If you guys have seen my posts, you know that I've had the hardest time trying to figure out what to have in my 20 gallon tall. I want to have a go at a group of pea puffers!

Obviously I want to go with plants, and this question might deter me... Will the aquarium need to be HEAVILY planted before adding the puffers? Can I start with a few of the typical beginner friendly and fast growing plants and let them grow with the puffers, or should I allow the plants time to get established and grow/spread BEFORE adding the fish?

Also, I know that owners typically feed them frozen bloodworms, which is what I'm planning. If I add some ramshorns, will the puffers (I'm thinking 5) be enough to maintain a stable population without complete eradication? My thoughts are as follows, please correct me if I'm wrong:

1- there will be a lot of bloodworms that sink to the bottom, and the snails will make quick work of that without adding a lot to the bioload 2- the snails will provide both hunting instinct and a varied diet to the puffers 3- the plants and hardscape will provide protection to some of the snails, and the puffers will continuously cull the population

I guess I'm thinking along the lines of a semi-walstad/ecosystem.