The Puffer Forum

ashes wrote:I have so many plants that I have to add nitrogen/nitrates, and I consider my tank stocked. I have about 36 small fish (5 are dwarf puffers) in 80 gallons. I could put more but I find they're already bumping into each other. I also have two large canister filters. I think the trick is planting the tank extremely thick, and fertilizing the plants as needed, then the bioload issue is reduced.

i have to disagree, stocking levels are stocking levels regardless of plants and filtration. these are limits that should never be pushed under any circumstances....unless unhappy fish are on the agenda. they cope but cannot tell you otherwise

plants will always need some sort of suppliment in a well kept tank if you wish for them to grow. and adding external filtration does add to water volume but not required swimming space, if bumping into eachother tank is too small. not having a go but this is why i like understocked tanks the fish show more personality.please do add plants and extra filtraion as it will make a more healthy tank when coupled with regular maintenance, but do not increase stocking levels to fill this

Fish need more than just good water. They need space, and stuff, to run around too. This is why I stick with small fish. I believe plants both help clean water, and provide habitat for the fish to enjoy. I have 16 glowlight danios, who go back and forth on the surface between plants. 8 are oto's, who don't do much but hide. 3 are loaches, which spend their time scrubbing the sand for food. 4 flying fox fish look for food everywhere but the surface. The puffers hunt for snails. I feel it's a good mix. I'm trying to grow the plants thick enough to hide the back wall.

I added a bullnose/rubbernose pleco, and bumped the light from 10 to 12 hours per day. I do not have algae issues, so I'm comfortable bumping the light considering how many algae eaters I have (13).