The Puffer Forum

Been reading lots of different opinions on this - how deep should the gravel layer be? Have read anything from 1" to 6".

partially depends on the size of your tank and what youyr keeping. When I kept large sa/ca cichlids I had anout 2-3 inches in the bottom. for puffers, I'm not sure. for right now Istill have the same gravel but will be looking to go w/ sand sooner or later.

I have DPs, and it's just under an inch.

I don't think it matters a lot, unless the fish likes to bury itself.

1-2" is fine.

I agree with LilGreenPuffer, I have sand in most of my tanks, and only in my Congo and suvattii tanks do I keep the sand a little deeper, so they can bury themselves. I have gravel in 2 tanks and I keep about 2-inches in there, mostly to anchor the plants. And I don't have any substrate at all in my GSP's tank because I believe they like to glide along on their bellies on the bottom glass (they really do seem to enjoy doing this ).

A good deal of your nitrifying bacteria is in the substrate. I'd never go BB. As far as sand--unless the puffer is a burrower, I find the weekly stirring a PITA.

I know, I probably wouldn't go bare with any more tanks, but they really do seem to love gliding along on the glass, so I've kept it that way. I have 2 filters in that tank, one of those foam filters and a regular one, and so far, it's been doing nicely.