The Puffer Forum

Hi; all-I want to add some more substrate for 2-puffer tanks. Both tanks are fully cycled. Question-Will this put me into a minnie cycle as i have to clean and do a water change as well. Putting puffs in different tanks and just want to add more some
they can bury themselves if wanted.Please respond-Thanks soo much, for all that help-river-7

Are these Fahakas or other puffers that do bury themselves? Not all puffers do that.

If you have bacterial biofiltration in your filters, adding some more substrate should not affect the nitrogen cycle of the tanks. If you are relying on the substrate for the nitrification, yes, adding more can affect the cycle.

Water changes, vacuuming, and general tank cleaning does not and should not affect the nitrogen cycle if properly handled.

HTH

Yes; RTR; They are both Fahaka's, and one doe's hide that i have not picked up yet [see post]'Survivor] and my own so far doe's not-although i would like to give him the option.And both tanks are fully cycled.Mine own Fahaka sleeps in his log on top of it.Thanks soo much for your response. Tank specs; ammonia-0-nitrite-0-nitrate-5-10 ph-steady at 7.8 all the time never changes.kh-i don't have yet until i go fri; to pick up one.How do you tell if they are the hiding type other then giving the space to hide in ie; substrate and a hiddie hole.?? Another question please RTR; How can you tell how young they are?? By their colouring or their habits ect; ?? Example;They both have white substrate and my own is a beautiful yellow and white and he was 2-inches when i got him 8-9-weeks ago and he is now about 6-inches. The one i have not picked up yet is a green type colour and same substrate.Comments please RTR; Thank you soo much. I appreciate your years of knowledge.-river

One thing to remember is that deeper substrate need deeper more thorough cleaning or you will see your nitrates rise, I have a mound about 2x the size of my fahaka for him to bury in if he wishes. Over the course of a week this spreads slightly ready to be fully vac'd and repiled. The rest of the tank has minimal substrate so I can easily clean it around the plants.

One of my Fahakas never buried himself. But he was a rogue in many ways. It was the only fish I have kept of which I was physically afraid. All three were kept with just enough substrate to support Crinum bulbs in a couple of corners, the rest of base just barely covered.

I plan on putting a little mound in the back corner and just lightly in the rest of the tank-so he will have a place to bury himself if wanted-river