A suggestion for new small puffer owners

[BedScien]

In the short time I have been keeping puffers*, I have found my fake leafy plant to be the best decoration for a few reasons

- My puffers all sleep under it. I guess maybe because it offer a fair amount of little hiding places and seem to break up the sight well.

- I find it easy to clean around. I like to net up the little piles of poop and bits of prawn shell that tend to gather on parts of the substrate. I recently neglected to do this and, though I can't be sure, it seems to be a likely explanation for a rise in ammonia I've seen.

- There's plenty of surface area on the leafs so hopefully the important bacteria will have a lot of space to grow.

Anyway, I'm going to get some more decorations similar to this and would recommend the to anyone else.


*i keep three figure 8 puffers

[rickyny]

I also go this route, I've failed miserably at keeping real plants in FW tanks, let alone BW.

[Pufferpunk]

Only plant I've ever had good success with is anubias. It grows like crazy in all my tanks!

[bertie 83]

Even I have had great success with anubias, really undemanding plants. My favourite decor is rock work, it allows you to create slow flow areas for resting and looks nice and natural

[BedScien]

Thanks for the replies
I'm still waiting for my ammonia to go back down. It's on 1ppm just as it was 2 days ago.
Do any of you notice occasional bumps in ammonia in your tanks?

[RTR]

I like planted tanks for FW, and generally have few problems with such tanks. But I have been keeping planted tanks a long time - I will never deny that it is a slow learning process and my FW planted tanks are set for their primary inhabitants - in this case puffers. I have done tanks w/artificial plants, but only for fish which will destroy live plants. Such tanks generall have one or two planted tanks connected to them to improve water quality. I like the look of live plants, but I equally like the benefits of live plats on water quality.

BW and SW tanks in my house are generally rock decor, but I have done some artificial plants with F-8s in light BW. In full SW these days I would always incorporate a 24/7 lighted macroalgae refugium. That again is both for water quality and nutrient export pl;us the generation of good varieties of 'pods for the fish to eat.

Complex set-ups may seen to add extra costs and work, but they are also more likely to be healthier than bacteria- only tanks, and while they are more work and costs to set, they can also be work savers. I do have a couple of 20+ years old set-ups going with little upkeep compared to "normal" FO (fish-only) tanks.

Certainly learn how to manage FO tanks while you are a novice, but do not be afraid to try more complex systems as tank handling becomes second nature to you.

[RTR]

If you have detectable ammonia in any occupied tank, add Seachem's "Prime" daily as long as such reading are seen. It will lock such ammonia into a harmless form.

HTH

[BedScien]

Hi RTR!
Thanks for the reply!
Will the prime stop the ammonia being eaten by the bacteria? If so, I could use the prime and remove the ammonia through water changes but I feel that maybe it would be beneficial in the long term to allow bacteria to accumulate (providing my fish continue to seem completely healthy). The reason for this is that I suspect that part of the reason for the rise in ammonia is because I have started feeding the puffers prawns and that leaves little bits of shell, some of which I can't really get with the net.

I might get some for spare as if the ammonia level rises then I want to take swift action. What do you think?

[Pufferpunk]

I never see ammonia spikes in an established tank. Are there fish in there? Do a 90% WC, thoroughly cleaning substrate, especially under all decor & add Safestart to your filter.

[BedScien]

I never see ammonia spikes in an established tank. Are there fish in there? Do a 90% WC, thoroughly cleaning substrate, especially under all decor & add Safestart to your filter.

Could you give reasons and experience based evidence to back up your instructions, please?

[Pufferpunk]

Ummm... 40 years in this hobby???
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32416

[BedScien]

Ummm... 40 years in this hobby???
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32416

LOL! No, i'm not asking for credentials, I already know you are very experienced i mean for example, the reason why to clean particularly thoroughly under decor or past experience with safestart that makes you trust that it works.

I hope you can see where I'm coming from and know that I don't mean any offense. My fish depend on my cynicism.

Gillian McKeith has had a bazillion years experience in the field of nutrition and she is still... well let's just say she thinks you can oxygenate your blood by eating chlorophyll.

[Pufferpunk]

I have used Safestart when adding bioload of larger fish to my established systems, with no changes in parameters.
I suggest cleaning under everything (as I do every weekly WC), because something is rotting in there, causing an ammonia spike.

[BedScien]

Thank you!

[bertie 83]

Yup highly decorated tanks can be a pita to thoroughly clean, however if you do less more often it is not such a chore. Mentally break your tank into sections and clean one section each time you are doing something in your tank ( a daily occurrence for my OCD ) you will be surprised what you can find that may otherwise affect water quality.