Dwarf Puffer Journal

[drsquirrel]

Firstly, Is this the right place to string out my FW journal?




I have a <no idea what tank right now - my previous mention was wrong>

Equipment...
-Stock heater 100w

-Stock 18w 10,000k bulb
I've pulled out the stupid cooling fans, and the AC/DC block.
I will replace this sometime with another light/ballast and put the ballast in the cabinet, the current bulb is failing anyway.

-Sock filter layout
The "tea bags" are not that old so will keep them for a while and replace with ceramic rings/bioballs etc etc
The pump section has no filter above it, so will stuff that with some filter material too (might help deaden the pump vibration a bit which isn't so bad).

-450lph Powerhead (connected to the spray bar).
I removed the mini Rena 300lph just because the 450lph was spare
I want to find another that is more compact sometime as the 450 slightly touches the edge

-Some cruddy air pump
Running it at the moment whilst cycling
Will I run one in the future? No idea - if I do I will replace it with quieter one.

-Mix of Aragonite "Sand" and "Gravel" (gravel is still pretty small though).
I have loads because of my Marine setup, PH levels are okay so far though unsure about using it with regards to wanting to plant (read below).



Just starting to cycle with fish food, cannot find any ammonia yet (until Tuesday). Filter was mature before anyway, but to what extent I'm not sure.


Stocking...
2x Dwarf Puffers - I wouldn't mind 3 but don't want the hassle of sexing 2female 1male
1x Amano Shrimp - Taking a chance of course, but only one way to find out
5x Neon Tetra - I know this is also a risk, I have read up and I am going to give it a try with some good planting

And various plants - wanting some moss balls



Initial Questions...
1. Would I increase my chances by housing the NT before the DP with the hope that the DP are a bit more "shy" when initially housing?

2. How suitable is Aragonite for planting? I don't want to plant (live) to the level where I would be wanting co2 so not going for a huge amount.
I put the Aragonite in forgetting about the planting. I do think it looks nicer than regular sand though, maybe replacing it with "play" sand with Araognite sand toplayer?

3. Should I run the air pump or not?

4. Will plants be okay with the 10,000k for now?




Thanks for reading

PS: I do realise DP might turn more aggressive at a later date, rehousing the Tetra if need be shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Wills]

Hi, sounds like you are pretty well prepared for this! With the neon tetras, the problem with puffers is that they are often nippy and will chase fish and that becomes worse than normal fish with those traits because of their beaks. They do serious damage and it does hurt when they bite you, I used to have somw dwarf red eye red tails and often got nipped when feeding - and yes they can draw blood!! So thats the main issue with tank mates, it wont be a slow assault like some other fish it will just be an all out crush with the beaks.

That said though.... I have heard of a few times where DPs have been housed with small asian schooling fish like harlequins but that was in a bigger tank than yours. But if you are dead set on tank mates I would go for chilli rasbora as they are smaller and faster than neons and will stay in the upper levels of the water where as neons are more mid/lower swimmers so a little bit out of sight out of mind theory. But I honestly dont know if it will be worth it....

Good luck though!

Wills

 

[drsquirrel]

Thanks for the reply.

I've dealt with fin nipping before and I know it should be easy to re-home a few tetra if need be.
I will have a look at Rasboras when I'm next in the LFS although from memory I don't think any have ever had any (such as such around here), I've not seen them in the scale yet though.


Anyone got any help with any of the questions?

 

[drsquirrel]

Had been wondering why I wasn't getting any ammonia readings, then realised that the filter was being used before I got it

Yesterday went out and bought a pair of shrimp and a few plants, including a moss ball.



Photos are just taken with a phone camera, until it's looking better I won't bother with the SLR.

No real aquascaping attempts yet, found a really nice piece of wood today so am preparing that and will probably work on a moss wall for the black backing.

 

[drsquirrel]

Against various recommendations, I bought some Neon Tetra. I did have a look around the shops for Chili Rasbora, and a few other possibles without much luck.

I also got a new smallish tank which will serve as a backup if the DPs don't like them or their mood take a turn at a later date, I've put the mini filter sponge into the main tank for that to mature.

Currently looking for some suitable mesh to start the construction of a moss wall.

