Argonite Sand Mix

[fahucker]

What would be the best way to clean the turds out from the puffer with out sucking up too much substrate? I have been using a gravel vacuum to get it out, but it is sucking up too much sand. The crushed argonite isn't affected though since its much heavier... any idea? or personal techniques?

[Salmon]

What I do is kind of twirling the vacuum above the sand to kick up the debris and it usually sucks it right up. I get some sand but not much really especially if you do it right

[trekenk]

Try pinching the hose as your working, and continue to pinch as needed.

[Pufferpunk]

Why are you using aragonite in a FW tank?

[fahucker]

Because from what I was told and read its beneficial...no one has ever told me that is wasn't good before

[RVS]

Argonite rises the ph and gh, As I Know.
But thats good from some kind of puffers, yours is a Fahaka, i don't know much about this puffers, but i don't think Argonite could be a big problem.

About piking up the waste, salmon technique is the best, try to create some "wind" with the hose, the waste moves an you catch it... couldn't be easier.

[Pufferpunk]

Yes, it hardens the water & raises the pH. It is used in BW/SW tanks, not FW.

[RVS]

I also use it on BW... but in FW... i don't know... whiter will become like in a malawi to Tanganyika tank... hard and alkaline.
¿is this good for your puffer(s)?

[fahucker]

Ahhh I see. But the fahaka seems to like it a little high... as far as water hardness goes its about perfect right now. But I appreciate the tip! so what would be best? Sand?

[RVS]

For FW puffers the best is the silica sand, it comes on many colors but natural is white with a little yellow spots ñ_ñ

I keep my gap with a silica and aragonite sand mix.

[fahucker]

That sounds like a nice blend