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getting a 120 gallon tank

3K views 18 replies 7 participants last post by  Twistersmom 
#1 ·
This is my first post here! :mrgreen:
I am new to all of this.

So... back to business. I am getting a 120 gallon tank and plan on it being freshwater. I plan on having some figure eight puffers in my planted aquarium. (about 3-5 puffers)

I will set up everything (filters, pumps, lights, ect) add declorinated water, and the plants.
I will then cycle it using the fishless way.

I will add "pure" ammonia until my test kit reads 4-5, and will keep on doing that till nitrites start registering and add half of what I added before. Now, when nitrites are 0, I will do a 50% water change and then add to figure eight puffers.

Is this all right? I new and I don't want to screw up...
BTW. will the puffers get along?
 
#3 ·
Hello and welcome to the forum.
Your tank will be cycled when you bump your tank up to 4ppm ammonia and get a zero reading for ammonia and nitrites 12 hrs after the introduction of ammonia. Its best to get that reading a few days in a row before adding fish, to ensure it is truly cycled.
The big water change before adding fish, is to lower your nitrates. Take a nitrate reading before the water change to determine how much water you need to change out. You want the nitrates under 40ppm when you add your fish. My last fishless cycle, I changed out about 80%, that lowered my nitrates to 20ppm.
I have not kept figure 8 puffers, but everything I have read, says its best to only have one. Maybe it willl work out since they are going into such a large tank. They are high maintenance fish, they need snails and other hard food to help trim their teeth. From what I understand, you may have to trim their teeth about every 6 months, even with the snails in their diet. That does not sound like allot of fun!
Good luck to you!
 
#7 ·
yep. Prime is a great product to use during your water changes! Also, do your self a favor and pick up an API Master LIQUID Test Kit, you'll thank yourself later!
 
#9 ·
Pffers are pretty aggressive fish, except for the South American Puffer, which is fresh water and has been known to school in the wild. Unfortunately those fish are really prone to grow teeth and need dental work.

Some puffers will get along...but the trouble is that as juveniles they may get along as they become mature, they will become more territorial and may be more aggressive. They are very messy eaters and need lots and lots of water changes. So there are a lot of stories about fish that got on just fine, and then one day....got eaten or wounded.

I initially wanted a puffer tank but decided I would rather have some groups of more peaceful fish rahter than trying to patrol a tank....

A 120 gal freshwater tank could have a wide variety of fish, and might even support a pair of puffers..... One think you could do is go to a good LFS, or if there is none, at least look on a site like liveaquaria.com which will give you an idea of what is out there and what you may like. Theres alot out there....if you are looking for unique you can always click on the oddball fish, and see whats there. I'm not going to make any suggestions as I am still new to this too...
 
#11 ·
When I first started keeping fish, I thought I really wanted some puffers. I set up a 10 gal for a couple dwarf puffers. They are a little lower maintenance, dont need the dental work. They filled my need for puffers. They are kept in a take alone, because they can be quite mean little fish. Its a good thing they are cute!
I personally would also prefer a peaceful community tank, not to say you should not get the puffers.
What other fish are you interested in?
A 120 gal could make an awsome brackish tank, with monos, scats, or archer fish.
Well, It would make a great fresh water as well. Name some fish you are interested in and maybe some people with first had experience on that type fish can comment on them.
 
#16 ·
i've only kept the dwarf puffers that have been mantioned,and angel fish.
sorry i don't seem to be able to help with the archers .
 
#17 ·
If you want figure 8 puffers, I say go for them! If you have the right segmented decor with plenty of spots where the fish can claim their own, then it is possible to be successful with 3-5 puffers in that tank. Quite a few fish are hit and miss when it comes to putting them together, and quite a large percentage of fish are known to become more aggressive as they age. I have seen quite a few tanks with puffers in them and the one thing is common was that the other fish in the tank were between 4 and 6 inches on average, which made the puffer the runt of the group. I think that this helped in keeping the puffer calm. Don't get fish that will get big enough to eat the puffer though!!:shock: If it doesn't work out and the fish become too aggressive you can always take them back to the store. You may lose out on a few bucks, but you wont lose your fish. Just make sure that the tankmate you select for your puffer(s) will be able to handle the brackish conditions that your puffers are going to need.
 
#18 ·
I want to add something about the water change. DO NOT RELY ON % CHANGES. One method I learned that is helpful for the first water change after cycling is first remove as much water as you can without exposing the gravel substrate to the air assuming you did a fishless cycle otherwise remove as much water without making the fish very uncomfortable. Then fill the tank halfway and remove as much water as described before and add dechlorinated water again. Test the water for nitrates after each addition of dechlorinated water. Repeat process until you reach desired concentration of nitrates. This process of removing dirty water and adding clean water is similar to a lab procedure called serial dilutions.
 
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