Alright, help the new guy out here.

[DarbX1605]

So, I'm setting up a 45 Gallon Tall tank to house 2 GSP's. Now, I knew way back when I first spotted a GSP I wanted a puffer - but I didn't want to commit a large tank to them at the time - so I keep dwarf puffers. My experience with Cichlids is rather extensive, but Brackish is a new frontier for me - so I've got some questions.

About a week or two back, were walking through Wal-Mart picking up the basics - and I wander by the aquatic section (always to look, never to buy - I get all my cichlids from fellow breeders), and spot a GSP that they did not intend to receive. He had a tag over the tank that read "Puffer Fish $1.97" and was in with neons. He had a perfectly white belly, very active, and overall seemed in good shape - so I decided to rescue him on a whim. About 3 days later I decided to empty the breeding group of cichlids that inhabited the 45 onto a fellow breeder to make room for the GSP. I then proceeded to pick another GSP up from a local pet store. Both are in very good shape, seem to pal around, and are around 1 1/2". They are currently in freshwater as that's what the stores had them in, and I'm beginning the shift to brackish next week. I named them Carlos and Kirby for the record.

Now, I've read up on all the articles I could find. I'm doing a heavily planted tank with Java Fern, Anubias, Vals, and Hairgrass - all mounted on Driftwood or on the floor. The tank has a corallife power compact on it, so lighting should not be an issue - I also already have seachem flourish laying around from my other planted tank. The tank currently has a Whisper 60 gallon filter (temporary) and a Penguin 200, as well as 2 sponge filters. Are sponge filters at all effective in Brackish tanks or should I just remove them?

In my research I've heard lots of conflicting tales about GSP's at adult size. Ive read that they can be kept in high-brackish water versus pure marine - which would be my preference. Is this so? I've also been told (although I have a hard time believing it) that GSP's can stay in purely fresh water with a very high PH. False, right?

Another big concern of mine in the new tank is algae control. Plecos can't operate in Brackish water - so is there a Brackish substitute for the "cleaner fish"?

Also, is it safe to run carbon in the filters? I don't use carbon at present, but I've read that they can eliminate tannins should any of my new driftwood leech even after the extensive soaking theyre going through?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I think of it - thank in advance everyone.

[Nick]

Generally brackish fish like GSP can live at a very high carbonate hardness fresh water(which also generally reads high PH, but just boosting the PH with chemicals won't keep them alive any longer than regular fresh water, must be real dissolved carbonates) for longer than they can live in just fresh water, but true brackish water with not only a high carbonate hardness but several types of salts and many trace elements is needed for their long term health. Just using marine salt mix for SW tanks is the best way to do this. They can be kept in high brackish at adulthood, but the water changes they require without protein skimming and live rock(50% weekly) make it much less work and cheaper long run to just get a skimmer and live rock and operate at at least SG 1.018. Up to SG 1.017 or so, when a skimmer starts working well, brackish filtration and water changes are just like with fresh water, only dissolving marine salt in the change water before adding it.

[Pufferpunk]

A lot of your questions can be answered by the GSP article in our Library.

[Agnate]

I'm doing a heavily planted tank with Java Fern, Anubias, Vals, and Hairgrass - all mounted on Driftwood or on the floor.

Your plants won't last long in the brackish tank you will require for your GSP. At a size of about 1.5 - 2 inches, GSPs should be at a salinity of about 1.008 - 1.012 SG (or higher, if you so wish). Most plants tend to die off after an SG of 1.003 or higher is reached. Plants also need several months of acclimation (with the exception of Java Fern in my experience) before they can be safely introduced into brackish tanks. I would skip out on the plants when you start to change it over to brackish, as they will inevitably die (which is simply a waste you can avoid).

Driftwood will also begin to disintegrate as the salinity rises, which can be problematic for some people (especially if they're nice pieces).

Are sponge filters at all effective in Brackish tanks or should I just remove them?

Sponge filters are great until you hit an SG (specific gravity - or salinity, if you will) of around 1.017 - 1.018, in which case you should just switch over to live rock for you filtration needs.

I've read that they can be kept in high-brackish water versus pure marine - which would be my preference.

As mentioned marine is preferred over high-end brackish for US. The GSPs tend to prefer high-end brackish over full marine, but they don't complain in full marine tanks.

So is there a Brackish substitute for the "cleaner fish"?

The only "substitute" are mollies, as they will eat some algae. Unfortunately, so they spotlessly clean algae, so you'll still have algae in your tank that you'll need to clean. Also, they tend to be eaten by GSPs more often than not.

Brown algae is something you will have to get used to in your tank for several months. Eventually it stops growing, though.

Also, is it safe to run carbon in the filters?

Yes, it is safe. However, it isn't really need (especially if you're just doing it to remove tannins). Read below.

I've read that [carbon] can eliminate tannins should any of my new driftwood leech

Honestly, unless you hate the semi-brownish colour of tannins (which you shouldn't), I wouldn't bother trying to remove tannins - other than what is removed through water changes. Tannins actually act as a form of dechlorinator (this is NOT to say you can skip out on dechlorinating your water!) and I believe actually helps to bind chlorine to itself. I am probably wrong on exactly what it does, but I know that it is beneficial to an aquarium (and NOT detrimental), even if some people consider it an eyesore. Your driftwood will likely disintegrate in brackish water anyways, so you won't have to worry about tannins for very long.