new project - shell dwellers

My son wanted a tank in his room so we set up a 20 gallon with potting soil capped with pool filter sand.

after it was cycled we put in some Ottos to start the bio-load.

Next we ordered some of the Shell Dwellers (Similus)...
Attachment 139278

Similis are my favorite shellie’s Dave. I love how nicely the cream barring is contrasted against their base color. Multies are cool too, but they don’t pop like similis. Neolamps are a great nano tank species and so fun to watch!
May I ask why you put the potting soil under the PFS? Won’t that drag your pH down? Lake tanganyika is pH 9+
Let the multigenerational rearing begin!

Originally I was cycling the tank for a South American tank, but I don't have much luck with Apistograms. The potting soil is so some plants will take root (amazon sword). Ph in our water here is about 7.2, and the shells will lower Ph a little.

I don't use Ph buffers as I don't want to always chase the Ph of the water. We also have hard water here (lots of minerals so one has to be careful watering lawns and doing dishes as we get the white hard water spots on the glasses and windows...and if you aren't careful where you park when the neighbor waters you get them on your car.

Thes eight Similis have been in the tank now for about three months without any losses.

Those are cool fish Dave and I bet your son is loving it :D
Pat

He is. we turn off the air pump for the tank at night so the noise isn't there. I may throw some other rooted plants in there, and I may not.

I am enjoying watching the color changing, fin shimmering these guys do.

It is funny when the light gets turned on in the morning no fish but the couple ottos in there can be seen, and maybe one or so of the amano shrimp can be seen.. but then the shell dwellers come out to see what is up and have breakfast.