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You know, the thing that worries me most about doing my 75 gallon is that I had planned to just take it down to about 30-40% water capacity, take all the plants and driftwood and stuff out and leave the fish in. But when we were doing this tank (I took my puffers out and they were in tank water with the plants and an airstone in a 5 gallon bucket while we did the exchange) when we started scooping out the gravel it straight up smelled like ammonia. Now I test my parameters at least twice a week, gravel vac at least once a week, and it stays at 0/0/5. Disturbing the gravel stirred all that up though and i'm sure the ammonia spiked in the little bit of water that as left. I ended up draining all the water out after we got the gravel out before I put the new stuff in. I saved about 50% of the old tank water and 50% was new treated water. But I digress, what I'm trying to get at is that I'm afraid is that if I leave my fish in the 75 gallon and disturb all the gravel I will get an ammonia spike while the water is low and my fish ill suffer. At the same time, I hate to move them all to a 5 gallon bucket ( I have about 30+ fish including angels and rams). I feel like no matter which way I go, I will have casualties and I just don't think I'm willing to risk that.... But I surely hate that damn blue and green gravel.Yeah, it's not as hard as it seems
I have one of those caves in my 125. My clown pleco and chocolate cichlid share it.
These are south American puffers. Amazing little guys. It's been about3 weeks since we changed the substrate and I can tell they arevlovingnit. I find them cozier up on it at nighttime all the time. Much better for them than the gravel that could injure them easily. Also my nitrates are staying very low because the plants are growing much better in this substrate. Overall I'm very glad we did it.On a different note. What kind of puffer is that? I have a Dwarf puffer and they are such neat lil fish!!
95% of their diet is ramshorn snails that i grow for them. The rest is miscellaneous treats that they love such as shell on shrimp, blood worms, brine shrimp with spirulina, freshwater frenzy, etcAhh South American Puffer are neat as well. They have a personality all of their own. Glad they like the new substrate. Plants can do wonders with water quality but nothing really beats water changes. Just out of curiosity what do you feed your puffers??
I will do my best. Harold and Mikey are quick lil buggers and all i have is my iphone5 to take pics with. Pics usually turn out blurry. When i go back inside ( outside so my baby can play before it gets too stifling in the alabama heat) ill try my bestIt is my sacred duty and responsibility to beg for pictures of your cuties. . . PLEASE!!? ^.^