Tank decorations and advise

[Pufferfreak42]

Hi Everyone,
I was wondering what sort of decorations you have in your tank. Mine looks pretty blah and I want to pretty it up and have more hiding and entertainment for Puff. All I have there now is the substrate which I hate so I'm changing it this weekend, 2 ornaments that he can swim through, and a skull with a bubbler inside. Oh, and a fake plant that he hides behind on occassion.

What do you suggest I get? I bought live plants as I was hoping they'd be full of snail eggs but was worried they'd die from the salt in the tank so put them in a freshwater one. I have no idea what they are called, sorry. One has broad leaves and the other one is soft and I was warned the guppies will eat it.

Also, I don't think Puff likes me anymore. He used to look at me everytime I went over to the tank but now he "runs" away. I'm heartbroken as I want him happy and not scared of me. I spend several times a day looking at him and overfeeding which has to stop and will. It's only 2 adults in my home so there's not a lot of traffic in front of the tank. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[bigfatfish]

Hi. I have 2 young GSPs. I have natural coloured gravel, bogwood, natural rocks & artificial plants (they look almost as good as live ones & can stand the salt!). I also have live mossballs & I occasionally add a live plant or 2 until it starts to look a bit rubbish due to the salt - my two love to peck holes in live plants & leave little diamond shaped bite marks! I also have an air curtain - but it is a bit of a pain trying to control the salt creep that it creates. The decorations really are a matter of taste - I like things to look natural.
The only time my puffers "shy" away from me, is when I wear a red jumper! They also don't seem to like the bucket I use for water changes - that is red too!

[pufferpuggirl]

I have to agree with bigfatfish, I like my tanks to look as natural as I can do them. I like to use Vallis in my brackish tanks because it can live in the brackish water, and it will spread fairly quickly, giving the tank a "wild" look to it. I very much believe that puffers enjoy hanging out in plants, whether to sleep, to hide, or just for the heck of it. All of my tanks, fresh and brackish, have live plants in them (all except one, and that's only because that particular tank doesn't get very much natural light and I am not sure how a plant would do there). Aside from plants, I like to use wood and rocks also, and I've even had some success getting moss to grow on a piece of bogwood in my brackish tank, which looks rather nice.

In regards to you saying your puffer doesn't like you any more .... I would not read too much into that. Didn't you say you've not had him that long? Give him time, and try not to spook him when you're close to the tank.... he may just need more time to acclimate, but I'm sure he loves you, afterall, you've given him a nice home!

[Pufferpunk]

Here's my 55g GSP tank:

Hint: It's all fake!

[Dadof4]

PP, I still swoon with shock and awe when I see that tank! I'm trying to get mine close to that....

[Pufferpunk]

Took a lot of bleaching to keep all that crap algae-free though.

[Dadof4]

I'm e-baying like mad to get new stuff in mine. I had stacked pieces of flower pots and the Diatoms were aweful! Took it out and they went away.

[Mrs.Puff]

Pufferpunk: So you bleach you stuff to get the aglae off? I didn't know you could do that. I have crushed coral in the bottom of my GSP tank and it gets algae on it like you wouldn't believe and I CANNOT get it off! Could I do the same with my substrate or no. I'm pretty sure it's quite porous so I'd assume no.

As for decorations: My tank is set up like Patrick, Squidward, and Spongebob's street on Spongebob lol. I have squidwards house in there and spongebobs. I also have a Patrick and a Spongebob tank/safe figurines lol. I plan to get the rest of the crew too.

[KorrepZ]

verns verns verns....

[Pufferpunk]

it's quite porous so I'd assume no.

[RTR]

+1 to Pufferpunk

[Myaj]

I will never used crushed coral again, it grew so much algae. Didn't have the same problem with argonite.

I like my tanks very natural, with lots of live plants and driftwood. Problem is, if you are brackish and evnetually going full marine, the plants will die and driftwood will rot. You can get fake (resin) driftwood and fake plants of course, and when you do get to full marine, you can go nuts with rocks and even get some macro algae (saltwater plants) if you want to.

But everyone's tank is their own design preference. Some like bright colors, like PP's, some like neutral, some like a theme (dragons, ancient ruins, etc) some just throw stuff in there to give the puffer things to play in, like those gerbil habitral tubes

[RTR]

WOW! Great post Myaj!

[Pufferfreak42]

I'm so sorry for not writing sooner. I wasn't getting email notifications of any responses so I didn't bother coming on this site during the week. Guess I didn't click on the notification button. It's done now.

I made a few changes, removed the skull and a piece of decoration. I added a piece of driftwood that looked horrible in my other tank but looks pretty good in this one. I also changed the substrate from black and blue to a greyish neutral colour which looks soooooooooo much better.

I'd also like to have a natural look so the other ornmament will have to go soon. I want to get more rocks but that will have to wait until the snow goes or I will go to a rock business. I just hate to have to spend money on what comes natural and free.

Pufferpunk, your tank is amazing. I love it. So much colour, just beautiful.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, what you have and kind words. He's warmed up to me again, I just can't make any sudden moves when I approach the tank. It's only been a month so far.

bigfatfish, I use a red bucket when I do water changes as well. I think Puff hates red as well. He hid in plant yesterday during a change and I couldn't find him, then I thought he jumped out, not a good feeling. Funny how forgiving they are after a treat.

[An2n]

here's my old old 5 gal.



my 2 GSP live in it for 3 weeks.





now their new home. nice design eh for Lee and Carter.