My really nice looking peice of wood... pretty sure is soft wood and it's going a bit funny in the water its soaking in so probably wont be able to use it. meh

 

[Big_eyes]

My LFS has had 2 DP's in a 35ltr tank for about 3 weeks now. They're in with some mollies and so far there doesn't seem to be much trouble occuring. I keep popping in with the temptation of taking them home with me but can't decide yet.

Good luck with yours, will be keeping up with your progress

 

[Sean W.]

for Dwarf puffers you need A LOT of plants.

here was my dwarf puffer tank when i used to keep em'

 

[drsquirrel]

for Dwarf puffers you need A LOT of plants.

here was my dwarf puffer tank when i used to keep em'

Thanks and nice tank

I know about the planting, and will have loads more in time Not exactly sure which plants I want yet, hence why I only got a few at first.

 

[drsquirrel]

Added more plants in, and some fertiliser balls.

I need to get more sand in as it's obviously not deep enough, hard to get plants to stay down, there is enough initially but they get knocked out easily whilst planting others, will replant it properly next water change. Also the fert balls were only just below the surface and the shrimp decided this was good to pick through apparently so now it's spread about a little behind the plants...

Here is a quick (and very bad, im not usually this bad) planted photo. FTS came out bad as I have a half finished scratch repair on the front.






Also made up a quick DIY Co2 from some spare yeast as we have loads lying around, although after doing it realise that sugar is probably the most costly ingredient (although cheap itself). No check valve until some arrive tomorrow.
Nice slow stream of tiny bubbles through a standard airstone.

Bottle has almost no pressure in it would this be indicative of too much co2 then being put in? (ie not being restricted enough by the airstone, which I plan to find/make a diffuser for)?

I'll just have to cut back on the ingredients if it is, and invest in a co2 testing kit next time I order from somewhere that stocks one.



Electrics will soon be mounted properly, need to extend my pump cable though and I didn't want to have to do that.

 

[drsquirrel]

One NT was dead this morning, a shrimp was tucking into it...

 

[drsquirrel]

Got some more plants, Alternanthera Reineckii, Rotala Indica, Rotala macranda - mostly redish plants - not all necessarily going in this tank but are in there for now (planning a shrimp tank). Also got some Java Moss which was my main reason for ordering online as I cannot find it around here, wasn't sure on how much "quantity" meant so didn't get much for now.


Modified my DIY co2 with a secondary chamber, check valve and gang valve (and I do realise using this will build up pressure). Because I had to expose it to air it stopped generating co2 for ages, I have clamps... I should have closed it off first but didn't think.

 

[drsquirrel]

When I added the second bottle I added the extra valve... the bubbles had stopped and just thought it was because I moved it. But it seems the co2 was leaking out of it, I only found this out after I setup a mini DIY co2 for the plants in the soon-to-be shrimp tank that had some yeasty water drop out the valve. Which just goes to show you really need that second chamber


Still no Dwarf Puffers - maybe I should be changing the title


6 new (temporary) inhabitants... Red Cherry Shrimp - just holding there until the heater for the shrimp tank is here, although with the weather we are having now they could go in but don't want to rush it.


Also lost another Neon Tetra last night, swim bladder. PH/NO2/NO3/NH4 are all okay... had a bit of direct sunlight yesterday, only lasts 30 min a day, but yesterday was very hot and the plants were giving off a crazy amount of bubbles, so worried about o2/co2 levels, no way to test right now and all the other livestock were happy enough so hopefully not that.

 

[FishStrings]

The salespeople at Big Al's would not sell me a puffer to put with my fish. They are carnivorous and it was too great of a risk to get an aggressive puffer. I was also told flake food was not good enough.

 

[drsquirrel]

Which fish did you already have?

I already know that DP won't feed on flake, I already have blood worm here and I am starting to farm snails, although having no DP to eat them is a bit sad


Almost ready to move my RCS into their own tank, I'd never chance a shrimp this small with a puffer, the amanos are now huge so I reckon they will survive but obviously not guaranteed. 1 RCS died today, and another has a really full sack of eggs, in not sure if I should move it now or afterwards.


Still trying to find some Dwarf Puffers! I can get some online but when postage is like £15 it really is a downer...