Dwarf puffers tank layout

Nilet699

Ok so went into the lfs today and asked then to order me some of these lil beauties, will be a few weeks though which is really good actuakkynas gives me a chance to get their tank properly 'furnished' before their arrival. They will be in the tank attached below.

This tank is fully established, but I want to scrap it and start afresh. The substrate I think should be changed for play sand and then plants in there won't be used, they will all be new ones depending upon suggestions etc. Tank size is 24 x 12 x 12.

Know they need a planted tank with different areas to break up line of sight and establish territories etc. What else do they need though? Is caves a necessity? Tank has wood which you can see but if there is a better layout am happy to get new in to suit it better.

Any suggestions and even better pictures of established puffer tanks would be greatly appreciated!

Nile

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jentralala

Can't wait to see how this thread progresses, dwarf puffers are so adorable. Just curious though, what's that plant in the back right corner?

Byron

Lots and lots of plants. Puffers do not need open swimming areas, so the tank can literally be thick with plants.

If your cabomba in the pictured tank is doing well under your light (this plant needs good light), this is a good plant. And Wisteria would be another, also needing light and fast growing. Floating plants with dangling roots (Water Sprite) are good. All of these mentioned are fast growing and will need weekly tgrimming/pruning at the water change obviously.

Byron.

Nilet699

Well therein lies my problem Byron. It currently has a 9w house energy saving bulb in. BUT I got some kitchen LEDs today and am about to change them from hardwired to plug in! Give me 30 and I'll post up a pic if I don't blow my houses electrics!,

Th cabomba though will be going. I hate how much it sheds! It's already been ommitted from my bigger tank and replaced with echinodorus blaheri! So I definitely need an alternative for this!

Good to know that they don't need open swimming areas! Will make planting it much easier!

And Jen, all the plants in that tank now are cabomba, singles are just some off cuts I kept to see how they did under the low light, plant on right is just bunch of them!

Nilet699

Ok, I did it. Daddy has new toys. Haha. Pic below.
12 lights on each strip, 4 strips. Description just says 'hassle led strip light 0.8w'

Any idea if these will grow low/med/high plants?

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Byron

Ah, then the light is insufficient at least for cabomba. This is what happens when stem plants do not receive sufficient light, they slowly fall apart. I have no luck with cabomba for this reason, but I have no intention of increasing my light just for one plant, so I go with those that will manage.

And among stem plants, Brazilian Pennywort is very good for moderate light. Most others will not last.

Swords also work, though most get rather large, but if you can find the chain sword (not the pygmy chain sword, it is smaller) this is one option. Corkscrew Vallisneria will also work if you have medium hard or harder water, and with decent light.

What fixture do you have, an incandescent (screw-in bulbs) or fluorescent tube? Assuming incandescent, how many bulb sockets?

To move along to the answer...if it has two sockets then 2 CFL bulbs will work fine. You can get "Daylight" bulbs, GE make a good one but so do Phillips and Sylvania, and they come in various wattages and here the higher watts is more light. I use two 10w Daylight CFL over my 10g and 20g tanks; Cabomba failed in the 10g, but everything else is thriving. Two 13w bulbs might work.

Byron.

Boredomb

I agree much more plants are needed. How many puffers did you have them order? Your tank is 15 gallons and I wouldn't recommend more then 3 in there at the most.
Caves are not really needed as much as plants and driftwood or any decor to break up the line of sight. What type of filter do you plan on running on this tank?

Nilet699

They havent ordered them yet, i will get a call before Wednesday with the price for them and then i order what i want. I was thinking 3/4, quite a few people said get 4, and i did kind of want 2 and 2, though i am now thinking 1 male, 2 fems.

Byron, did you see the new lights? Got some yummy LED's now for it which should definitely make a difference, as they seem so bright! Still no cabomba though!
Was thinking of some anacharis maybe, and yes, some swords. I am going to finally order some echinodorus tennelus for my big tank, so was thinking of putting a few of the baby runners into the smaller one maybe later. Also thought about Heteranthera zosterifoli. I'd also like a nice stem plant or 2, and the luwiga is a good option! About as far as i've got with the plants plan. I'm really still trying to learn the plant side of things tbh. I suck at names!

Was definitely thinking of dropping one of the 3 pieces of drift wood in the tank though for more plants too. Just hope these new lights will support them;

these are the bulbs;
B&Q Select Apex Under Cabinet White LED Lighting Kit, Pack of 4, 0000003744628

Nilet699

Oh the filter BB that i currently have in there is a fluval U2. I have thought about possibly upgrading this, though would prefer not to.

Boredomb

Males are aggressive to each other especially if females are present. I had 2 males attack one another and one ended up dieing. A 15 gallon isn't big enough even being heavily planted for 2 males. I would go with 1m and 2 females. Also do you know what you plan on feeding your puffers? If you don't already know theses puffers can be really picky eaters.