The Puffer Forum

Hiya,

So I just got back the governments check to me and I'm thinking it's time to do some hardware changes/updates/add-ons to the tank. I've got a 55 gal, fake plants, sandy bottom, RENA XP3, some lights from the home depot, and decor. Housed in there I've got my 3 kings of the tank, 3 beautiful F8's all growing nicely and getting along. The Troll underneath, my ~7" Dragon goby, and a few peasant feeder guppies just for movement and if the puffers ever get hungry.

The side of the tank with the XP3 input&output seems to get some water movement but from about half way down to the other end it's mostly stagnant and lots of crap just settles. So one thing I'm looking to do is get something to provide more water motion. I'm debating on getting a UV sterilizer just to clean up the water a bit more also.

Anyone have any experience with devices like those or any ideas on anything else my fish might want.

The economy thanks you!

my fluval 203 return line has a hard plastic tube that has ten holes or so that start at the top of the tank and go all the way to the bottom. You can angle the holes to any direction in the tank. Maybe you could find some hard plastic tubing at home depot and drill some holes in that to get your water movement into the lower half of your tank. I believe it would be cheap and easy to build as long as you can find a tube that will fit tight into your return line. If you couldn't find a tight fit you could alway use plumbing hose clamps to make it a tight fit. Oh be sure to plug the bottom to allow pressure to force the water out the holes you drilled. I believe 7/64" holes would be sufficient.

Your xp3 is rated up to a 175g tank so I think you would be wasting your money with the sterilizer. If you keep up on your media changes you should have no problem with dirty water. Also if you get your current up so the bottom isn't stagnant then you should be golden.

Maybe you could get the 3 kings a new throne room or a new bridge for the troll. I'm sure they would like the remodel. haha

if its low enough brakish you could get some new lighting and turn it into a nice planted tank, but that might be more of an endevour than your looking for, it could also include a CO2 system, new substrate, fertilizer but the end result would be amazing!

I'll have to look into the PVC trick. that might help. I need to open up my XP3 also. It seems like something might be jamming part of the output also.

I thought about plants, Even tried it back when I was all freshwater silver dollars and guppies but I could never really get the plants to survive and flourish.

My wife hates the idea but I'm leaning towards a biocube.. get some full SW action going on