I have started my setup for a Fahaka Puffer. I have decided to go with a 180 gallon tank, custom built from Concept Aquariums. The tank is standard 180 footprint of 72 by 24 by 24 wtih a left corner drilled overflow. The tank drains to a large sump also built by Concept Aquariums and it is a simple sump setup which is a 60 by 20 by 20 footprint with 2 baffle areas. This has been a long time coming and I had to wait several months for a townhouse to be finished in order to get the tank. The tank is in a flex room (fish room) on the lower floor of the house, which has a cement pad. I then had the floor levelled to make sure it was flat for the big tanks to be fully level followed by luxury vinyl plank being installed.
I am keeping the scape very very simple to allow for the fahaka to have the most swimming space. Sand bottom with a small planted area in two corners. No driftwood or sharp parts to cause damage to the fahaka if it gets startled and swims.
In the sump i have a large refugium area where I am breeding self-cloning crayfish to feed the puffer. I am still waiting for several pieces of equipment to arrive in order to finish the setup, but excited to finally get this dream tank started. Hopefully within the net week or two I will be able to finish the initial setup as the initial cycle starts. Then I will be adding one oranda to continue the cycle before getting the fahaka in mid february or so.
No I am not doing a fish cycle, as there are several crayfish in the refugium making lots of mess to feed bacteria and start the tank, with some old cycled sponge filters in the sump to provide initial bacteria. The oranda is being used to keep the bacteria alive not to start the bacteria.
I am taking my time with this setup to get it right as I want the puffer to have an amazing life. I am going to do an initial quarantine of the puffer in a 20 long in order to run a couple different deworming protocols before adding to the big tank.
I will be putting together 6 other tanks in the room. 3 * 40 gallon breeder tanks in a triple stack rack that is being custom built by a friend and 3 * 75 gallon tanks in a triple stack rack. The stocking of the additional tanks is still up for debate, however I likely will be getting a couple different CARES species, one FOWLR saltwater tank and one that will be my goldfish tank.
In the coming weeks, I will post some photos and updates.
I hope everyone has an amazing new year and start of 2020.
I am keeping the scape very very simple to allow for the fahaka to have the most swimming space. Sand bottom with a small planted area in two corners. No driftwood or sharp parts to cause damage to the fahaka if it gets startled and swims.
In the sump i have a large refugium area where I am breeding self-cloning crayfish to feed the puffer. I am still waiting for several pieces of equipment to arrive in order to finish the setup, but excited to finally get this dream tank started. Hopefully within the net week or two I will be able to finish the initial setup as the initial cycle starts. Then I will be adding one oranda to continue the cycle before getting the fahaka in mid february or so.
No I am not doing a fish cycle, as there are several crayfish in the refugium making lots of mess to feed bacteria and start the tank, with some old cycled sponge filters in the sump to provide initial bacteria. The oranda is being used to keep the bacteria alive not to start the bacteria.
I am taking my time with this setup to get it right as I want the puffer to have an amazing life. I am going to do an initial quarantine of the puffer in a 20 long in order to run a couple different deworming protocols before adding to the big tank.
I will be putting together 6 other tanks in the room. 3 * 40 gallon breeder tanks in a triple stack rack that is being custom built by a friend and 3 * 75 gallon tanks in a triple stack rack. The stocking of the additional tanks is still up for debate, however I likely will be getting a couple different CARES species, one FOWLR saltwater tank and one that will be my goldfish tank.
In the coming weeks, I will post some photos and updates.
I hope everyone has an amazing new year and start of 2020.
