Dwarf puffer update

[Pandora114]

The two survivors are doing wonderfully. They have both really come out of their shells and whenever I'm anywhere around the tank they are up at the front glass begging for food

Also whenever I do the dishes, they are at the side that faces the kitchen watching me clean the kitchen. two interactive little fishies. I alternate their diets between bloodworm and crushed snails. *my snails are too big for them to eat without crushing first*

They aren't interested in rehydrated freezedried shrimp yet.

IF/When Hubby gives me the goahead to use Mr Visa, I'm placing an order with aquariumplantes.com for their one dozen assortment deal and 3 Myrio, Red (Myriophyllum heterophyllum)

Once I get them in do I replace the air pump with DIY CO2?? (Keeping the bubble curtain for distribution)

How do I add the eco complete to my gravel substrate without really stressing the little guys?

[Nick]

I think no bubble curtain with Co2, it will just remove the co2 from the water as fast as you put it in, put the co2 near the filter outflow and it will mix just fine that way. Not sure about eco complete, I just let my plants do what they will do planted in gravel with low lighting, no co2 at all and only minimal ferts. If you have lots of light, c02 and good ferts will give the plants a tactical advantage over the algae.

[Pandora114]

ok I'll take your approach to it hehehe.

all the co2 and all that...I think I'll just plant n pray hehehe.

So after I plant the tank, should I remove the bubble curtain anyway? Or keep it?

[Nick]

I decided I preferred no bubbles, overall, I did use them at one time, but after the puffers got bored playing in it and stopped, it was just an area of the tank they avoided, and I figure I'm overfiltered so the surface agitation from that is more than enough for oxygenating the water.