Who Gives A Fish Forums

A little update on my shell dweller tank. Got the rock I mentioned earlier, and here's a before picture - all dry and dusty. I was thinking of stacking it up in one corner as a tower, but ignore the small rock at the front, that's already in my dwarf puffer tank.

After washing, the rock looks lovely, nice dark brown color. I might have gotten a bit too much, but for £15, I couldn't resist. I'm thinking of adding some to one of my other tanks.

Now, a possibly silly question - do I need to soak the rock like I would with driftwood? I forgot to ask when I bought it. Also, how big should the holes be that my husband is going to drill, and how many should he do?

I've also called Wharf Aquatics, thanks for the recommendation. They were very helpful, and I'm planning a trip there with my family to pick up the fish. I've pretty much decided on getting golden Lamprologus ocellatus - they have many in stock, and they look stunning. I'll also get some julis, they have a big range available, so I'll see what catches my eye when I'm there.

I told the guy at Wharf Aquatics about my setup and that I'm using a mature filter, but I want to monitor the levels of ammonia and nitrite for a week or two before getting the fish. He was pleased that I'm not just throwing fish into an uncycled tank - felt good to have learned so much from this forum.

The water is clearing up after adding the sand, so I'll post a picture of the full setup with the rock this weekend. Thanks again for all your help, and if someone could answer my questions about the rock, that'd be great. Also, any more info on the ocellatus would be appreciated, but I'll also do some more research online.

Give those rocks a good boiling in a bucket to get rid of any debris. Do it outside, just in case they decide to release anything unpleasant. Nice rocks, by the way. I've got a group of Multies in a 48"x15" tank with some cyps, and it's been a great experience. Your 36" tank might be perfect for Parayprichromis nigripinnis - some slate overhangs and dim lighting would really bring them out. A 36" tank is a great size for shell dwellers, and you could keep a nice Lamprologus caudopunctatus or a couple of Julidochromis. Not all of them, of course - just one or the other. A group of Multies would be entertaining and fill the tank quickly, just my opinion.

Thanks Sean, I'll give the rocks a good boiling water treatment. I appreciate the advice, but please, no more shellie suggestions - my head is already spinning with all the options. I'm really struggling to decide on just one. By the way, I love the fish in your avatar, what species is it?

zeniko wrote: ↑Tue Jun 24, 2025 2:41 pm I'm really looking forward to setting up my new shell dweller tank, my first foray into African Cichlids. I've done some research, but I still have a few questions and I'm hoping someone can offer some advice.

My tank dimensions are 36 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 18 inches high, which works out to 127 liters or 34 US gallons, give or take a bit once I add the substrate. I've already got sand substrate, 15 Escargot shells, and some rocks for decoration.

I'm thinking of adding some moss balls as my only plants - I've read that shell dwellers like to move things around, so maybe they'll enjoy rolling the moss balls around and nibbling on them. I'm not planning on adding any other plants, since they'll probably just get uprooted.

So, I've got a few questions. Should I stick to one species, or can I mix and match? I'm considering multis, brevis, and smilils - which one is the best, and if I can have more than one, which two would work well together? How many fish should I start with, given that they'll likely breed?

Do I have enough shells, or should I order another batch of 15? I got them at a good price on eBay.

Are there any other decorations I can add to the upper level of the tank? I've come across corass juliis and rainbows - are they a possibility?

That's all my questions for now. I'm starting the cycle process this week, so I've still got some time to plan things out - any thoughts from more experienced members would be really appreciated.

Tropheus moorii (Kasanga) "red rainbow" is quite a stunner. If you're into shellies, you might want to check out this site - it's got a ton of nice ones. I came across www.shelldwellers.com and it's a treasure trove for shellie enthusiasts. I've got a soft spot for Tangs, but there are just too many to choose from, and not enough tanks to keep them all.

I'm in love with that Tropheus moorii, it's gorgeous. I think I need to be locked up, my house is overflowing with tanks already, no more space for new ones. Thanks for the link, I'll definitely check it out, I have a feeling I'll end up wanting more shellies.