I think that would be a wonderful tank for him! After you get him up to SW, you could add some damselfish or a tomato clownfish.
Opinions?(PufferPunk maybe?)
- Thread starter Liz Sagara
- Start date
Pufferpunk;4892790; said:
They need full marine as they get to 6 inches yes? I've gotten conflicting information about that. I've heard as long as it's brackish they'll be fine their entire life and I've heard they need full salt their whole life or that they need to up it over thier life. He started at 1.002 then when he got to 2 inches he was 1.005 and I haven't upped him again... is it necessary to do full salt? If so what's the lowest Salinity for that so I can have a schedule... I've heard its around 1.018... that's salty... lol. I've heard full salt set ups are expensive and hard(er) to maintain. I don't think I'm ready for marine fish.... They're expensive and I've only been in the hobby for well since last July (had fish when I was littler but my dad did most of the stuff).
Can you tell me a bit about Damsel fish and Tomatoe Clownfish? What kinds of things they need foods and such so I can maybe look into that. Wouldn't he pick on those fish too? I've heard Clowns are kind of agressive in their own right... Do they need anemones? I don't want to make the mistake of getting a Dori and a Nemo fish... they're not as easy as it looks and If I did it I want to do it right... but financially I don't think Full salt would be possible... At least not if I have to do "live" sand and corals/ anemones.
Now... I've heard of "Fish only" set ups. This would only "require" excellent filtration and fish? I'm unsure... never looked into it. Have any good books and sites I can look at? I'm interested in finding out about Marine life. I plan on being "fish fluent" because they're SO fascinating... and I can tell the clerk telling the person who hasn't done their homework that "No, You cannot keep a Betta in a bowl. They require a heater and gentle filter." "But they're found in dirty shallow water in ditches and puddles and in rice fields." "Google a Rice field honey... they're huge..." Anyway I digress. I appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Here's to the happy healthy life of "Mr." Buzzbee: Self important enough to have a title. 
Yeah... I dont' like getting fish before I know what to expect! I'm doing research on my own right now in my metals class and makeing a German Blue ram out of alternating layers of Copper and Brass. I'll have to post a pic after I'm done with it. I made some angelfish last semester.
It said that you could keep a tomatoe in a 20 gallon tank and another source said 30 so I imagine 50 would be okay... Would a GSP be considered a predator to a Clown? Cuz if so... he would need a bubbletip or feather something anemone...? Because if so... I dont' have T5 or metal Halide on that tank.. only my planted 20... (a work in progress)
It said that you could keep a tomatoe in a 20 gallon tank and another source said 30 so I imagine 50 would be okay... Would a GSP be considered a predator to a Clown? Cuz if so... he would need a bubbletip or feather something anemone...? Because if so... I dont' have T5 or metal Halide on that tank.. only my planted 20... (a work in progress)
Liz, it looks like you and I are on the same path. Not as far as puffers go, but as far as going from brackish to marine.
As for the damsels, they are the most territorial fish I've ever seen, and definitely think one could hold its own against your puffer, no questions asked.
I have two "freshwater" moray eels, and a "freshwater" toadfish. I plan on getting a lionfish (smaller one, though, since I'm limited on tank size) but I'm eager to see what you decide! Do you already buy your salt by the bucket? I believe if you go online you can find it for a pretty decent price! I've seen one person said they go to PetsMart.com and get a print out of the price online, and the store will price-match it, as long as you have the printed out page with you. It's something I am going to look into, and I think it could benefit you as well!
As for the puffer chewing on the silicone...Maybe this is a question for pufferpunk, but could you put in a cuttle bone similar to what they sell for birds? It's just calcium, and comes from cuttle fish, so I'd imagine it wouldn't be bad for your water, even help buffer it a bit? I'm just trying to think of ways to help curb his chewing behavior, and I know with dogs, it's a natural behavior, and the best way to control it is to give them something they are allowed to chew (i.e. natural uncooked bones, chew toys that can't be broken into small pieces/swallowed.) The cuttle bone was the first thing that popped into my head.
As for the damsels, they are the most territorial fish I've ever seen, and definitely think one could hold its own against your puffer, no questions asked.
I have two "freshwater" moray eels, and a "freshwater" toadfish. I plan on getting a lionfish (smaller one, though, since I'm limited on tank size) but I'm eager to see what you decide! Do you already buy your salt by the bucket? I believe if you go online you can find it for a pretty decent price! I've seen one person said they go to PetsMart.com and get a print out of the price online, and the store will price-match it, as long as you have the printed out page with you. It's something I am going to look into, and I think it could benefit you as well!
As for the puffer chewing on the silicone...Maybe this is a question for pufferpunk, but could you put in a cuttle bone similar to what they sell for birds? It's just calcium, and comes from cuttle fish, so I'd imagine it wouldn't be bad for your water, even help buffer it a bit? I'm just trying to think of ways to help curb his chewing behavior, and I know with dogs, it's a natural behavior, and the best way to control it is to give them something they are allowed to chew (i.e. natural uncooked bones, chew toys that can't be broken into small pieces/swallowed.) The cuttle bone was the first thing that popped into my head.
I feed my MBU (about 4" now) 5-6 Fiddlers a week along with clams on the half shell daily and 3 snails (large) per week. 150G tank lots of decor, sand bottom. Dual FX5 filters and a 25G sump with 30W UV filter.
Never had a problem with her teething on anything but food items.
OK, I'm back!
They need full marine as they get to 6 inches yes?
