My water hardness is about 60ppm. I've noticed that the snail shells are easily crushable between my fingers. So, once I've taken them out of one tank, I pour them into the tank with the clown loaches. They are doing _something_ with them because they are spending lots of time digging in the gravel. I've purposely added MTS into their tank before, and they vanish. Yum yum. G. Kadar ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com. For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com. Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!