Need advise on setting up my puffer tank

[Terrance]

Fahakas dig into the sand when young, so you may get a few plants that may be uprooted. They may also chew up particular plants or know them out of place when hunting. Its very unpredictable. If you ever want to try plants, get something that has a strong root system such as Amazon swords. Those would be very difficult to uproot once they get going. I have been getting success lately with Java fern and Java moss growing on my large decor. They do make the tank looks livelier, but they make my fake silk plants look more fake. Plant maintenance gives you something to do with your tank during water changes.

If you end up getting the HOB aquaclears (they are wonderful products), then C02 would not be an option for you anymore. You will have to use liquid Co2, which aren't as effective as the real stuff. Also your tank is very high, so you will have to account for that when picking out the type of planted tank you want: low, moderate, or high lighted plants.

Think it over, research, and plan accordingly during your cycle period.

[boosted23]

Fahakas dig into the sand when young, so you may get a few plants that may be uprooted. They may also chew up particular plants or know them out of place when hunting. Its very unpredictable. If you ever want to try plants, get something that has a strong root system such as Amazon swords. Those would be very difficult to uproot once they get going. I have been getting success lately with Java fern and Java moss growing on my large decor. They do make the tank looks livelier, but they make my fake silk plants look more fake. Plant maintenance gives you something to do with your tank during water changes.

If you end up getting the HOB aquaclears (they are wonderful products), then C02 would not be an option for you anymore. You will have to use liquid Co2, which aren't as effective as the real stuff. Also your tank is very high, so you will have to account for that when picking out the type of planted tank you want: low, moderate, or high lighted plants.

Think it over, research, and plan accordingly during your cycle period.

I would like to do a planted system. With the fahaka being the only fish in the tank i think a planted system would really bring the life to the tank. I havent even set the tank up yet because i wanted to make sure i will be doing this right and not kill anything i put in there. I am gonna do more research on planted tanks because i have been so busy researching how to maintain a puffer i kinda forgot about this part. Thank you for your input on this, you got me really thinkin about sticking with the planted system.

Cheapest place for your aquarium supplies is Amazon.

Yes, amazon is a wonderful site to purchase from. lol

Whatever your tap conditions are dont matter. Add a product called "prime" by Seachem. A 500ml bottle treats 5000 gallons and is only 20$. I think its 50ml per 50 gallons so just do the math on your tank. It is a miracle treatment that does wonders. Removes chlorine, converts amonia into a product that gets filtered away into your bio filter, detoxifies nitrites and nitrates and treats all kinds of metals found in the water. I use it and i live in a suburb of Dallas. Cant be any worse than yours.

As for the water changes themselves, get this thing called a python, you connect it to you sink. Flip the lever one way it sucks water from your tank and it goes into your sink, flip it the other way you turn on your faucet and the water goes into your tank. No spill no mess system. No need to maintain the python, it cleans it self.

I still use buckets and a syphon its so sad but i read a lot on it after pufferpunk talked about it. Its 40-60$

Stir your gravel before using and let all the particles settle on the surface for the best cleaning.

Thank you for this input. I will purchase the prime for water conditioning. now with the python, its critical that you make the temp of your tap water coming out the same as the tank correct? i see the issue with the python is that the temps will be too far off and could shock the tank? also i would condition the water with prime before adding the water into the tank since its coming from the faucet? I am asking cause i don't want to overload the tank with chemicals with half the water if it will harm the system.

Prime should detoxify any chemicals added to your tap water. I'd ad 2 x Aquaclear 110s, so you have extra mechanical filtration you can rinse out often & still the added biological filtration.

I am gonna check into these, I was told by my lfs that the back of tank filters are weak and generally not ones to have.. looks like he told me quite a bit of misinformation.

[defool89]

Just feel it out, no biggie. Feel what you aquarium water feels like, then just kinda guess what it should feel like from the faucet. If you add piping hot water or ice cold whatever thsts a problem but not from a feel test. Just get close and youll be fine.

As for the python idk. Like i said I'm a caveman and use buckets and a syphon. If i had it though i would just gradually add the prime slowly. Ex if you tank is 50g then you need 5ml. Just drip it in as the water is flowing in. The stuff works fast and is safe as long as you dont drop the bottle In the tank. You just gotta treat the whole volume even if you do a 50% change. If anyone disagrees they will chime in

[boosted23]

ok. update. i ordered a complete water test kit, a python syphon system, and prime water conditioner. i repainted the tanks moulding black and also picked up a 10lb co2 tank. once my package with everything, i will then start my tank for cycling. i also need to get more substrate for the tank. only have two bags. gota get 3-4 more..

[defool89]

You're almost all set for success just get that water flowing

[bertie 83]

By touch alone you will be able to match temp to within a degree or so. Well done for making sure things are all in place first

[boosted23]

Thank you guy's. i am getting ansty to get it up and running. christmas, and some other things caused me to delay this for a little bit. I wanted to make sure i had everything first that way i wasnt scrambling to find it and possibly killing the puffer or plants because i didnt have it. My lady's kids would be devastated if i got a puffer and it dies. especially if it was my fault, that would make me feel like crap.

i will post pics soon. i just have to figure out how to do it on here to where they are not poster size.

[boosted23]

i just bought 2 300 watt heaters for my tank. with it being 31 inches tall and 2 feet thick, will that suffice to keep water temp stable? i read that it would but i just want to make sure from people that actually have first hand knowledge. also, would putting one on each end in the back be good? or one in back and one in front?

[bertie 83]

So long as you have good flow they should provide good even warmth

[Tim]

Cheapest place for your aquarium supplies is Amazon.

For me amazon is expensive but I have to go through the UK version. Prices locally are off the charts and more expensive even than amazon, but the EU is a mess. I find most stuff is ordered cheapest from aquarium stores in Germany . I feel bad for the local stores but they can be 10-60% more expensive.

[boosted23]

i just bought 4 more bags of caribsea eco-complete from petco for 17.24 a bag with free shipping on their website. thats alot better than the $30 plus tax from one of my lfs. all in all so far i have about $1k in materials and about $400 into the tank and refinishing materials to make it look presentable. this is becoming an expensive venture and i still need to purchase a good light , plants and puffer. it will be worth it when the end result shows once i set it up. i hope the puffer will appreciate the work and care i have set fourth for him to live happy. lol

Good thing i chose f.w. over s.w. cause with my inability to control my spending on beautiful aquatic things, i would easily have 3-4 times that cost incurred once comlleted!!! lol

[Pufferpunk]

Is that aragonite sand you purchased?

[Terrance]

Its dry ferts for plants. I read good reviews about it.

[boosted23]

no p.p. its planted tank substrate. kinda like aquasoil build it's harder and a little heavier.it says on the bag not to use coral,shel,argonite sand etc with thos substrate. it wont spike amonia levels like aquasoil does. its a great beginner of planted tanks substrate. until i get some experience with planted tanks i will be using this stuff. it will make it easier on me since this is my first go at this.

i read alot of good reviews on this stuff. only your die hard,experienced planted tank owners say this stuff is way inferior to aquasoil. kinda like die hard gun fans say you dont have a real gun unless its a colt,kimber,etc.. lol i chose this substrate cause i dont need any spikes in levels while i have my puffer and am still learning this trade. alot of people like this stuff. its presoaked with cycled water too so it will help with my tank cycling also.

[bertie 83]

Sounds like good stuff, It is highly unlikely, or more to the point it won't help with the tank cycle unless it comes straight from a cycled tank straight to yours, the bacteria will die off in storage. The company is wrong to claim this. It can cost mega money for initial setup but is worth it for a magnificent end result. Do not forget to post pics as you go