29G Brackish

[tnt4eva]

If you don't have any luck working out where it's wicking up, try ripping up a tissue and sticking bits of it on like wick points. If any of the bits get wet, you know it's wicking there.

[wodesorel]

If you don't have any luck working out where it's wicking up, try ripping up a tissue and sticking bits of it on like wick points. If any of the bits get wet, you know it's wicking there.

Great idea! Going to do that right now.

[CrabAddict99]

Really great! Been wanting fiddlers for a long time but I am not sure how to set up a proper tank for them. Hope you don't mind me asking a few questions.
Will a sloped sand to water begin to foul the sand? Do they burrow in the sand? Is playsand ok to use? What kind of filter are you using? Will the ones that use an air pump work? Thanks

[wodesorel]

Will a sloped sand to water begin to foul the sand?
Yes. You're supposed to mix the sand up a few times a week so keep this from happening. Between that and the lack of space from all that sand, I couldn't see keeping that kind of set-up long term.

Do they burrow in the sand?
They're supposed to. In the 20 gallon the sand was too wet for them to want to. Until I fix the flooding problem I'm not sure they'll want to in the new tank either just yet.

Is playsand ok to use?
Yep! But you have to rinse it very well to get all the dust and muck out or the water will never clear. I put small amounts in a bucket and run tap water over it, swirling and pouring it off, until the water clears up when the bucket has water in it and it's sat undisturbed for a few seconds.


What kind of filter are you using?
Small internal Whisper filters. You can use any type of filter so long as you cover any holes up since the fids will climb and escape. I had these sitting around unused. Come payday we'll (hopefully) be buying a larger internal filter that does 140GPH (gallons per hour) so the water is aerated properly.

Will the ones that use an air pump work?
I don't know. I've never actually used an air pump filter, so I'm not really sure how much of a bioload they can support.

[CrabAddict99]

Will a sloped sand to water begin to foul the sand?
Yes. You're supposed to mix the sand up a few times a week so keep this from happening. Between that and the lack of space from all that sand, I couldn't see keeping that kind of set-up long term.

Just as I suspected, thank you for helping my decision on custom fitting some lexan.

Thanks again

[Fateless]

Ahhh, so awesome!! I absolutly love 'tank in progress' posts!! I hope you keep posting pics of them!

[Nethers]

Aye any new pictures would be fun especially if you managed to name some!

[wodesorel]

No names yet - I honestly can't tell them apart since they can change colors so easy!

I have lost a few more since moving them. I don't think it was related to the move though as I had started loosing them in the old tank. I'm down to three of the original crabs and a fourth new one I got over the weekend. (There was another new one that we pity purchased but he died overnight - he had already been missing half his legs, so I wasn't too surprised.) So I'm still looking for a few more females and a male to add.

We canceled the order of guppies until we can upgrade the heater and the filter in that tank for a bigger bioload. I also want to get one or two small hunks of live rock to replace the ornaments, and I'd also like to get some live plants first. Then I'll get the hermit crabs (I think I want 5 blue legged) and then about a half-dozen guppies. (Wild type or random so they're healthier than fancy ones.) It's really very exciting! But also expensive, so it'll probably end up being a few months. ($25 for the heater, $30 for the filter, $10 for a freshwater bowl, $5/lb of live rock and a few pounds is needed, probably $15 for the plants.)

Here's more photos!

The new girl - I don't think she's the same species, but I don't know what she is.



















And in the mornings the light coming through the tank casts this one the wall.

[Nethers]

Wow, that shot where the fiddler is climbing the pillar is awesome. I love those pillars and it looks like the crab defies gravity!

[wodesorel]

So it was kismet tonight when we stopped in to get our supplies at the pet shop. We went to check out, and there were two brand-new little fiddler males that were waiting to get unpacked sitting on the counter in front of us. I took them home in the bag they were sent from the distributor, and let them loose straight into my tank.





And one of the females molted tonight. It's hard to tell, but she's almost see-through in person!

[CrabAddict99]

Cute! What a neat looking claw.
I use to watch a Turkish soap in Europe called "kismet" when I lived there.

[DustAndEchoes]

Thanks for the pictures! I love looking at these little guys (and gals). They're so interesting to look at!

[SoulLonely]

love the newbies

[wodesorel]

Got the live land plants yesterday at the nursery, and got them washed and planted today. Also added peat moss to the land section for a more natural substrate.






Pothos



Ajuga



Corkscrew Rush (Juncus)





All that's left in the decorating arena is the live rock and a few live water plants. I'm hoping to have the plants ordered in two weeks!

[tnt4eva]

Do they make a lot of noise? The native fiddler crabs we have in Australia are SO loud. They click like crazy - much louder than any chirping or clunking the hermit crabs do. It's quite an amazing racket if you happen across a colony of them.