Dwarf Puffer Tank Journey

How much was it?

It kept changing price, but between 30$ and 40$ USD

 

The plants are growing in amazingly. I have 3 ramshorn snails and a handful of bladder snails in the tank taking care of algae and the such for me and they'll be my puffers first meals lol.

It's taking forever to cycle but I'm trying to be patient. Monday I added 2ppm ammonia and it was at .25 ammonia and 0 nitrites the next day, so I think I'm close. I need to test tomorrow. I'm slacking on testing every day bc I have 4 tanks I'm watching over, 3 which are cycling. I need to do better with that but I also have 2 three year olds (ones mine, one I baby sit Monday- friday) so remembering to test is difficult xD

Were on day... 32 of cycling on this tank. Day 45 on my longest cycling tank. Really hoping that one finishes soon.

 

So I had to restart the cycle so that sucks. I had a bunch of leeches or something in the tank and one of the bigger ones killed one of my large ramshorns and laid babies in it. So I wasn't going to leave them in there and risk future snails and my puffer fish.
I took all the plants out, took the filter out, drained the tank, and then poured REALLY hot water into the gravel to kill all of them. I know it killed off the BB in my substrate, but it had to be done. I do still have the sponge filter with BB in/on it so it can be jump started now that i've refilled it and put the plants back in it.

 

So I had to restart the cycle so that sucks. I had a bunch of leeches or something in the tank and one of the bigger ones killed one of my large ramshorns and laid babies in it. So I wasn't going to leave them in there and risk future snails and my puffer fish.
I took all the plants out, took the filter out, drained the tank, and then poured REALLY hot water into the gravel to kill all of them. I know it killed off the BB in my substrate, but it had to be done. I do still have the sponge filter with BB in/on it so it can be jump started now that i've refilled it and put the plants back in it.

Now that's a real ordeal.
All the best!!

 

Now that's a real ordeal.
All the best!!

I was beyond annoyed xD i'd been leaving them in there bc figured they'd be harmless and a good snack for the puffer, but after it killed my otherwise healthy snail, I wasn't risking it.
I'd rather wait another 2 months for it to recycle

 

I was beyond annoyed xD i'd been leaving them in there bc figured they'd be harmless and a good snack for the puffer, but after it killed my otherwise healthy snail, I wasn't risking it.
I'd rather wait another 2 months for it to recycle

You are one of the rare ones who do that!
Fight!

 

Hi, if it’s the advertised magic seeds, I just wanted to say, that they are definitely not what they claim they are. I ordered the small size ones and the bigger sizes ones. The bigger ones rotted, but the smaller ones loook great! Though they are not glosso.

Beautiful tank!

 

Hi, if it’s the advertised magic seeds, I just wanted to say, that they are definitely not what they claim they are. I ordered the small size ones and the bigger sizes ones. The bigger ones rotted, but the smaller ones loook great! Though they are not glosso.

Beautiful tank!

a few months too late XD I appreciate it though. ive since ripped them all out and gotten other plants lol

 

So I currently have this tank on hold. The plants are suffering from what I did to the substrate & there's STILL leeches in it....
so next month I'm going to buy new substrate, give the plants a bleach bath, dump all the substrate that's CURRENTLY in there in the trash and basically start over.
For now I just have the filter a turned off, though I still turn the light on for the plants in the hope they'll perk back up

 

So I currently have this tank on hold. The plants are suffering from what I did to the substrate & there's STILL leeches in it....
so next month I'm going to buy new substrate, give the plants a bleach bath, dump all the substrate that's CURRENTLY in there in the trash and basically start over.
For now I just have the filter a turned off, though I still turn the light on for the plants in the hope they'll perk back up

That's harsh!
Are you sure that you can't sun dry the substrate or wash it with boiling water? I know it will kill the beneficial bacteria but it would probably make the substrate safe?

 

That's harsh!
Are you sure that you can't sun dry the substrate or wash it with boiling water? I know it will kill the beneficial bacteria but it would probably make the substrate safe?

I washed it with boiling water, it killed all the BB as well as the nutrients the soil carried to help the plants and that's why the plants are dying. I think the leech hid in the plants which is why ill be doing a bleach bath on the plants after I get all new substrate so that the plants have a better chance at survival once I restart it.

 

I washed it with boiling water, it killed all the BB as well as the nutrients the soil carried to help the plants and that's why the plants are dying. I think the leech hid in the plants which is why ill be doing a bleach bath on the plants after I get all new substrate so that the plants have a better chance at survival once I restart it.

Alright!
It just feels like a waste though... although you have it harder. Fight!

 

Alright!
It just feels like a waste though... although you have it harder. Fight!

I don't mind buying more substrate if it means giving my plants and fish a happier healthier life in the long run
I spent more on the plants than I did the substrate xD

 

I don't mind buying more substrate if it means giving my plants and fish a happier healthier life in the long run
I spent more on the plants than I did the substrate xD

Hmm. That's the spirit!

 

Looks good so far

 

If they persist after the bleach bath and come back again maybe instead of tossing the plants or repeating bleach baths and so on you could cycle your tank with the leeches or do a fish in cycle with the puffers. I have heard of people using dwarf puffers for snail infestations so logic would follow they might eat the leeches too if they were small enough.

 

I have heard of people using dwarf puffers for snail infestations so logic would follow they might eat the leeches too if they were small enough.

They probably would. Puffers are total pigs. If they go after things like frozen bloodworms, imagine what they would do to something like a live leech. Leeches might be able to kill mostly defenseless snails easily but something with teeth and a voracious appetite would fare much better.