Topic: Setting up Dwarf Puffer tank.

[Monika]

I just got a free ten gallon hex tank. I really really want a dwarf puffer. I've been reading up on them for the last week, I just want to know if there's something I've missed.

The set up is a ten gallon hex tank, Magnum 220 (220 GPH yea I know, way over kill, but it's what I have), a heater I forget the name of, and I'm thinking about an UGF. I have the set up for it, and the air pump, but I've never had one before. I'm hoping to plant the tank, but can I even use the UGF with plants? I'd rather plant the tank than use the UGF. I like flourite, and if I can find that in black, I'd love to use that. The water out of the tap is something like 7.3 pH. I'll be cycling the tank using a few guppies from my 20 gallon. I was thinking about adding a few neons, but I haven't read about neon's being DP safe, so I guess not. Maybe some otto's, but I've never had much luck with them.

Is there anything I need to change? Anything I need to add? Thanks!

[EowynJane]

I've never used a UGF but I've heard they're basically old technology, in a 10 I'd go with a HOB, easy enough.  DP's love mossy plants so I'd add a lot of those.

From what I understand through my posts here is that the algae eater has to be in the tank first, since the DP's are really territorial.  I have to totally redo my DP tank when I want to add a BN.  Oto's need a mature well planted tank and they are picky about water quality, DP's tend to be very messy eaters, you'll have to watch your water very carefully.  I'm not sure what you can add to eat algae in a tank of that size with DP's, I'm sure Little Puff will be along shortly with more information!

I don't really think guppies are DP safe either, to be honest I'm not sure any fish really is.  My old BN was 4", cranky and used to fighting for his food when the DP's showed up.  Hiding places, mossy plants and tall plants to break up the line of site are all good things in a DP tank.  In a 10 I would either do 3 females or 2 females and 1 male.

[Monika]

The guppies are just to cycle the tank. I'm fine with just one DP but if I could fit more than one that's fine with me too. I'm hoping to get some moss (i like weeping moss) substerwass...or whatever that's called, anacharis, camboba, stargrass, sunset hygro, and some...i forget the name of it, but it has almost the same leaves as pennywort but grows sort of like a stem, think it begins with an o. *shrug*. I think I'm going to cycle it with guppies, take the guppies out, put the otto's in, maybe add a crap load of shrimp and cross my fingers that they don't eat them, and then finally add the DP.

I want to use the canister filter because it's what I have and I'm on a budget. I figure using the UGF will circulate the water from the bottom really well.

[EowynJane]

I think in a 10 you could fit 3 DP's, the general rule is 3 gallons per fish, but like I said, be careful of the m:f ratio.

I don't have any experience here either but I think the DP's will probably eat the shrimp.  Oto's... 

[Cholly]

Shrimp would be DP munchies in a heartbeat. As for the canister, I'm normally of the you-can't-overfilter school but 22X an hour turnover is some screaming current. If you can adjust it to about half that flow, it would be better. Maybe if you used the canister on the 20 and used the 20 gallon's current filter on the hex?

[Monika]

lol, the 20's HOB is made for like thirty gallons I think. I'll check once I wake up.

[LittlePuff]

Otos are fine. they can be added after the tank has been well established. Three in a 10gal are fine. one male, 2 female.

You really can't put anything else with them. They are small, but very aggressive.

 Feed them live/frozen brine shrimp,and bloodworms. You'll need to have a separate tank (can be very small) to breed pond snails. Unlike other puffers, they don't need them for their teeth, but they are a part of their natural diet. You can plop the in whole and they will suck the snail out (lots of empty snail shells that can't be gravel vac'd up, or you can crush them first and the puffer will actually eat some of it. I've had DP's that hadn't bothered ghost shrimp for quite a while. Do't add a lot of them, though.

[Monika]

I don't mind if the shrimp get eaten, I just want them as a cleanup crew. Ghost shrimp are pretty scarce in this area, anyway so there would probably only be ten or so. The filter from my 20 does 200 GPH (penguin 200 bio wheel).

The canister filter came with some Quickstop valves that I can adjust. Will closing the valve half way put too much strain on the motor? Maybe I can tape off some of the slots on the intake strainer? It's so torturous to have the tank sitting in my room not being able to do anything with it. I still have to find the parts for the filter and find out if that works or not.

[Monika]

So I went to a local pet store, fell in love with a Pomeranian puppy, scoffed at the ich in a few tanks, showed my mom cichlids and almost passed out at the site of the puffers! Mom was heckling me to get the puffers, and I resisted (when before I would just buy them and bring them home) I'm so proud of myself. I got the impeller I need for my magnum, and some tubing, so I could set everything up, but I completely forgot the gravel.

Anyway, mom's fallen in love with puffers just as hard as I have, now I just have to decide where to put it. tomorrow is a day without the boyfriend and with a ride, so I think some yard sales, pet stores, and running back and forth from the bathroom is in store. I'm soooo tired. What?! it's only 9 pm?! ...but this bed is so comfy....zzzzz

[toddnbecka]

Cut down the outflow but NOT the intake on the canister filter, and the impeller will be fine.