hmm substrate for fahaka set up

Dwarf, Red Eye, South American & more. Freshwater puffer talk in here.
Post Reply
User avatar
anthrax
Puffer Fry
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 9:53 pm
My Puffers: Ceylon in a 50g tank
Fahaka in a 120g tank
Location: Singapore

hmm substrate for fahaka set up

Post by anthrax »

Dear all,
I was thinking of going with sand as my substrate and a rocky landscape for my 4 by 2 by 1.5 fahaka tank... what do you guys think about that.. If i keep the sand depth to about 1 inch would i still have to worry about all those ammonia pockets and stuff? and also what are the cons of maintaing sand? I got to stir it every week right or something? Thanks for all the advice :P O and the tank has all black background the bottom and sides and back...


Eddie :)
Top
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32976
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:
Contact Pufferpunk

Post by Pufferpunk »

I prefer small gravel. How long do you plan on keep the fahaka in that tank?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Top
User avatar
Rocker
Former Staff Member
Posts: 1356
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 6:12 am
Location: Derby, UK

Post by Rocker »

I personally on bigger tanks recommend gravel. Sand is a PITA and too risky.
Image Some call it a product of a mis-spent youth, I call it Rock n Roll ! Image
Top
Gomez
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:49 pm
Location: Canada

Post by Gomez »

i tried sand in my fahaka tank, but in the end it was to much of a mess i sucked it out with the gravel siphon and ended up putting in a mixture of fluorite and gravel that is the same color.
What's the difference between a fish and a piano?
You can't tuna fish!
Top
User avatar
Boxermom
Former Staff Member
Posts: 2182
Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:
Contact Boxermom

Post by Boxermom »

I use smooth gravel in mine.
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
Top
User avatar
manutius
Former Staff Member
Posts: 1316
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:49 pm
My Puffers: RIP Clooney the Mbu :(
Location: Southend essex, UK
Contact:
Contact manutius

Post by manutius »

yeah I' go for smoothe gravel and stay away from sand. if disturbed it will end up in your filter
Top
User avatar
anthrax
Puffer Fry
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 9:53 pm
My Puffers: Ceylon in a 50g tank
Fahaka in a 120g tank
Location: Singapore

fahaka

Post by anthrax »

Its going to be its long term tank.. is it too small? i have asked around in this forum and all were saying that its comfortable enough.. though of course a bigger tank would be the best but i just cannot afford that... so yeah.. i see.. okay maybe a lighter small gravel and some big nice rocks and make shift caves yeah?
Top
User avatar
manutius
Former Staff Member
Posts: 1316
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:49 pm
My Puffers: RIP Clooney the Mbu :(
Location: Southend essex, UK
Contact:
Contact manutius

Post by manutius »

Sounds ideal if thats as big as you can go. Be aware of the eventual swimming room and resting space on the substrate he will need. If you set it up now like that, I suggest around the edges and back, you may not need to change it too much in the future. The reason I say this is that he may not be too happy of your intrusion on his tank if you have to move things about in the future. Failing that you could buy a pair of chainmail gloves :lol:
Top
User avatar
Boxermom
Former Staff Member
Posts: 2182
Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:34 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:
Contact Boxermom

Post by Boxermom »

That's about 90g and we recommend at least 125g.
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
Top
User avatar
anthrax
Puffer Fry
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 9:53 pm
My Puffers: Ceylon in a 50g tank
Fahaka in a 120g tank
Location: Singapore

fahaka

Post by anthrax »

i know that 120g is the optimum but i have also heard that 4 by 2 by 1.5 is also sufficient as there is a 24 inch allowance for its fins to turn and stuff... but this is really the best i can give already.... yeah i know i would not want to have to shift the stones around after i have placed them in lol who knows what kind of carnal damage can a 15 inch fahaka do to your fingers.. haha
Top
User avatar
Hilly
Mentor
Posts: 1903
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:36 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Current: Tetraodon Lineatus
Previous:
Tetraodon Sabahensis
Montrete Abei
Tetraodon Biocellatus
Carinotetraodon Salivator
Location (country): UK
Location: Nottinghamshire, UK

Post by Hilly »

The minimum gallonage is not just about turning room in a tank. Big puffers and their diets ultimately mean big waste produced and the gallonage specified gives you a buffer to the waste. Physically the tank may give him enough room but you may find yourself doing a hell of a lot more big water changes to keep the water parameters optimal for one.
Hilly
Top
User avatar
anthrax
Puffer Fry
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 9:53 pm
My Puffers: Ceylon in a 50g tank
Fahaka in a 120g tank
Location: Singapore

fahaka

Post by anthrax »

i agree.. thats when the overfiltration comes in.. i am intending to use at least a 2000l/hr cannister...
Top
User avatar
Hilly
Mentor
Posts: 1903
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:36 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Current: Tetraodon Lineatus
Previous:
Tetraodon Sabahensis
Montrete Abei
Tetraodon Biocellatus
Carinotetraodon Salivator
Location (country): UK
Location: Nottinghamshire, UK

Post by Hilly »

anthrax wrote:i agree.. thats when the overfiltration comes in.. i am intending to use at least a 2000l/hr cannister...
I'm not agreeing with you on choice of tank size in terms of gallonage.

You're still going to end up doing more frequent big water changes to keep the nitrates at a satisfactory level. You'll have a big filter and it may provide great mechanical filtration and have a large bio-media section for bacteria colonies and the more waste produced, the bacteria are going to convert it into nitrates, so the water changes are still going to be required.

Either way a bigger tank for a full grown specimen is recommended and 125 is our recommended minimum to house a specimen for life.

Good luck.
Hilly
Top
User avatar
anthrax
Puffer Fry
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 9:53 pm
My Puffers: Ceylon in a 50g tank
Fahaka in a 120g tank
Location: Singapore

fahaka

Post by anthrax »

yup
Top
User avatar
anthrax
Puffer Fry
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 9:53 pm
My Puffers: Ceylon in a 50g tank
Fahaka in a 120g tank
Location: Singapore

fahak

Post by anthrax »

Dear Hilly and other people,
Pardon me about the previous post i have tried posting 2 other times but have failed so i was just trying out posting. Anyway lets talk about my current situation..

I do know that 120g and above is recommended for a fahaka, however the maximum i can go is a 4 by 2 by 1.5 and i have also enquired about the sufficiency of a tank of that size and have gotten positive remarks.

To cope with the problem that you mentioned, i am prepared to do stuff like cleaning up after every feeding and doing water changes every week (both of which i am already doing for my other tank) and in addition i could also add a skimmer as well to remove dissolved waste.

Thus, i believe that all these with the aid of a good canister will result in good quality for my future fahaka..

Eddie :)
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Freshwater Puffers”