The Puffer Forum

Thanks for the information RTR. The meter did come with 2 standard calibration solutions. Unfortunately, when I got home and gave it a try, I found that the unit wouldn't turn on, even though it's supposed to come with a new set of batteries. On a positive note, however, the refractometer is *amazin...

I found a refractometer + digital pH meter combo on eBay for 40 bucks and both arrived in the mail today. Just curious if anyone has had any experience with digital pH meters. I have a liquid pH test kit so I guess I can find out for myself just how reliable the digital meter is. For reference, here...

That's interesting. There are a lot of shops in my area (Seoul, Korea) that sell "Indian" Puffers which is another name they use for Dwarf Puffers. Dwarf Puffers, as I understand, are native to India so it makes sense. Strange that they would use that name for Ceylons though. Probably a mi...

Doesn't cycling also involve seeding bacteria in the tank substrate? Is the nitrification that occurs from the bacteria in the substrate significantly inferior to that which occurs in the filter?

I would never forgo water changes regardless of what kind of nitrate reducing system I may have set up. I do not have any personal experience in this area but have read of many people using Red Mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) in refugiums to help with water quality. Since mangroves thrive in brackish ...

just my (possibly newbish) opinion but it seems a refugium could be a more reliable means of reducing nitrates. I know that it can be very difficult to raise plants in BW but i have heard that mangrove refugiums are quite effective and they do fine in BW and full SW.

Its these kind pictures that tempts those ignorants to buy them coz they looked "cute". I bet the guys in the shops will not hesitate to show u how to puff them up and I would bet again that those that bought them after seeing this will attempt to try it when they are home with the poor l...

I do not own any GSPs but found these pictures on the website of a local store. I have to admit they look cute while puffed up though it is a terrible thing to do to a puffer. http://www.greenfish.co.kr/green_master/shop/product_images/600245D6.jpg http://www.greenfish.co.kr/green_master/shop/produc...

I've been checking NH4, NO2 and NO3 levels everyday for roughly the past 2 weeks. NH4 has steadily remained at 0 NO2 has also been at 0 for most days, though it did rise somewhere between 0 and 0.3 (using Tetra's test kit) on a few days Regardless of these levels, I have been performing ~30% water c...

No, he was not sleeping when it happened. He was swimming along normally then suddenly went crazy. His behavior conjured in my mind an image a person who suddenly feels something crawling around underneath their clothes. It was a very wild and uncontrolled series of movements. The fish isn't in terr...

wow, that puffer looks quite healthy, aside from the feces. my puffer's feces does not look like that - it is very consistent and literally resembles a long and very thin sausage. I wish I could have taken a picture of it. Also, earlier this morning I noticed something very strange. My puffer seemin...

After a couple hours I noticed that he was excreting very stringy and light colored feces (parts were reddish brown but parts were also almost white). Anyone know if this is normal? seems it may be related to the presence of internal parasites but I have no idea what F8 feces normally looks like. Ot...

My tank finished cycling so I went out and bought 1 figure 8 today - it was actually the very last one out of several stores I checked in Seoul. By contrast there are still a ton of GSPs for sale. Tank was setup with most of the aforementioned items - crushed coral sand mixed with larger bits of cru...

with regards to the pH, crushed coral does the same thing, doesn't it? I'm mainly wondering if there is any benefit to using aragonite sand over larger crushed coral. for example, if puffers actually did sleep or rest in the substrate, sand could be more comfortable for them, etc. I've read that anu...

Thanks for the great feedback guys. Puffers possibly nipping at leaves was one of the reasons I plan to use plants like the anubias barteri with thick waxy leaves. I'm still curious as to why other members here like RTR so strongly recommend sand - there must be some reason, right? Even if it is mor...