*sigh* Gonna bring the SG down to Fresh..

[Pandora114]

F8's are really insanely difficult to find..so I'm just gonna bring the SG down to fresh water over the next few weeks (it's at .005 now so well two weeks) and go with my original plan of some DP's and otos.

*sigh*

What do you think?



Does it need more decorations or not for what I plan on doing. TIA

[manutius]

thats such a shame Pandora, but then its not really a bad thing that you will get DP's now is it

I think the tank would be good for them, would you consider live plants now?

[Belack1120]

That is too bad

Do you think that you and I could switch homes because figure 8s and green spotted puffers are the only puffers I can find within an hour from my house and I only keep freshwater puffers

P.S. I don't mean that it is too bad that you have to get freshwater puffers, I mean that it is too bad that you cannot find what you want because I know how it feels. But I am sure that you will love your dwarf puffers, because freshwater or brackish puffers are puffers and they are the coolest species of fish on the planet

[Pandora114]

thats such a shame Pandora, but then its not really a bad thing that you will get DP's now is it

I think the tank would be good for them, would you consider live plants now?

Unfortunately live plants are not within my budget...I could call the Non chain store to see how much their aquarium plants cost. but I can't do the plants this month because I have to pay for shipping on a co-op order. Going to Naniamo next Sat...so gotta do one water change today, one next week, and one right before we go down, should bring SG down to 1.000

[MinPins3]

Pandora,

To get plants at an inexpensive price, check out the fish clubs in your area.

I belong to a cichlid club that has swaps (for anyone who wants to attend) once a month with really great prices on equipment, plants, snails, etc.

Mary Anne

[Pandora114]

The non-box pet store has them for like $4/plant.

I can't afford the plants right now though....any success in planting the tank AFTER adding livestock?

[crazedpuffer]

That would work, I've done it. It might be best to wear gloves though so the puff won't nip you in the process.

[Pufferoni]

Keep checking with your local clubs and classified. It is best to start with fast growing plants and people usually have too many and are willing to get rid of them cheap or free. I give away shopping bags of plants away every couple of weeks You can plants anytime put them in takethem out just like adding rocks.lol. Of course plants are almost as addictive as puffers. I planted my first one in january now I have 5 planted tanks. Injecting Co2 and spend more time looking for plants than fish. So be careful. lol

[Pandora114]

Ok, since the lighting is fairly low...what plants would you reccomend? I can always amplify it by putting some tinfoil behind the fluro bulb...but other than that..I can't find a brighter WPG for that hood...

Oh yeah I really *dont* wanna change the substrate...I love my black beach gravel..it's so nice and gravely and not plastic painted stuff....

Suggestions?

ETA: I'm gonna post on Freecycle to see if I can get some.

Freecycle is good!!!! hehehe

[Myaj]

What is your WPG? Can't suggest plants without knowing that .

[Pandora114]

18 watt bulb
15 gallons...

ETA: My math fu is non existant....

[Myaj]

Yeah, that is pretty low. If you can find them, try to focus on crypts, anubias, java fern/moss. Anubias and the javas pull their nutrients from the water, not substrate, so they won't mind your gravel at all. In fact, you aren't supposed to plant them, they like to grip on to rocks and driftwood, etc.

If you really want to go fully planted later, you can always add some EcoComplete to your substrate (its black!) and upgrade the lighting. But for now, if you find some compatible plants go for it.

[Pandora114]

I'll try to find a brighter bulb..that's gonna be tough for sure...it's a brand spankin new hood with a new type of bulb...so the life glo type hasnt been made to fit it's ballast yet...does that make *any * sense whatsoever? lol

[Myaj]

Buying a different color spectrum bulb isn't going to help you really, its the wattage that counts. And a fixture can only handle so many watts. You're pretty much stuck unless you buy a new fixture.

The only ones that are different are the fixtures that take screw in incandescent bulbs. You can get a mini-compact flourescent bulb in there and that works great for plants. But with the flourescent (tube type) bulbs, there aren't many options other than a new fixture.

[Pandora114]

wow misunderstood it lol

Just looked at my hood's product specs and it includes a 24 watt bulb

So yeah I can do the plants without switching! YAY!

Dunno where I got 18 from....oh yeah ....The Lady at the Petco...

*sigh* So yeah I have sufficient lighting for plants YAAAAY.

http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/aqu ... 4940011001 <<< my hood