The Puffer Forum

On my 30 gallon w/ my F8 should I put a powerhead on even if the filter creates a pretty good current in one spot? and does a powerhead help circulate debris to the filter?

You could try a small powerhead--I know that my F8 turned into a totally different puffer (in a good way) when I added another HOB to his tank.

I would try it and see how it goes.

You'd have to play around with the position of the powerhead, if you want the debris to go straight to the filter intake.

Yea im gonna check it out.

Well, how much filtration/current do you have already? Wouldn't want to overkill with the current

You'l know if there is too much current when the puffer is plastered to one side of the tank

*Legal disclaimer: Do not take the above statement seriously. Use your own judgement for the appropriate ammount of current. *

Well its a 60 gallon hob on the 30g tank. It creates a very strong current to the bottom of the tank...the other half of the tank is motionless.

Its a safe bet that you could do with some more current.

I've got 40g worth of HOB filtration on my 10g F8 tank, and I could probably do with some more.

*note: My F8 is still a baby and has not outgrown his 10g yet, incase you were wondering. Hes being moved to a 20g or 30g ASAP

Yea I keep mine in smaller tanks till they grow a little. I think if you take one from an lfs and put it in a huge tank, it overwhelms them.

The Fisherman wrote:You could try a small powerhead--I know that my F8 turned into a totally different puffer (in a good way) when I added another HOB to his tank.

One of my F8s loves current. He will spend a lot of time in the bubble wall and the output of the Aquaclear 70. Even though it blows him around, he just keeps going back for more.

do you like that aquaclear you have? I have a Aquaclear 50 and i just dont know if its really any good

jrs24 wrote:do you like that aquaclear you have? I have a Aquaclear 50 and i just dont know if its really any good

Yeah so far anyway. I've only had it running for about 2 months. You can't beat the price (it was ~$25 online), and it holds more media than it comes with (I have an extra pack of bio media, and 2 sponges in it - no carbon)

I have a couple of Aquaclear 20's on other tanks that have been running for over 1 year, and no problems with them.

I personally don't like bio-wheel filters (have had them in the past). IME they have to be cleaned all the time or the stupid wheel stops. Plus I hear the bacteria on the wheel are really sensitive. Supposedly they die right away in a power outage and you are more likely to have an ammonia spike... Not sure about this, but it sounds reasonable to me.

I love my aqua clear, beats my tetra...media is much cheaper.

strike2 wrote:Yea I keep mine in smaller tanks till they grow a little. I think if you take one from an lfs and put it in a huge tank, it overwhelms them.

I disagree. With the proper decoration and such, there's no reason a puffer would be happier in a smaller tank. It's always preferrable to get the biggest tank you can, and to get the final tank when you first get the fish.

Dinsdale wrote:

strike2 wrote:Yea I keep mine in smaller tanks till they grow a little. I think if you take one from an lfs and put it in a huge tank, it overwhelms them.

I disagree. With the proper decoration and such, there's no reason a puffer would be happier in a smaller tank. It's always preferrable to get the biggest tank you can, and to get the final tank when you first get the fish.

I agree with having the final tank when you get the fish, but I have taken a fish that was in a ten gallon and put it in a 55 gallon and it looked very lost and only stayed in one corner of the tank. Baby'ish fish...tend to do better in smaller tanks to me...I do know my fahaka no matter the size will be in at least a 150 gallon.

jake_vdb wrote:holds more media than it comes with (I have an extra pack of bio media, and 2 sponges in it - no carbon)

I have a couple of Aquaclear 20's on other tanks that have been running for over 1 year, and no problems with them.

Ok I'm sorry this is a really dumb question but , I was thinking about taking the carbon out also but wont it cause the tank to start smelling? and on the aquaclears how can you tell if its clogged up since it runs over the side barrier on the faster flow setting anyway

jrs24 wrote:Ok I'm sorry this is a really dumb question but , I was thinking about taking the carbon out also but wont it cause the tank to start smelling? and on the aquaclears how can you tell if its clogged up since it runs over the side barrier on the faster flow setting anyway

I don't think it will make a difference. My tanks don't smell (at least I don't think so, my house doesn't smell bad like my friend who has a dog)

My Aquaclear 20's flow less when they need to be cleaned. You can always turn it to the low setting and see if the water flow drops more than usual (I turn it down when I feed so the food will stay at the surface longer)