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  • I'm back...Setting up a dwarf puffer tank.

    Hello HFB....its been a few years but I'm back!

    My wife always wanted some puffers so we are going to do a bare-bottom 15g column low-tech driftwood/planted tank. I plan to keep 3 or 4 dwarf puffers and some ottos. I may try some shrimp but I have read mixed results so I know that's a gamble.

    This tank is the Aqueon 15 they sell at Petsmart. Its pretty decent for what it is, I guess. But I am replacing the filter with a Fluval C3 w/ extension and I am adding some supplemental CF lighting to the lid. It comes with an 8w T5 bulb. I painted the back of the tank burgundy and the bottom is light brown, about the color of cream coffee. Originally I was looking for a Fluval Edge 12g but the Aqueon is slightly larger, easier to work with, and cost almost half the price which was a big selling point for the wife. I may pick up a 6g Edge or a Spec sometime in the future. Definitely sticking to the smaller setups.

    For the new tank I am using some of the manzanita wood that was in my 210g "watermelon" tank from years ago. I had to cut a couple of the pieces in half so they would fit. Right now they are soaking in the tank and are not waterlogged enough to fully sink. My plan is to attach anubias and java fern to them and create dense foliage. I placed a large order of around 15 plants that should be here on Thursday. I also ordered some snails. I may build in a few rock caves on the bottom, haven't decided on that yet.

    So here is the tank so far. Its currently going through a fish-less cycle and I have some seeded media from a friend. Glad to be back, but I will not be going overboard this time with a bunch of big tanks. My new house has nice hand-scraped wood floors and a busted tank could be HUGE damage.

    pufftank1.jpg


    I'll keep this thread updated as a journal for my first puffer tank.
    15g column BB low-tech driftwood/planted - Dwarf Puffer Tank :lupe:

  • #2
    nice start.
    Nothing Kills Evil Like a Sharp Stick...

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    • #3
      I'm back...Setting up a dwarf puffer tank.

      Awesome piece of wood you got there, looks badass. Best of luck with the setup, I'm definitely following this one
      Last edited by Austy16414; 10-28-2014, 06:07 PM.

      "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."

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      • #4
        Fluval C3 came in tonight. Nice and quiet HOB filter. I like the little spray bar on top with the wet/dry media compartment. My Jager heater came in as well.

        I had the manzanita wood brought in years ago by HAW. I bought six large pieces and they are fantastic. I was sad to cut two pieces in half so they would fit in the tank, but it looks good. Once I upgrade the lighting and attach all the plants it should look really sweet.
        15g column BB low-tech driftwood/planted - Dwarf Puffer Tank :lupe:

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        • #5
          Very nice!
          In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
          Desiderius Erasmus
          GHAC President

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          • #6
            looking good so far. great central piece of driftwood.

            i love my dwarf puffers. great personality and they all get along fine (4 in a 10g planted tank).

            i have a few amano shimp in with mine to clean up algae and scraps. all introduced at the same time, heavily planted for hiding spots, and there have been no issues. the shrimp are big enough to put up a fight/get away if bothered...and i keep the puffers well fed

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            • #7
              Originally posted by morpheus View Post
              looking good so far. great central piece of driftwood.

              i love my dwarf puffers. great personality and they all get along fine (4 in a 10g planted tank).

              i have a few amano shimp in with mine to clean up algae and scraps. all introduced at the same time, heavily planted for hiding spots, and there have been no issues. the shrimp are big enough to put up a fight/get away if bothered...and i keep the puffers well fed
              This is good information, thanks for sharing!

              Where did you buy your puffers from?
              15g column BB low-tech driftwood/planted - Dwarf Puffer Tank :lupe:

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              • #8
                We had figger8 puffers. 3 in the same tank. They didn't care how big the shrimp were.
                Nothing Kills Evil Like a Sharp Stick...

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Matt in Houston View Post
                  This is good information, thanks for sharing!

                  Where did you buy your puffers from?
                  I got my puffers and shrimp from fish gallery. the puffers were maybe 3 for $15 or something. I forget it was maybe 6-8 months ago. amanos were maybe 2 or 3 bucks each.

                  Originally posted by troy tucker View Post
                  We had figger8 puffers. 3 in the same tank. They didn't care how big the shrimp were.
                  i read all the mixed reviews before i put them together. some had no issues, others did. there seemed to be a common theme on the threads here on HFB that the larger shrimp species (amano, ghost, etc.) were generally ok. i figured i would take the chance. if they killed them all, i wouldnt keep trying. one and done attempt.

                  i am sure every puffer is different. mine are ok with them, but i am sure the opposite exist that go after anything no matter what size.

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                  • #10
                    Yep morph. It was a one and done thing with use too. They were fine with other fish. but shrimp, snails, crabs, or clams. food as soon as it was found. Figger8 are a little bigger then pee puffers. So it's easier for them to bite things.
                    Nothing Kills Evil Like a Sharp Stick...

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by troy tucker View Post
                      Yep morph. It was a one and done thing with use too. They were fine with other fish. but shrimp, snails, crabs, or clams. food as soon as it was found. Figger8 are a little bigger then pee puffers. So it's easier for them to bite things.
                      yeah i was about to add they are larger than the dwarfs. i dont know if any shrimp would work with them.

                      some people have success with red cherry shrimp and pea puffers too, but i thought the RCS would be too small.

                      mine devour pond snails. when on vacation i now just go to petsmart and they give me pond snails for free to dump in my tank. never any left when i return. so i couldnt use any snail for algae, and heard the amanos do great on even on hair algae. was happy it worked out for me
                      Last edited by morpheus; 10-30-2014, 10:02 AM.

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                      • #12
                        My plants should be arriving today...

                        Code Item Qty
                        ww574 Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus) 4
                        an05 Anubias, Congensis (Anubias Congensis) 1
                        an21 Anubias, Nana (Anubias barteri v. Nana) 1
                        an09 Anubias, Frazeri (Anubias 'Frazeri') 2
                        an13 Anubias, Hastifolia (Anubias hastifolia) 1
                        an19 Heterophylla (Anubias heterphylla) 1
                        po29 Anubias, Coffeefolia (Anubias barteri v. Coffeefolia) 2
                        port01 Java Moss (Vesicularia Dubyana)(4 oz portion cup) 2
                        Should I install some rock caves on the bottom? Not sure if they would be of use or not.
                        15g column BB low-tech driftwood/planted - Dwarf Puffer Tank :lupe:

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                        • #13
                          caves wouldnt hurt. puffers are very inquisitive and like to explore. lots of plants, caves, etc. may keep them more occupied. i dont have caves, but enough plants for them to swim in, out, through, etc. they spawn in the moss as well. you have driftwood to tie off ferns. its all what you like in terms of scaping.

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                          • #14
                            Sounds good...Ill check a few out in person at some of the LFS....I see some online at Amazon but its hard to judge if they are quality or not from just the pictures and reading reviews. I'll probably end up attaching plants to the top of them as well.
                            15g column BB low-tech driftwood/planted - Dwarf Puffer Tank :lupe:

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                            • #15
                              My plants didn't ship last week but they should be here this Thursday. In the mean time I picked up a few marimo balls from fish gallery and three nice pieces of rock to make a few caves. I also modified my light hood and added a couple of LED 3000k bulbs. I have a 12" hagen aqua-glo in route to balance the color of the lighting.

                              tank2lights.jpgtank1.jpg
                              15g column BB low-tech driftwood/planted - Dwarf Puffer Tank :lupe:

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