The Puffer Forum

Ok, thanks!

Im gonna try and get some Onyx sand from my LFS today or tomorrow. It may take me a couple days to fill the thing up with water though, becasue i have to use RO water( treated with ROright, or mixed with my own well water.), so it could end up being a lot of trips back and forth from my LFS.

Im gonna buy some liquid live bacteria to cycle the tank .

Are there any possible tankmates with the Miurus? ( in a 29-gal. tank) I didnt think so, but i wasnt sure.

I would not do any tankmates.

I hope that you are refering to Bio-Spira? The others do not work for me.

It cannot coexist with other type of puffer.

BTW - pool filter sand is very good for an aquarium...just thought I'd chime in. Play sand works fine, too. I've used the later and know of friends who used the former.

Eric

I use Onyx sand for my arrowhead. This is the first time I've used it and am fairly happy with the look but wouldn't buy it again since it was too much of a pain to rinse. My arrowhead has never used it for cover and prefers the shelter of plants. Maybe Onyx sand grains are just that little bit too big.

I've used play sand before in a skunk botia tank. I hated it. Despite my best efforts it compacted within 9 months (causing all sort of plant issues) and I ended up replacing it with a moon sand/eco complete mix.

I wouldn't worry about grain size. I use fine gravel and it doesn't stop them from burying if they want to. I say 'if they want to' because 2 out of the three do bury themselves but I have never seen the third do this.
Take a look!

I got the sand home today( i went with pool filter sand), and have rinsed it, and rinsed it, and rinsed it, and rinsed it.... well, you get the idea! It still draws a tiny amount of cloudyness, but very very little. just enough to still be noticable.

Do i have to rinse it till I get clear water???? ( seems like that would take forever, and i have already spent a couple hours rinsing)

*edit- forgot to add, the depth of the sand is between 1 1/4" to 2" across the tank.

-John

Well, I finished setting up thge tank today, and i will begin cycling and planting the tank, and get it ready for the puffer.

I did some checking and biospira is not available in my area. all i can get is something called "Cycle" . I think i may have to use fish....


Ill try and get a pic up of the tank as it is currently, but my digital cameras been acting weird.

Thanks to everyone for all their help with this project!


-John

Why not try fishless cycling? We have an excellent article in the Library.

oops, forgot about fishless cycling

I will definitely do that. Thanks pufferpunk!

The guy at my LFS finally got to talk to his distributor about the pricing of a T.miurus, and it turns out the only ones available right now are full grown 6" Miurus', that cost 70$. Just a tad bit out of my price range.

I guess ill look into a different puffer, or keep looking for a suvatti....


At least i learned a lot while setting up the tank.


-John

Suvattii should be much cheaper--around $20 here.

do not use play sand with them. It takes forever to clean the sand before use, and is hard to clean sand during use. I had a suvatti that died from the play sand because the grains cut up his gills. it ends up looking like walrus as well. they should manufactor a white sand that is freshwater safe. i am highly suggesting you use gravel and jsut put things for the puffers to hide in. Play sand will not be what you expected. Trust me i was in you same exact spot 2 years ago.