Flourite Substrate?

[Theatre1sm]

I'm trying to use a flourite substrate in a round 15 gal tank. I hope to house 8 dwarf green puffers.

How long does it take for Flourite to "settle" in a tank? I added the water using a plate so as not to mix everything up to badly - but it doesn't seem to have worked So far, over the course of a week it has gone from "dark choclate milk" color to "just one tsp of ovaltine in a 8 oz glass" cloudy.

I have a Penguin mini filter running to help clear things out but.....

 

[Rowangel]

Did you wash the fluorite first? If not, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take it out and wash it first then put it back. Otherwise every time you move anything in the tank it will send up a cloud of the stuff. I'd also replace the filter medium once a day until it’s clear.

On another note, do you mean dwarf puffers or Green Spotted Puffer? Dwarf puffers stay relatively small (~inch or more) while green puffers get to 6” (15cm) so it’s a big difference. Either way a 15g is WAY too small for 8 puffers! Most people feel that dwarfs need a minimum of 3 gallons to every puffer, some say even more. At most, I would say you could put 5 (maybe 6) dwarf puffers in a 15g as long as it is HEAVILY planted to allow for territories and has a 1:4, male:female ratio. Males are very aggressive with each other so it is important to maintain this ratio or you will have problems from day one.

 

[Theatre1sm]

I did rinse first but perhaps not well enough.

Thanks for the advice on the puffers! I did mean the dwarf puffers and I'll reduce the number to 5. I won't be getting them for a long while as I have to cycle the tank and I want to add plants and let them get established before I add the actual fish.