Hi, I've been reading over the forums for awhile and have been wanting to setup a puffer tank for sometime now.I am a junior in college, and live at home. I want to setup a tank in my room. I am looking at purchasing a single figure 8 puffer for a tank roughly 30 gallons. I haven't purchased anything yet.
My tap water here in NJ has a pH of roughly 7 even...last time i tested it. I know our pool water is consistently acidic, but that may be due to rain(acid rain?)
We had a 10gallon goldfish tank with 2 gold fish for about 5-6 years...but the goldfish grew too large for the tank and we donated them to a neighbor with an outdoor pond where one of them is still residing today.
So, looking at about a 30 gallon bow-front for my room with a matching stand/cabinet. I definitely want a puffer regardless of the extra effort in maintaining a varied diet, brackish conditions, etc.
so...my first question is which type of filter...and how big.
We used an aquaclear power filter on our goldfish tank and had good results. the only thing i was not a huge fan of was the crusting of minerals on the tank from splash, but this may have been more of a direct result of an air stone in the tank. I'd like to go with a large aquaclear since i had previous experience with one and that they are cheap and the local stores carry their media. They are also media flexible which is nice if i needed to make some of my own. I also found the cost to be low overall.
My the other voice inside me is telling me to go with a canister, most likely a Filstar XP. I don't know anything about canisters, how easy is the maintenance? Do they self prime(i know the HOB aqauclears do not).? Can i use any filter media or do i need to buy Rena/Fulval/Ehiem specific media pending on which filter i purchase.
I'd also really only want to run one filter...due to cost(media, electric bill, etc).
I am leaning towards using the largest aquaclear HOB with sponges and a bag full of bio media that everyone recommends. Will this be enough or too much for one F8?
If i go with the Rena Filstar XP, should i pick up the XP2 or XP1? I always think its better to go bigger(and the price difference isn't a concern in this department).
What is the better choice? i fear with the rena i wont be able to find media,parts, etc locally if i needed too.Also, how often do the rubber intake and exhaust lines clog up?
New puffer setup for college student
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Boxermom
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I highly recommend the Rena XP series. I'm an idiot and even I can put it together and maintain it. 
Its easier to maintain than the Eheim and Fluvals, IMO, and gives a great bang for the buck. For a 30g, you could go with the XP1 which is rated for up to 45g. The XP2 is rated for up to 75g and I think it might be overkill as far as the amount of water it puts out. They come with a full set of various filter media to start with and you can order more online if you wish, or you can replace it with all sorts of other stuff. I haven't had anything clog up yet on either of mine. I just clean the tubes with a tube brush every other water change and rinse the media. I rarely change the media in any of my filters, canister or HOB, unless its seriously falling apart. And yes, they self-prime.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/a ... CatId=3602
Its easier to maintain than the Eheim and Fluvals, IMO, and gives a great bang for the buck. For a 30g, you could go with the XP1 which is rated for up to 45g. The XP2 is rated for up to 75g and I think it might be overkill as far as the amount of water it puts out. They come with a full set of various filter media to start with and you can order more online if you wish, or you can replace it with all sorts of other stuff. I haven't had anything clog up yet on either of mine. I just clean the tubes with a tube brush every other water change and rinse the media. I rarely change the media in any of my filters, canister or HOB, unless its seriously falling apart. And yes, they self-prime.http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/a ... CatId=3602
Tina
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
The XP series has 2 baskets in the XP-2 so I assume the XP-3 has 3 and the XP-1 has 1. Each basket also has a divider so you can subdivide the basket. For a 30 gallon I would probably go for the XP-2.
You do not need to replace the sponges during maintanance. I have a Fluval 404 canister filter that is around 6 years old and still have the original sponges. My XP-2's are 1 to 2 years old and still have the original sponges as well.
You do not need to replace the sponges during maintanance. I have a Fluval 404 canister filter that is around 6 years old and still have the original sponges. My XP-2's are 1 to 2 years old and still have the original sponges as well.
sweet. This is good to know. When performing maintence on a canister, do you just wash it out with tank water? and squeeze the sponges out in tank water as well?
And what do you use for biomedia in the XP's? I havent seen one in person so these are more for trying to get a feel of what the inside looks like. Any pics???
So the canister is the better choice?
SHould i just go big with the Xp3?
And what do you use for biomedia in the XP's? I havent seen one in person so these are more for trying to get a feel of what the inside looks like. Any pics???
So the canister is the better choice?
SHould i just go big with the Xp3?
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Phaedrus
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50% is the rule of thumb, but you can often get away with smaller changes when the tank is established and well maintained.
A 33g tank could hold 3 F8s comfortably if well designed.
If the flow of the xp3 were too much, you could always minimize the current through some careful aiming to difuse the torrent of water a bit. Say by aiming it at some decore to deflect it. If aimed at a tank wall it may create a bit of a whirlpool.
A 33g tank could hold 3 F8s comfortably if well designed.
If the flow of the xp3 were too much, you could always minimize the current through some careful aiming to difuse the torrent of water a bit. Say by aiming it at some decore to deflect it. If aimed at a tank wall it may create a bit of a whirlpool.
