Like I said before, I suggest getting those 3 GSPs into the larger tank, ASAP. Anything is better than cycling that 10g with them in it. There are 2 kinds of Bio-Spira, FW & SW. FW B-S is made to be used in FW. Just like our biological bacteria dies when we raise our SG too quickly, dosing a tank w/FW B-S will kill off a great deal of it. Acclimate them back to a SG close to 1.002 & add B-S to the larger tank (IF you can purchase from a reputable dealer, like http://www.drsfostersmith.com). In the meantime, they'll be much better off in the larger tank.
Thanks for the link Can't get them into the bigger tank until the filter system gets here... which if the UPS Gods are smiling on me should be Thursday or Friday since yesterday was a freaking holiday.
Acclimating them back n forth on the SG... could you add SW B-S to a tank with SG of 1.010? Or would the SG not be high enough to support the SW bacteria in the SW B-S?
Again, suitable/best substrate to go into this tank? I'd like to have everything as ready as possible when that filter gets here. I don't want to be tearing it up a month from now to redo substrate.
FW Biospira works up to 1.011 and SW works down to 1.013. I'd just lower it abit if I were you. It'd be much easier.
Any substrate is fine it's really up to you. You could use the substrate you already have to help jumpstart the cycle.
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept: T lineatus T miurus A modestus T biocellatus C valentini C coranata C papuan C lorteti DPs suvattii burrfish T niphobles
Just thought I'd throw my two cents in here about black bellies.
I had 2 GSPs that I got from different locations and times.
One simply had a black belly all the time. As a matter of fact when he got stressed or sick, his belly lightened up to a light gray color.
The other one was classic coloring, and only had black belly for the reasons we've mostly seen.
The rare and elusive SteelGeek has been known to cause great damage to his environs...