100Litre F8 Puffer Tank (Brackish Water)

[minnnt]

I suppose if you aren't planning on stocking fish heavily you will be fine.

 

[Livewire88]

I suppose if you aren't planning on stocking fish heavily you will be fine.

Well at the moment I am thinking 2 or 3 puffers, dont mean to copy your tank but im gonna

I may have difficulty finding some in my LFS tho

 

[minnnt]

Sounds good mate. You will need plenty of bloodworm and snails though. You will also have to be prepared to trim their teeth every now and then.

 

[Livewire88]

Sounds good mate. You will need plenty of bloodworm and snails though. You will also have to be prepared to trim their teeth every now and then.

I was a little worried about that part,but the guy at my LFS said they should be fine as long as the get plenty of snails to eat. He is more than likley wrong tho

I am sure you could give me some guidance on that part

 

[minnnt]

There is a great video of an american bloke doing it on youtube, tells you everything you need to know. Snails help, but you will still have to trim them.

You getting SAP's or DP's?

 

[Livewire88]

There is a great video of an american bloke doing it on youtube, tells you everything you need to know. Snails help, but you will still have to trim them.

You getting SAP's or DP's?

Whats the difference in SAP's and DP's? Would you recommend one over the other?

I am going to phone round all my LFS's tomorrow to try and find some. I should have the filter in tomorrow and will pinch some mature media from my other 2 filters to get the APS started.

I have a feeling the light is allready too much as the Betta is staying either under the Amazon Frogbit or in one of the coconut caves and a funny fine algea looking substance is covering the glass!! It may be I just need to get the TPN+ and Excel dosing right. Dosing 3mm of TPN+ and 2mm of excel daily (does that sound about right??)

 

[minnnt]

Stick with the stated doses mate, whatever they may be. The puffer is up to you mate. I went with sap's because I had the room for a bigger species. And they're nicer coloured too

 

[Livewire88]

Small update,

I have added the APS 1000lph External Filter, I added some mature media to the filter to give it a kick start so it should be ready to add some puffers if I can ever find any as expected the flow is nothing to shout about but I feel it will be enough for this tank. I have had to sit it next to the tank wich is a bit of a bummer but I will talk the misses into letting me cut a few small holes so it can go in one of the cupboards below.

I have removed a few of the plants as they were not doing so well and I think 2 39w T5's were to much for the tank so I have removed one of the bulbs so now just running 1 39w T5, and it still seems bright enough. I have tried my hardest to like sand but I just cant and to tell the truth I hate it, all the crap that sits on top looks horrible and I am worried about the bits that get trapped below the sand what will only decay over time due to not being able to vac sand like you can with gravel

In the new year I will be buying some dark substrate to replace the sand with, also the Betta that is in the tank seems to be going down hill, water stats are fine as I have been doing daily 30% water changes and weekly 75% changes and there is no trace of Ammonia or Nitrite, I think he may just be old and of poor quality so if he survives once I get the puffers I may try and take him back to the P@H who gave him to me. I will be moving all the plants around at the weekend and will order some more plants/rocks in the new year.

Here is a picture of how it stands at the moment, looks a bit tatty as I have not done much other than the water changes and add the filter so much more is to come in the near future.

 

[Noahs ark6]

Are you using a base layer underneath the gravel?

 

[Livewire88]

Are you using a base layer underneath the gravel?

Nothing being used under the sand, the plan was to use dirt but once the tank was bought in the house I decided to give sand a go.

 

[minnnt]

Sand is a lot cleaner than gravel. You just need to get the knack of how to do it.

If you get the puffers then you won't have any choice but to rehome the betta. I did tell you the filter was pants. I removed some media from mine to improve it a little. Glad you have removed a bulb, it is still high though. 1 24w bulb would be enough, they are going to be craving nutrients under that much light.

 

[Livewire88]

I have found a figure 8 Puffer in one of my LFS, I have been told I could keep 2 so I will picking 1 up after I finish work and a second in the new year.

The Betta now has a new home :0)

 

[minnnt]

Sounds good mate. They're a little more aggressive than SAP's, but should still be fine. Nice choice matey!

 

[Livewire88]

Update,

The puffer is now in and I have added some more plants and had a quick move around of the other plants;

Here he is

 

[minnnt]

Very nice indeed mate... Are you going to get him a friend?

Oh, and i would move the Ludwigia at the front as the eye is automatically drawn to it.