Hey guys this is my first post at the The Puffer Forum...i have a couple of questions on Dwarf Puffers because I recently started cycling my new 28 gallon tank and I'm looking to get maybe 3 or 4 of these little guys.
-My first question is that I have researched Dwarf Puffers and found out I will have to do weekly water changes...my question is how much water should i change every week and what is the easiest way to refill a bigger tank? Because using big buckets can get very messy and if I use a Python siphon the water going back into the tank hasn't been treated??
-Also, this is a pic of my tank so far...I'm still going to be adding more Java Fern and Java Moss but does this look like a pretty good set up for them? I tried to create as many hiding spots as i could with the plants lol
-And my last question is it ok to feed the Dwarf Puffers ghost shrimp along with frozen bloodworms and a couple of snails here and there?
I think it looks great so far! I would have a few more DPs if it were me, cause they are so small, but thats entirely up to you and what effect you are after. Siphoning is the best way really. 50% WCs are best, so it would only take a few 5 gal buckets, and it wouldn't take too long. What do you mean by "the water going back into the tank hasn't been treated"? You should always treat the water before putting it in the tank, if that's what you mean.
I use the python on all my tanks. This is what I do:
1) Siphon out approx 50% of the water.
2) Run water over a therometer to get the temp as close to the same as the tank as possible.
3) Turn the lever to the off position until I reach the tank, put the hose in and turn the lever back on.
4) While refilling add enough prime to treat the whole tank. Example: I use 1 capful of prime for a 29 gallon. If you use something other than prime just measure the amount you need for the whole tank.
Your tank looks great! Once your plants fill in you will have plenty of hiding places.
Btw: I see that you have a crypt plant in front. If the plant starts to melt/die don't take it out. Just trim the leaves off, leave the roots in the substrate and it will grow back. I almost threw one away because I didn't know it would come back now it's huge.
I agree, if you have a python, just use that. Dose the dechlor right before you start refilling the tank.
Most of us do 50% water changes each week, its a pretty standard number. Sometimes I do larger, sometimes smaller, but that's my goal.
In a 28 gallon tank you could easily have a lot more of the little buggars than 3 or 4.. or are you planning on tankmates? I think they'll love the tank, especially when the plants grow in more. If you can get red cherry shrimp, let them loose in there to start breeding (they breed like rabbits, eat algae, and are gorgeous, you can't ask for more!) and get a good colony going, same with pond and ramshorn snails, the puffers will love spending time hunting them down. My little guys really wouldn't eat any food I offered them other than live blackworms, because they much preferred to hunt down live "prey".
As for the ghost shrimp, they are too big for the puffers. I find that the ghost shrimp steal food from the dp. I personally like amano shrimp and cheery shrimp cuz they leave the puffers alone. Live blood works seem to be a fave. Nice lookin tank btw
lol thanks for the compliments guys I appreciate it! Yeah I would like to get more, how many would you all recommend for a 28 gallon?
So Dwarf Puffers wont be to accepting of frozen bloodworms or anything? I found out I already have some little snails in the tank so hopefully they will start multiplying by the time I get the puffers so they'll already have food in the tank...
Yeah I defiantly want to get a Python for the siphoning and thanks for answering my question, I was confused on the filling part because I thought adding a bunch of tap water back into the tank before treating it would be harmful to the fish in the tank.
I'd go for 7 or 8 personally. It depends if you want any tank mates or not though. Not that there's many to choose from, but otos are usually a good bet with DPs.
Oh sweet! And shouldn't there be more females then males since the females tend to be less aggressive? Yeah I thought about getting some ottos but I would probably always be worried one of the puffers would turn on them...I'd defiantly like to get some shrimp for the tank, because if the puffers don't eat them they'll clean up the tank a bit...
Also, am I going to need a CO2 system in tank because of my live plants? I'm not to familiar with all of that yet since I just started keeping live plants... I mean I have Eco-Complete for the substrate and I dose the aquarium once a week with Seachem's Flourish
And my other question is the phosphate, I really don't want an algae bloom in this tank so what are the best ways of preventing that...I've seen some kind of phosphate system on drfostersmith that helps keep the phosphate down to nothing, would that be a wise investment?
You should always aim for a ratio of two females to every one males, if you don't know how to tell the sexes apart, there is an article in the library with pictures and explainations. Generally we say 3-5 gallons per dwarf, so maximum you could put in there would be something in the range of 7-9, less if you want tankmates of course. I wouldn't worry about the otos, because if you get plenty of little shrimp and snails in there the dwarves will be too busy hunting those to worry about the otos. But don't add otos until the tank is very stable.. they can't handle new setups at all, and due to the way they are caught, they often don't live long. Maybe instead get yourself a single bristlenose pleco, they do a great job of eating algae, are armoured so the puffs don't bother them, and stay small enough for a 28 gallon.
For the CO2, how many watts of light do you have on that tank? More than likely you won't need to worry about it, but if you do have higher light (3 watts per gallon or more) I'd suggest buying some Flourish Excel, its a liquid CO2 suppliment that works great and is much easier than any of the do it yourself setups or pressurized.
Your tank is a mixture of low light, slow growing plants and high light, fast growing plants, so, if you meet the needs of the higher light plants they should do a good job of out competing algae. If you do have high phosphates in your water, I found using that filter media that is sort of a filter floss "sheet" of phosphate absorbing material works really well. I've only needed to use that on a marine setup though, never on a live plant setup. Guess it depends on your water source but most likely you won't need to worry about it.
With it being a newly set up tank, I'll tell you right now, you will have a "brown algae" bloom within the first month or two of setting it up. This isn't really an algae, its diatoms, and every newly set up tank goes through it. The diatoms will look sort of like a brown dusting on everything that easily wipes off, this is a phase you'll have to wait out. Just let it be and one day you'll realize its gone.
Thanks that was a lot of helpful information lol yeah i have that same brown algae growing in my 3 gallon betta tank right now...
My light is a dual light system that puts out 130 watts so i hope thats plenty for all of the plants! I'll defiantly pick up some flourish excel to and once again thanks for all of the help
Yeah, you are going to want to make sure you have some CO2 going on in there. Watch out for algae as well, you're working with over 4 watts per gallon and that can be very tough.
Trying to get the right sort of high light, fast growing plants that can use up the nutrients fast enough to outcompete the algae. You may want to either consider cutting back on the lighting or actually going to a planted forum (such as APC, Aquatic Plant Central) for help on 4+ wpg..