Well, i went out and aboot to go gander and check out my options. My LFS only had a red eyed puffer in stock. They also did not carry anything for the Xp series of filters. They did/do have a large aquarium selection. I also worked there for a few weeks last summer, so i bet i could strike a deal if i bought items from them.
I then proceeded to the Petsmart near me to see what they had(about a 7 minute drive, less without traffic). They had dwarf puffers in stock. They looked good with non of them having sunken in bellies or visblie signs of sickness. They are so tiny.
Petsmart also has almost everything i need for other items, filters, salt, and quite possible a tank. After thinking about it for some time, i am now questioning if a figure 8 puffer is right for me. I'd feel bad if i kept one in anything less than 26gallons. I also don't know if i'll be able to afford all the salt required for his brackish conditions. Its about 40 dollars for a bucket of salt and i'd probably need one every 2 months with 50% waterchanges weekly. I also don't know how one does a 15 gallon waterchange in their home...its either a buttload of buckets or a large trashcan like one, and then you'd have to double that inorder to drain the old water...unless i am missing something?
So for now i think i am merely going to use the 10 gallon tank i have at home already and the aqauclear 250("25 gallons per hour") and set up a little dwarf tank and see how it goes. If can successfully deal with that little setup with my school. work, and crew(i row for my college) schedule, i'll invest more money into this hobby. Dwarves are cute anyways.
Thanks for the help. I shall now go check out the freshwater forum and dwarfpuffers.com or w/e it is. thanks. i shall be around.
I then proceeded to the Petsmart near me to see what they had(about a 7 minute drive, less without traffic). They had dwarf puffers in stock. They looked good with non of them having sunken in bellies or visblie signs of sickness. They are so tiny.
Petsmart also has almost everything i need for other items, filters, salt, and quite possible a tank. After thinking about it for some time, i am now questioning if a figure 8 puffer is right for me. I'd feel bad if i kept one in anything less than 26gallons. I also don't know if i'll be able to afford all the salt required for his brackish conditions. Its about 40 dollars for a bucket of salt and i'd probably need one every 2 months with 50% waterchanges weekly. I also don't know how one does a 15 gallon waterchange in their home...its either a buttload of buckets or a large trashcan like one, and then you'd have to double that inorder to drain the old water...unless i am missing something?
So for now i think i am merely going to use the 10 gallon tank i have at home already and the aqauclear 250("25 gallons per hour") and set up a little dwarf tank and see how it goes. If can successfully deal with that little setup with my school. work, and crew(i row for my college) schedule, i'll invest more money into this hobby. Dwarves are cute anyways.
Thanks for the help. I shall now go check out the freshwater forum and dwarfpuffers.com or w/e it is. thanks. i shall be around.
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Phaedrus
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Rule of thumb for F8s, the minimum is 15gs for the first one and 10g for each one after that. So a 26g tank could handle 2. A 30g may handle 3 if well decorated.
As I said, you can get away with less than 50% water changes a lot of the time. I rarely do 50% changes anymore. It's more often 20-30% and sometimes 10-15%. I do monitor my tank parameters closely and always change some amount every week. I also vaccuum and clean the filters weekly.
F8s are very low end brackish. 1.005 SG which doesnt take much salt to achieve. I have a GSP tank at 1.015 SG and A bucket of salt lasts me 6 months or more.
Dwarf puffers are a good choice though. They are simpler than F8s and very cute. You could fit 3 in your 10g if it's nicely decorated.
As I said, you can get away with less than 50% water changes a lot of the time. I rarely do 50% changes anymore. It's more often 20-30% and sometimes 10-15%. I do monitor my tank parameters closely and always change some amount every week. I also vaccuum and clean the filters weekly.
F8s are very low end brackish. 1.005 SG which doesnt take much salt to achieve. I have a GSP tank at 1.015 SG and A bucket of salt lasts me 6 months or more.
Dwarf puffers are a good choice though. They are simpler than F8s and very cute. You could fit 3 in your 10g if it's nicely decorated.
I am going to do the dwarves instead, do to the low entry cost since i already have an aquaclear 150 and the tank. All i need right now is a heater and a hood/lamp. Plus, its easier and they are a bit hardier than the F8's. The ten gallon also fits nicely next to my bed.
I was shooting for 2 Dp's. I just brought the tank down from the attic and am gonna clean it up and get her cycling. I wanna have live plants in the tank, and thinking of starting of with some java moss and java fern. I'd like a heavily planted/decorated tank, so do you think 3 puffers would fit?
Also, moderators, if you'd like to move this into the freshwater puffer forum, feel free. Or even close it if you need to. Thank you.
I was shooting for 2 Dp's. I just brought the tank down from the attic and am gonna clean it up and get her cycling. I wanna have live plants in the tank, and thinking of starting of with some java moss and java fern. I'd like a heavily planted/decorated tank, so do you think 3 puffers would fit?
Also, moderators, if you'd like to move this into the freshwater puffer forum, feel free. Or even close it if you need to. Thank you.