F8 - many questions

[eraagne]

I posted awhile ago considering getting a F8. I have a 29 gallon but am considering getting a 37 or even larger setup. Would the extra 8 gallons make a worthy difference? Seems like it would.

Also I want to lightly plant the tank. Should I adjust the plants slowly to the salt when I am cycling? I know its only light brackish but still.

Also what decor is best?

How much water turnover should I need filtration wise? Assuming the 29g.

Is a certain substrate better? I have some black sand?

I'm interested in housing some mollies as well how big should the tank be then?

Where is a good place to buy a young puffer?

I probably have more but cant think.


What food should I raise or buy?

[RTR]

Some plants do okay in light BW, some do not. what plants were you considering?

I would not fishless cycle with plants present. The amonia levels used along with the light needed are too likely to produce algae issues.

Lots of decor/plants are best. Exploration of the decor is a major pastime for F-8s.

Water turnover is not a very critical measure. Some filters are highly efficient, others are muich less so. Good filtration is absolutely required. So is areas of good current (for swimming/exercise) along with areas of less current for resting napping - especially with some degree of shelter there. Good and well-maintained filtration is key, as is varied current in different areas of the tank. Total turnover is less significant.

The color of the substrate will affect the color of the fish, and is purely personal choice. I would always use a calcarious substrate for F-8s, as higher KH is impotant to these fish and the concentration of marine mix is not sufficient to provide that unless the source water you use is relatively high KH.

I would not co-house F-8s w/mollies myself. If you opt for a larger tank, you might add some bumblebee gobies. I have has good luck with them in F-8 tanks. Co-housing other fish with puffers is always some risk.

Most puffers are somewhat seasonal in availability. I have always gotten mine locally.

[sgtmyers88]

If you can afford the space and extra $$$ go for a 55G as I see them all the time on Craigslist selling for around $100-$200 for a complete setup.

[hadla]

Some plants do okay in light BW, some do not. what plants were you considering?

i was wondering about this, rtr. have you had any success keeping any plants in a brackish f8 tank? i want to know what plants to buy so i dont waste money on them dying from the salt.

[bubblesandgoofy]

You should raise ramshorn snails.

[RTR]

Some few Crypts do okay at low SGs, ditto some Vals. But I have acclimated those plants very slowly. My Val, V. spiralis, arrests about 1.005 in my tanks - it holds but does not grow much if at all. At ~1.003 it does grow slowly. I have used them with Cichlids more than with F-8s though. I tend to use artificial decor in F-8 tanks.

[hadla]

Some few Crypts do okay at low SGs, ditto some Vals. But I have acclimated those plants very slowly. My Val, V. spiralis, arrests about 1.005 in my tanks - it holds but does not grow much if at all. At ~1.003 it does grow slowly. I have used them with Cichlids more than with F-8s though. I tend to use artificial decor in F-8 tanks.

yeah, i figured i would have to slowly acclimate them to salt... i figured that i will start them out in my planted tank until they get big/tall enough for the 20g and then acclimate them. i will have to invest in some crypts then. figgy's tank is all fake plants right now and i will probably have to leave it at that because i'd hate to kill my plants, but i just want to test it out. thanks for the info!

[Iliveinazoo]

Some few Crypts do okay at low SGs, ditto some Vals. But I have acclimated those plants very slowly. My Val, V. spiralis, arrests about 1.005 in my tanks - it holds but does not grow much if at all. At ~1.003 it does grow slowly. I have used them with Cichlids more than with F-8s though. I tend to use artificial decor in F-8 tanks.

yeah, i figured i would have to slowly acclimate them to salt... i figured that i will start them out in my planted tank until they get big/tall enough for the 20g and then acclimate them. i will have to invest in some crypts then. figgy's tank is all fake plants right now and i will probably have to leave it at that because i'd hate to kill my plants, but i just want to test it out. thanks for the info!

Just to chime in, only some crypts will do well and most only up to SG1.003, Becketti will rot straight away, Wendtii will survive well and apparently Cilliata is a true Brackish species but I've never been able to find it on sale.

Vallisneria, Bacopa Monnieri, Java Fern, Java Moss, Crypt Wendti Brown, Crypt Wendtii Mi Oya, Aponogeton Crispus, Water Sprite and Saggiteria Subulata have all done well in my tank, the crypts and water sprite are the first to go downhill if I nudge the SG above 1.003@25DegC.

[RTR]

I have poor results with live plants above 1.003 myself. Above that really light figure I suspect the plants are not very beneficial to the tank. For me that is always with aragonite sand substrates, and generally OE-RFUG (which those same plants love in FW).

A. crispus is dramatic, but wants a large tank for me. I have not tried it in light BW. The C. w. Mi Oya is a really nice plant.

[hadla]

thanks for all the scientific names!

[Nuclear_Glitter]

I posted awhile ago considering getting a F8. I have a 29 gallon but am considering getting a 37 or even larger setup. Would the extra 8 gallons make a worthy difference? Seems like it would.

Also I want to lightly plant the tank. Should I adjust the plants slowly to the salt when I am cycling? I know its only light brackish but still.

Also what decor is best?

How much water turnover should I need filtration wise? Assuming the 29g.

Is a certain substrate better? I have some black sand?

I'm interested in housing some mollies as well how big should the tank be then?

Where is a good place to buy a young puffer?

I probably have more but cant think.


What food should I raise or buy?

When it comes to tank size, bigger is always better. You can try to get live plants, but you could also just go with fake plants, and some fake driftwood (some people use real, but there's a risk of it rotting away in the salt). I would recommend buying an Aquaclear 50 or higher for your filter. As far as the substrate goes, RTR is right. I also agree that mollies would be a no, because you can't guarantee your puffer would never attack them, and some mollies will even bully puffers. Try finding a puffer locally so you can see it in person and pick the healthiest looking one (This would be good colors, active, no sunken belly). if you are totally unable to find a local one, then resort to finding one online.

You will also need to look into a hydrometer or a refractormeter to measure your salt, but I'm sure you already know that since you know the F8 is brackish. If you have any more questions, let us know! =]