Puffers OK in BB?

[Kev_DX]

Will puffers be OK in a Bare Bottom tank? I have plenty of live rock. Feed them crunchy foods (shrimp, clams, etc). A couple times of week I throw in shell pieces from SeaFlor substrate and then vacuum them out when I do my water changes.

I've heard that they like to pick at things in the substrate, etc.

I have a Stars & Stripes, a Dog Faced, and a Birdbeak Burrfish going into a 125.

 

[pinkie]

They should fine in a bare bottom tank.

However, You want to make sure you are careful with the Stars and Stripes and the Dogfaced in the same tank, they have very similar body styles and may fight when they get a bit older if they don't already.

Also, a 125 is not quite big enough for those three puffers, let alone one of them IMO.

 

[Pufferpunk]

The puffers may be a bit nervous wo/ substrate. They will be uncomfortable seeing their reflection under them. Can you throw a thin layer of sand on the bottom? They also like the "puff" into the sand for food.

 

[Kev_DX]

Thanks for your replies. The 125 is a grow out tank. The final tank will be a 240 or 300.

I've got cutting board on the bottom, so they won't see their reflections. I've gpt two Koralia 4's and a Mag 12 for a return(that I'll dial back a little) to try to keep detrius from settling on the bottom. I'm afraid that will blow the sand around.