Fighting Conch, Shrimp Temp

[bhav_88]

Setting up a 20 gallon tank for inverts only. No corals either. How many fighting conch would you reccomend for this sandbed, one or two? This tank is right by the window, and it has incandescent lighting, so I assume it will get lots of algae/diatom growth.
Also... Since shrimp are going to be the focus of this tank, what is their favorite temperature?

 

[michaeltx]

I dont know about the shrimp cant keep them alive no matter what I do but the conchs I would say 1 for a 20gallon I think more than that one might starve to death from food competion.
IMO
Mike

 

[bhav_88]

I can't seem to keep them alive no matter what I do, either... which is why I'm making a special tank for them only... Hopefully they'll live longer than a few months if there aren't any fish to push them around, or whatever it is they do.

 

[michaeltx]

when I add ashrimp they last about 5 minutes and then they are lying on the sand bed dead. no matter how I intro them to the tank. so I just gave up on keeping them.
Mike

 

[bang guy]

A 20 isn't enough sand bed for a S. alatus IMO.
The ideal Temp depends on the species of shrimp.

 

[the unit]

i was hopeing to get a fighting conch for my 2.5. i want it to go after my hair algea problem...i was also going to get 2 mexican/trochus snail for the algea....i dont want any hermits as i put two in the tank and they attached my poor blind pistol[took his arms off]...any recomedations for my hair algea if the tank is two small for a conch

 

[memnoch]

Peppermint shrimp are excellent for hair algae, they keep my small spot well under control. MichaelTX, if the shrimp die that quickly then you must have either super high nitrates or a problem with specific gravity, have you checked these levels?

 

[michaeltx]

yeah nitrates are at 0 and 1.024 on the salinity
I have tried everything 4+hour acclimation and then by advice that something might be dropping while acclimating so I shortened it and still they do fine for awhile then its almost instant death almost like copper does but its never been used or around the tank so I gave up on keeping them
Mike

 

[bhav_88]

Well, let's just say a candy striped cleaner. Have yet to decide on whether to get peppermints or camelbacks.
So... I can't get a Conch for my 20... rats. I can get one for my 75, though, I assume?

 

[bang guy]

Sure, an Alatus will do great in a 75. You could put it in your 20 one week a month
Peppermints prefer 78 - 80 but will do OK in 82. Candy Stripe... would that be the Scarlets? They like it a little warmer but 80 - 82 is a good temp for them.

 

[fishkid1000]

Are you using RO/DI water or just conditioned tap water?

 

[michaeltx]

Who me if so RO water I have a well so I dont trust anything that comes out of it for the SW tanks.
Mike

 

[bhav_88]

Just tap water for now... trying to get an RO filter, but really can't afford it at the moment. Would buy the water, but nobody sells it out here. Although I've heard distilled water works just as well...
Thanks Bang Guy.

 

[michaeltx]

bhav you can usually get bottle RO water at the grocery store if there is a decent sized one close or wal-mart, k-mart or the simliar. just have to read the label its usually called drinking water but one is just carbon filtered and one is ro/di filter with carbon.
Mike

 

[bhav_88]

Huh... I'll check next time I go there, thanks.

 

[elan]

for dead shrimp (and most inverts) maybe check your copper reading...

 

[michaeltx]

NP Bhav I used the water for some time till I found a company here that I could rent a ro unit from instead of buying the water. when I first set up my tank I went and bought 129 gallons of water the people at walmart looked at me like I was crazy LOL
elan no copper ever used in the tank but got a test kit just to make sure and it reads 0. plus all other inverts and corals are happy go lucky and growing.
Mike