I've gotten conflicting information about that. I've heard as long as it's brackish they'll be fine their entire life and I've heard they need full salt their whole life or that they need to up it over thier life. He started at 1.002 then when he got to 2 inches he was 1.005 and I haven't upped him again... is it necessary to do full salt? If so what's the lowest Salinity for that so I can have a schedule... I've heard its around 1.018... that's salty... lol. I've heard full salt set ups are expensive and hard(er) to maintain. I don't think I'm ready for marine fish.... They're expensive and I've only been in the hobby for well since last July (had fish when I was littler but my dad did most of the stuff).
Because we have much better techniques for full SW filtration than mid-level or higher BW and that higher level does not seem to hurt longevity, it is less operating cost and work to use full SW w/live rock skimmer and marcoalga refugium all together rather than conventional FW bacterial biofilters. This is pure pragmatism. For these fish it is known and really does work better, so we do it that way. But you could always keep the fish in high-end BW for it's entire life, if you can afford the $alt for 50% weekly WC.
On a 55g tank, I was using 10 cups/week.
Can you tell me a bit about Damsel fish and Tomatoe Clownfish? What kinds of things they need foods and such so I can maybe look into that. Wouldn't he pick on those fish too? I've heard Clowns are kind of agressive in their own right... Do they need anemones? I don't want to make the mistake of getting a Dori and a Nemo fish... they're not as easy as it looks and If I did it I want to do it right... but financially I don't think Full salt would be possible... At least not if I have to do "live" sand and corals/ anemones.
I had tried a variety of clowns with my GSPs. I 1st added a small pair of juvie perculas (Nemos). The next day, there was only one & I return the survivor. Next, I tried a maroon clown. Within 3 days, my GSP's tails were reduced to nubs by the clown. Last, I added the tomato clown. He lasted about 2 years, before he dropped dead.
Clowns do not NEED anemones & SW does not mean you have to keep corals.
They need full marine as they get to 6 inches yes?
I've gotten conflicting information about that. I've heard as long as it's brackish they'll be fine their entire life and I've heard they need full salt their whole life or that they need to up it over thier life. He started at 1.002 then when he got to 2 inches he was 1.005 and I haven't upped him again... is it necessary to do full salt? If so what's the lowest Salinity for that so I can have a schedule... I've heard its around 1.018... that's salty... lol. I've heard full salt set ups are expensive and hard(er) to maintain. I don't think I'm ready for marine fish.... They're expensive and I've only been in the hobby for well since last July (had fish when I was littler but my dad did most of the stuff).
Because we have much better techniques for full SW filtration than mid-level or higher BW and that higher level does not seem to hurt longevity, it is less operating cost and work to use full SW w/live rock skimmer and marcoalga refugium all together rather than conventional FW bacterial biofilters. This is pure pragmatism. For these fish it is known and really does work better, so we do it that way. But you could always keep the fish in high-end BW for it's entire life, if you can afford the $alt for 50% weekly WC.
On a 55g tank, I was using 10 cups/week.Can you tell me a bit about Damsel fish and Tomatoe Clownfish? What kinds of things they need foods and such so I can maybe look into that. Wouldn't he pick on those fish too? I've heard Clowns are kind of agressive in their own right... Do they need anemones? I don't want to make the mistake of getting a Dori and a Nemo fish... they're not as easy as it looks and If I did it I want to do it right... but financially I don't think Full salt would be possible... At least not if I have to do "live" sand and corals/ anemones.
I had tried a variety of clowns with my GSPs. I 1st added a small pair of juvie perculas (Nemos). The next day, there was only one & I return the survivor. Next, I tried a maroon clown. Within 3 days, my GSP's tails were reduced to nubs by the clown. Last, I added the tomato clown. He lasted about 2 years, before he dropped dead.
Clowns do not NEED anemones & SW does not mean you have to keep corals.
UPDATE: Got rid of the Jewels, Still have the Archer but he leaves him alone. Relocated the Goby to my friends tank and the Bumblebee's accept him quite well. He's a fat little (6 inches) fish now.
My puffer hasn't chewed anything in this new tank. He seems to take a liking to it. I've raised the salinity to 1.008 and he's enjoying that. He likes thawed Tilapia. Got him to eat out of my hand yesterday night. He's eating crab leg too. He sort of looks at me like "Really?" When I put his snails in now. He likes the crab better apparently. Would it be possible to possibly get another Puffer to put with him?
He was very interested when I stuck my hand in to rub the algae off the tank. It's unfortunately in a sunlight room so it gets quite a bit of algae. Any ideas on how to battle this. Everyone keeps telling me Pleco's or snails... he'd eat snails and Pleco's are not brackish... I got vehemently told that "Green spotted puffer fish are fresh water species" and to get mine out of salt or he would die...
Someone else said Mexican Turbo snails... but He'd eat those wouldn't he?
My puffer hasn't chewed anything in this new tank. He seems to take a liking to it. I've raised the salinity to 1.008 and he's enjoying that. He likes thawed Tilapia. Got him to eat out of my hand yesterday night. He's eating crab leg too. He sort of looks at me like "Really?" When I put his snails in now. He likes the crab better apparently. Would it be possible to possibly get another Puffer to put with him?
He was very interested when I stuck my hand in to rub the algae off the tank. It's unfortunately in a sunlight room so it gets quite a bit of algae. Any ideas on how to battle this. Everyone keeps telling me Pleco's or snails... he'd eat snails and Pleco's are not brackish... I got vehemently told that "Green spotted puffer fish are fresh water species" and to get mine out of salt or he would die...
Someone else said Mexican Turbo snails... but He'd eat those wouldn't he?