Pylons Tank!

Actually, I wouldn't do that - mix the sand up. Sandbeds have distinct strata that setup and do specific things. Mixing it screws all that up. Just add some more fine sand over time until you fill in the gaps. You don't have to do it now, just eventually. As soon as you get the stirring critters in there they'll do the mixing, but they'll be a heckuva lot more gentle with the process than you will be. Like I said no hurry, in fact you could just buy a small bag of the dry sugar sized stuff and add it in a cup at a time as it is convenient. That'll keep the sand storm effect to a minimum, as well.

DJ
 
Alright, I'm glad I read this before I got to the mixing. I'll look for the fun sugar senad next time I go to my LFS. I do plan on getting a digging shrimp. (Tiger Pistol) and a Goby, hopefully they'll bond. I got the big stuff so his caves wouldn't collapse in.

I just checked my tank, I'd say stuff has grown .25 an inch since the lights turned on this morning. Especially the stuff close to the light. Cool stuff. I'll get some pics up later.
 
I got a bit of a forrest going on in my tank now. I havn't cleaned the glass because I don't know if I should or not.
Alas.. some Pictures.

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Water is getting low in the chambers in the back hence the bubbles. I have some warming up now to add.
 
Looks like you're on your way. Give it a few more days. Test everything (salinity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate). Add to this carbonate hardness (alkalinity) and Ca+. When everything levels out, and gets where it needs to be add a few small snails, or hermit crabs using generally approved acclimation protocols.

HA! Your post beat me to it!

DJ
 
LoL, maybe a tie.
I need to get something to test the Alk and Ca,I bought some C-Balance from two little fishes when I first bought the tank but I havn't used it yet. Pretty much Liquid Alk and Liquid Calc.
 
Ok, I've searched the Drs website and I didn't really find anything to test Alk with. Any suggestions?
I don't know if this will test both or not.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+17339+15469&pcatid=15469

Yep, that's them. The Salifert kits that do the same are highly recommended here on the board, as well. These levels are important because all animals that build calcareous skeletons, and shells use these primary components to do it with. Without calcium and carbonate these organisms cannot grow, and subsequently develop deficiencies as a result.

DJ
 
Ignore the bump the mag comment. Learn how the system works before you start incorporating shortcuts. This is more about the process at this point than anything else. If you do this with shortcuts then you won't be able to backwards engineer yourself out of any problems which may arise, and trust me - they will arise. Besides, I personally have played the bumping the mag game. It ain't what it's cracked up to be. I believe, in my case, it resulted in what the guys in the tire industry refer to as chasing the round. Kids call it 'whack a mole'.

DJ
 
Ah, Alright I'm gonna run into town to pay my truck payment. if the weather isn't to bad today I'll make the 45 min trip to my LFS and get a couple snails and hermits today.
 
3 red legs hermits
5 Asterea Snails

One hermit has been eating non stop since her came ut of the bag
One I've seen some signs of life but i'm not sure
Last hermit i've seen no signs of life.. mayve it's still early

3 snails took right to the glass after about 5 seconds of me holding them up to it. Two I left sing to the bottom.
One of those two i've seen life from. The last i've seen no life whatso ever.

I hope all of em perk up and get to work.
Pics will come soon.
I'll probly go back sometime next week and get more depending on how these guys do.
 
one big thing, get a bunch of dwarf hermits. The larger ones(like the regular red-legged) can get quite big, and without sufficient shells, and food will make quick work of your snails. There are dwarf blue-leg, not sure if there are dwarf reds, but I think there are dwarf oranges.

They should cost about $1-2 each. I have been reccomended to have 1 dwarf per gallon.
 
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