Simply Seahorses.co.uk

Both filters look interesting but I haven't come across them before. You would just need to ensure that you could adjust the flow so that it doesn't blow the Dwarves around and suck out the brine shrimp and you would have to cover any inlets or vents to prevent accidents. This is the one I used (i60) and it is a good little filter, especially as you can buy extensions for it. http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/filt ... jbl/103035 The flow can be adjusted very easily so that it goes down fairly low. I had one of these in it rather than use the sponge. http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/filt ... edia/81495 I put the pump in a very fine mesh black media back pulled tight at the back to stop the Dwarves getting damaged. It was even fine for the babies despite their tiny size.

Hi Joanne,

Well I popped into Simply on Sunday as it was a nice day i thought i would take the 1.5hr drive in the sun to check things over. Needless to say I have put my name down for two dwarfs when they finally arrive hehe. Helen was very helpful and I passed on my gratitude to yourself to her. Helen was telling me about your success with them etc. All in all had a lovely weekend and can't wait to get my ponies. Tank is up and running. Need to adjust few things on it and get to grips with the brine shrimp lol. They are ordered but am awaiting delivery. Thanks again for your help so far!

Regards

Alex
xx

My pleasure and I'm glad you've finally taken the plunge and reserved some. Helen and Nigel have been a great help to me. I now have about 45 Dwarves due to another birth yesterday lol! He gave birth to approx another 15 babies. Let me know if you need any more help.

Joanna x

I will no doubt be in touch very shortly lol! 45 lol. Do they all stay in the one tank? Breeding like rabbits hehe. Take care.

Cheers

Alex
xxx

Ha ha. Yes they're all in one tank (for now). Sometimes I can't see hardly any of them and I'm convinced they have disappeared. x

Hi Joanna,

Have just heard that my ponies are due in soon. Have had my tank cycling for couple of weeks now but just wondered what the best length of time for it would be. Since its only small would you suggest this is ok? Just want to make sure it will be ok you see.

Regards

Alex
xx

Hi Alex

Have you used filter media from another tank or is it all new? How have you cycled the tank? I must admit that I messed up a bit with mine as, although I had some shrimps in it before, when I put the Dwarves in and started feeding them the large amounts of brine shrimp I had a nitrite spike which really panicked me. With lots of water changes I cleared it up with no ill effects but I don't want the same to happen to you. Because the environment is sterile for Dwarves it is all a bit different.

I bet you are so excited that the Dwarves are coming in soon. I know how I felt.


Joanna x

Yeh am really looking forward to getting them. Calling them swish and swosh lol! I have a hang on filter and a eheim 45 spray bar filter. I left them running in my marine tank for week to try an help establish them. They are now in the pony tank tho and have been a week. When get them will have been running for just over 3 weeks. Hope this will be ok. Also do you have any experience with hang on filters? Mine is nightmare, with sponges on end for protection I can't get enough flow for the skimmer to be effective and if i turn it up too much it just flows over back on floor lol. Only thing I can do is forget the little skimmer part on it and just push all water over the waterfall part. Not sure it is is that effective anyway tbh.

Also you know the shrimp hatching bottles. Why have you got three? Will one not do for me?

Cheers

Alex
xx

Hi Alex

Great names for Dwarves lol. TBH you haven't had the tank running for very long so I'm not 100% sure that that will be sufficient time to mature before you get the Dwarves but like I say it's a bit different for a Dwarf tank. If you have had the filter media in your other tank it should help. Have you been testing the water regularly? The best thing that you can do when you get the Dwarves is to regularly (2-3 times weekly) check the water especially for nitrite and ammonia. Adding all that brine shrimp can upset the balance as I found.

I had a hang on filter once upon a time and although it seemed good to start with it became a real pain and got clogged with algae. It was a filter/skimmer all in one. Is yours a Niagara by any chance?

I have got three lots of brine shrimp hatching so that I have a constant supply. I also have baby Reidis and feed my other tanks. I would definately recommend that you keep two on the go in case one lot goes wrong (as I have found out). If you put one on in the morning and one on in the evening that will work. I put a bottle on about 7 in the morning then it is ready the following evening. The second batch I put on around 6-7 in the evening and it is ready the day after next in the morning. Are you going to use an enrichment vessel?

Joanna x

Hi Joanna,

Yes it is a niagra hang on lol. Was working fine to start but now with the sponges on the intake to prevent ponies getting hurt it slows. This results in very little flow coming out and if i turn the air up or water flow up it just flows up over the top, all down the back of the tank. Can't seem to get the balance right with flow and air for skimmer to work properly but still allow flow to come out of the outlet. Any ideas?

With regards to the shrimp I will set two up then. Yes I am having an enrichment vessel. Came with that Hobby kit you advised. Have not tested the water that regulary as the LFS said dont waste your test kit during first few weeks as will constantly fluctuate. Do you think I should put some hermits in tank from my marine set up? just to help cycle and then take them out later? Ideally would have like to leave tank a bit longer but this is as long as i have unfort . I have own water production on site and alll chemicals for marine tank so hopefully should be ok.

Alex
xxx