Hydrogen sulphide...

[PhaidOut]

Mustafa or anyone else that my know the answer,

I see that you use only sand in your tanks for substrate. I am curious how you avoid hydrogen sulphide problems. I have been considering using it in my shrimp tank, but to avoid hydrogen sulphide you would have to keep it very thin (I am guessing less then 1cm deep), especially with just a sponge filter...I just am trying to feel this out because I don't want to run into a well know problem...

Pete

[Jackie]

I see that you use only sand in your tanks for substrate. I am curious how you avoid hydrogen sulphide problems.

Melanoides tuberculata - solves the problem. Also try not to use very fine-grained sand. I use sand in all my tanks.

[PhaidOut]

Thanks for the reply Jackie,

What you are suggesting is using Malaysian Trumpet snails, I have a couple thoughts on that...

First they compete with shrimp for food...I suppose that can be dealt with easily enough. But what about young shrimp freshly free swimming? Are they quick enough to get away from a snail? I am guessing yes....

Second, how deep do they work the sand? If you put in a couple inches do they go so deep? I know in a marine tank, you need a lot of sand dollars, sea cucumbers or similar sifters to prevent it.

[Mustafa]

If your sand bed is not 3-4 inches deep (which you don't need in a shrimp tank) then you don't have to worry about anything. Even if it is 3-4 inches deep nothing much really happens. My sand substrate is only about 1.5 inches deep at most.

As to the snails...I have them...and they can become a real pest in a snail tank, especially if they had time to reproduce before the shrimp started reproducing.

Take care,
Mustafa