Ceylon puffer Question. Pics.

[geronimo69]

Here is my Ceylon. He's about 4.5 years old. The salinity in his tank is now at full marine (1.024). What I am curious to know, is do I HAVE to add live rock? I am currently filtering with a canister (it has some LR rubble in it along with floss and some biomax).

Enjoy.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=5396&pictureid=60520

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=5396&pictureid=60521

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=5396&pictureid=60522

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=5396&pictureid=60524

 

[Pufferpunk]

He looks healthy but stressed. Is his tummy black like that all the time? How large is the tank? What are the parameters? Any tank mates?

OK, on to your Q: These puffers don't have to be in SW--high-end BW is good. The only reason we want to bring them up to SW is so we can incorporate SW filtration to the system, alleviating the usual need for 50% weekly WC in such a high salinity, saving you some $$$ on salt. For example, on my 55g high BW system, I was adding 10 cups of salt every weekly 50% WC. The initial set up--protein skimmer, live rock, powerheads--may cost you a little extra in the beginning but it is much easier to maintain good parameters with these things. It also isn't necessary to keep the SG at 1.024 for this. 1.020 is good enough to make this work.

Also, floss & BioMax will only hold your nitrate up in the system. Even rubble gets clogged quickly with detritus & the canister is going to become a PITA to continually clean. Better to use that for chemical filtration, like carbon or Purigen.

 

[geronimo69]

He looks healthy but stressed. Is his tummy black like that all the time? How large is the tank? What are the parameters? Any tank mates?

OK, on to your Q: These puffers don't have to be in SW--high-end BW is good. The only reason we want to bring them up to SW is so we can incorporate SW filtration to the system, alleviating the usual need for 50% weekly WC in such a high salinity, saving you some $$$ on salt. For example, on my 55g high BW system, I was adding 10 cups of salt every weekly 50% WC. The initial set up--protein skimmer, live rock, powerheads--may cost you a little extra in the beginning but it is much easier to maintain good parameters with these things. It also isn't necessary to keep the SG at 1.024 for this. 1.020 is good enough to make this work.

Also, floss & BioMax will only hold your nitrate up in the system. Even rubble gets clogged quickly with detritus & the canister is going to become a PITA to continually clean. Better to use that for chemical filtration, like carbon or Purigen.

Stressed? Really? His tummy changes from dark, to pure white, to brownish. The tank is a 55 gallon. He's been it in his whole life (about 4.5 years). I change the floss/clean the canister weekly (with tank water after a WC). My nitrate levels have never gone above 10, so I don't see there being a problem with the canister. I guess I will simply keep the canister until I add rock. I will slowly add it, as I can buy/cure it. Maybe I will shut down my 20 gallon marine tank and use that rock...

 

[Pufferpunk]

OK, as long as his tummy isn't black all the time. Just looks that way in all your pics. Can you post one of him with a white belly? What's your WC schedule on there? Aren't you using a lot of $alt? Any tank mates?

 

[geronimo69]

OK, as long as his tummy isn't black all the time. Just looks that way in all your pics. Can you post one of him with a white belly? What's your WC schedule on there? Aren't you using a lot of $alt? Any tank mates?

NO, no tankmates. He will attack anything (including fingers) that enter his tank. A lot of salt, yes, I suppose, but no more than the 125 marine tank I plan on setting up in the near future. I will post some "white belly pics" for you. I am currently at work, so might be a few days.

I feed him:

Clams
Frozen krill
Convict fry (as a treat)
Malaysian trumpet snails ( he has a very very strong beak. I will be posting a video on the Puffer Forum of this in the near future (I was asked to).)

 

[Pufferpunk]

Ao back to your origional Q--are you planning on making this tank a working SW tank, meaning live rock, skimmer & good flow? Otherwise, why not make it around 1.018, to save you $$$ on Salt, with the larger water change it'll need.

 

[geronimo69]

Ao back to your origional Q--are you planning on making this tank a working SW tank, meaning live rock, skimmer & good flow? Otherwise, why not make it around 1.018, to save you $$$ on Salt, with the larger water change it'll need.

I know! I think I'm going to keep heading the route of full marine. I think I am going to convert my 75 gallon into a marine setup. We'll see. Thanks a bunch for the comments PP!