The Puffer Forum

Yep, I'm going there

Picked up a new tank and stand today. They were both on clearance and at a price we couldn't resist. Funnily enough the Instant Ocean salt was on sale for $40 for 160gal... We should have the entire setup including salt for quite a while for under $200 brand new.

I've read everything I could find on here so I think we're pretty well prepared. We're not rushing into this and plan on getting it ready and then picking up a fish the next time the LFS has them in. I'm torn on how to decorate the tank though. I adore Carmen's tiki theme but I'm also tempted to do a fake rock/coral theme (very bright and colourful). I don't want to have any plants in this tank. The puffer will be the only inhabitant.

I imagine I'll come up with more questions but here's the beginning:

1. Our water is very hard (approximately 18dGh for GH and KH). Tap water pH is above 8. Do we still need an aragonite substrate or can we just use pool filter sand?

PS: The little beast will need a name. I'm looking for something that's short and with character (no Bob's or Jim's please ).

as for the name ... Fate (Fff8) haha

personally I wouldn't go fake anything... maybe use real rock with a nice sand base?

When people ask me for a name, I always answer TITAN

+ If you keep SG at 1.005 you can keep some of the FW plants

Oh my, that name is adorable! Or Feight... Hehe.

We were thinking about using real rock but I want the tank to look marine-ish probably and I haven't found real rock yet. I should post locally and see if someone can point us in the right direction (really expensive at the LFS but a possibility). Real rocks would allow us to customize it for our tank. I'm thinking really colourful fake corals though. All our other tanks are planted and natural. The least natural thing we have in them is a pleco cave

feight is a good name better than mine "poopie the pleco"

J-P wrote:feight is a good name better than mine "poopie the pleco"

You're going to have sooooo much fun!

I'm also tempted to do a fake rock/coral theme (very bright and colourful).

Like this?

I have some largish white rocks in my Ceylon/GSP tank and they look very much like what you'd see in a marine tank. I have no idea what they are because they came with a tank that I bought used. I definitely think you should go the "natural" route, it will look so much nicer. Sorry, but I'm just not into the "fake" look. No offense to anyone that enjoys that sort of thing.

yes I agree Id buy a FW natural looking sand. Add some real but low maintenance plants. Add one of those FW backrounds from the seaview website and some driftwood, moss balls etc. Its an F8 right. Id just go the more natural BW look. Fake corals are pretty exspensive too. I bet PP paid alot for all those decorations.

Yeah, I did... If you want a natural look, Petsmart makes very nice fake mangrove roots.

So, aragonite or crushed coral substrate is not necessary for an F8 tank?

They are recommended.

Why is it recommended? What benefits does it provide to very hard water (18 dkh) with a higher pH? Won't it be overkill and/or unused/unabsorbed/undissolved?

We don't have a problem at all with getting it, just trying to learn/understand.

It is possible that your water supply's hardness/pH may vary. Using these substrates, guarantees a steady pH of around 8. Keeping a steady pH is important.