Sulawesi Quest!!.... again.

**Slayer213** · 27th Jun 2011, 12:26 AM

Hi, im new to this forum and shrimp keeping. Actually... I attempted sulawesi before and failed miserably... With no knowlegde what so ever, i dive straight into sulawesi the moment i saw how amazingly gorgeous they are. I bought them, dump them straight into a new tank with freshly acquired tap water and some mosses... Of course... All perished within a couple of days.. Then i tried CRS, ok... Much better, a 1feet tank, ADA soil, mosses, temp 25-27... Alls well... Until i dump sulawesi shrimp in it... Sigh.. Sulawesi all died within a week... Then i finally realise, if im gonna do it, im gonna do it right. So, i custom made a 60L 2ft tank, coral sand as substrate, dragon rocks, mopani branch, ehiem pro 130 filter, lights... Just for sulawesi.. Just done with the tank last week, after hours of scrubbing the rocks, boiling the branch, more reading up... Now... All i must do is wait patiently for the tank to cycle, which i intend to cycle it for a month or however long it takes to make this right! Will tie in some mini nanas on
the branch once its cycled.. Im still at the learning stage, so if u have comments or suggestions, pls keep it coming.. We are all here to learn and experience this amazing advanture! Thanks!

**Slayer213** · 27th Jun 2011, 12:29 AM

Hi all.. Tied the mini nanas, added two adult and two juve sulawesi orange rabbit snail yesterday... Doin well last i check this morning. Ok tested the tank water heres the paras:
Temp : 85f
Ph : 8
Kh : ~6
Gh : ~10
nitrate : ~0
Nitrite : ~0.5

Hope everythings ok... Using a dipstick type tester, so dunno how accurate the readings are. Judging by the no3 and no2 i dunno whether the nitrogen cycle has started... Dunno wat the reading means anyway... Just add snails so i guess let it run for awhile...

**cllui** · 27th Jun 2011, 12:42 AM

Bro,

Nice setup you have there...
Why don't you o and buy the API freshwater master test kit?
I'm using that now and it's quite good...
Do you mind to share with me where you get your orange rabbit snail?
Thanks

**Slayer213** · 27th Jun 2011, 01:54 AM

Hi cllui, API master test kit? Does it test most parameters? Like ph gh kh ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and chlorine? Issit expensive? U live in sabah? Hmmm... Im not sure if u have the snails there... I bought mine at a lfs here in singapore. If u are here in singapore, go to (please use PM), they sell sulawesi shrimps and snails as well as all other shrimps. Hope that helps...

**cllui** · 27th Jun 2011, 02:13 AM

Yes, the API test kit have ph, high range ph, kh, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate...
It's more than enough...but if want can get extra gh tester...
The test kit I bought around RM90 for 1 set...without gh tester.
I live in Sabah but I got a friend who lives in JB that always going to SG will help me to get it...
Been searching for Sulawesi cardinal for more than 2 month still haven't find it in SG...

**Slayer213** · 27th Jun 2011, 02:26 AM

Okok will go check out the API, is it a dropper test kit or the dipstick type? Ok, when ur friend is here, ask him to go to yishun block 618, "That fish shop" is the name of the shop. Usually their stocks comes in at weds evening, so if can, go weds night or thurs. I got my snails last weds eve, came in 30 pieces so.. Hurry up!! They are limited stock! U can call and check whethet they have it b4 u go down, (mod removed phone number). They have cardinals, harlequins, blue leg paso, redline... But limited stocks... Usually just 4-5 pieces each and they sell(die?) fast... removed by mod.... Ok, these are where i go... Hope it helps u.

**kenng** · 27th Jun 2011, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by cllui

Yes, the API test kit have ph, high range ph, kh, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate...
It's more than enough...but if want can get extra gh tester...
The test kit I bought around RM90 for 1 set...without gh tester.
I live in Sabah but I got a friend who lives in JB that always going to SG will help me to get it...
Been searching for Sulawesi cardinal for more than 2 month still haven't find it in SG...

One of the way is you can call the shop to order and then collect on the day you arranged with aquarium owners.

**Slayer213** · 27th Jun 2011, 07:21 AM

Hi, its been close to 2 weeks since i setup. Haven seen any algaes growing, is that normal? I guess using sand, virtually no nutrients in water at all. Tempted to put in seachem excel, should i? Really dun want to... Want water to be as pure as possible since sulawesi shrimp sooooo sensitive and fragile.