Bioball set up questions

[pc4400]

Hi everyone,
Just checking in with a couple questions. First here are my specs;
60 Gal tank
1.004 SG
80°F
2 GSP's
1 spotted green scat
food: freeze dried krill (looks like shrimp to me), frozen blood worms, sometimes frozen beef heart and occasional freeze drid blood worms

I have an eShops bioball filter system with a rather large pump. I've been using the filter system for about two months now and am starting to see some "scum" sitting at the top. Should I have an air stone in the filter tank next to the return pump? or maybe a small pump to keep the water moving around?
Also, this is my first bioball filter system so Im not familiar with maintenance. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, How long can my fish go without filtering if I need to clean the bioball system? It was a serious PITA getting the filter started, Im not looking forward to having to restart it.
Thanks

[crazedpuffer]

Have you read the article on feeding puffers in the library? I reccomend taking a look at that, because some of those foods aren't that good for the puffers.
I think a small pump would probably be a better idea then an airstone in the filter system you have.
As far as bio ball maintenance, just take a bunch out (leaving some in) and rinse it off to get some of the nasty debris and stuff off.

[zombiefetus]

I agree with crazed puffer, definitely take a look on the feeding article in the library (I also wrote one myself here: http://greenspottedpuffer.net/feeding.htm)

If your worried about the fish not having filtration during maintenance, maybe add on a second filter, just a cheap 20gallon one or something to keep the water moving.

[pc4400]

Thanks guys,
I checked out the library, printed and placed under my aquarium for quick reference. I picked up some snails; some smaller ones (3/4" long) and some larger 1" diameter apple snails. Also some ghost shrimp. Wow, puffers went loco for the apple snail, I had to video tape it since it was quite entertaining. The pffers chased the ghost shrimp around but I never witnessed them catching any.
Now I did read that I can give them mucles but Im not sure if they have to live muscles from the beach?

[zombiefetus]

^ Clams, Muscles, and Oysters are readily available at grocery stores with a seafood counter. Those are all perfectly fine to feed to puffers (and they love them )

It would be better to get them from a grocery store because there's always a possibility that something you picked up on a beach can contain parasites that will harm your puffer.

[Jase]

^ make sure you freeze them before feeding though so any hitchhikers will be killed.

[pc4400]

Hey,

I never got to see them eating the ghost shrimp, but I assume they DID eat them. I just bought some clams, they are "short necked clams". So will my puffers bust through the shell? The clams are about 1.75" diameter.

[pc4400]

Just wanted to update you guys. My 2 GSP's would rather be friends with the ghost shrimp for some reason. They went crazy for the clams. The larger GSP was actually looking very pale, but is now brightly colored and lots of vigor when eating the clam.
Thanks for all the help!

[Jase]

good to hear

[edmlfc1]

As far as how long they can go without a filter: During Ike it was a little over 24 hours before we set up our battery operated air pumps. Once we got home we ran the air pumps during the day and the generator with the filters at night. We did this for 10 days before our electric returned. Our puffs and all other fish were fine. You would be suprised how long they can go without anything.