise to do a (Male only Peacock tank) and over filter and over stock. By over stock you would be talking about 15. STAY AWAY from zebras way to mean for a tank that small Jewels are African sure, but they are...

Look up "shell dwellers" great for a small tank an they have some of the best personalities o all fish

This is my tanganyikan set up. Something like this with sand and dry live rock is good for them. I say this because the rock and saltwater sand makes the water harder and increases the ph. If you want to go cheaper, maybe cribinsis or firemouth cichlids

One good thing to look into is what kin of water do you have coming out of your tap... I live in anchorage and our water is a little harder and much much better with african cichlids, but new world cichlids don't do quite as well. Something to look into. I have had many tanks and tons of...