The Puffer Forum

What would be the best way to clean the turds out from the puffer with out sucking up too much substrate? I have been using a gravel vacuum to get it out, but it is sucking up too much sand. The crushed argonite isn't affected though since its much heavier... any idea? or personal techniques?

What I do is kind of twirling the vacuum above the sand to kick up the debris and it usually sucks it right up. I get some sand but not much really especially if you do it right

Try pinching the hose as your working, and continue to pinch as needed.

Why are you using aragonite in a FW tank?

Because from what I was told and read its beneficial...no one has ever told me that is wasn't good before

Argonite rises the ph and gh, As I Know.
But thats good from some kind of puffers, yours is a Fahaka, i don't know much about this puffers, but i don't think Argonite could be a big problem.

About piking up the waste, salmon technique is the best, try to create some "wind" with the hose, the waste moves an you catch it... couldn't be easier.

Yes, it hardens the water & raises the pH. It is used in BW/SW tanks, not FW.

I also use it on BW... but in FW... i don't know... whiter will become like in a malawi to Tanganyika tank... hard and alkaline.
¿is this good for your puffer(s)?

Ahhh I see. But the fahaka seems to like it a little high... as far as water hardness goes its about perfect right now. But I appreciate the tip! so what would be best? Sand?

For FW puffers the best is the silica sand, it comes on many colors but natural is white with a little yellow spots ñ_ñ

I keep my gap with a silica and aragonite sand mix.

That sounds like a nice blend