Lone GSP - tank upgrade question

[Xeroid]

After reading through the site and library, I've decided to upgrade my GSPs tank from a 10g to around 30g sooner than later.
Chubs is only an inch and a half right now, but it will take me a couple months to get his new home ready for him.
He's so cute and viscious. He reminds me of my wife. Whatever he needs, he's gonna get.
I was down at the LFS this weekend and saw a 30g breeder (36l x 18w x 12h) and thought this might be an awesome tank size for him, but I wanted an expert opinion.
Is it better to have a larger footprint with less depth on a tank for a puffer, or is the standard long and tall 29g a better choice?

[Dadof4]

Larger footprint. They need the swim room and hunting room.

[edmlfc1]

Larger footprint. They need the swim room and hunting room.

I agree.

[Xeroid]

Thats what I figured too. I was just concerned about it only being 12" high.

Thanks

[Nick]

Nah, not really a concern. The way I like to put it is that, given you can only have a certain footprint for tank(say, you have 30 inches by 12 inches) the more gallons the better, but given any number of gallons of tank, the larger the footprint, the better. So if you have 30 or so gallons of water to deal with, a 30 breeder or a 33 extra long are better than a 29... but if you have a four foot by one foot space(the footprint of the 33 extra long) and can get a 55 instead, do it, because the extra gallons help out, too. In your case, if you wanted to pay the extra money, a 40 breeder, 50 gallon, or 65 gallon tank would fit on the same stand in the same space, but give him more water, and use the same stands, lids and lights - only filtration would have to be increased.

[m3m0ri35]

Small tank such as 10 gallon is too small for a GSP like what they said previously, but also the water condition fluctuate too easily because GSP is a messy eater and tends to leave a lot of debris thus cause water condition to spike from time to time, if you have a bigger tank, the water condition won't change as much. I would definitely upgrade, unless the cost is an issue for you, but if you go to local pet shop, they usually have cheap 20-30 gallon tank for sell for minimal price. If you insist on sticking with a 10 gallon tank, then you need to do water change once a week , 50% water change at all time.
I found that GSP perform better in a brackish water rather than fresh water that the local pet store recommended.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Small tank such as 10 gallon is too small for a GSP like what they said previously, but also the water condition fluctuate too easily because GSP is a messy eater and tends to leave a lot of debris thus cause water condition to spike from time to time, if you have a bigger tank, the water condition won't change as much. I would definitely upgrade, unless the cost is an issue for you, but if you go to local pet shop, they usually have cheap 20-30 gallon tank for sell for minimal price. If you insist on sticking with a 10 gallon tank, then you need to do water change once a week , 50% water change at all time.
I found that GSP perform better in a brackish water rather than fresh water that the local pet store recommended.

Even in a 30g+, water changes need to happen at 50% per week, minimum.

[Agnate]

If you've properly understocked your tank, you aren't required to do 50% per week changes. It's a waste of water and salt for brackish and marine environments (since you can't really reuse that water in your house). You can do 25% per week changes and have a stable and clean aquarium (again, assuming it is understocked).

This isn't to say that changing the water is bad, but I personally am trying to cut back on my water consumption (all consumption, really), and one of my largest uses is water changes. I try to either make use of the extra water (tough to do with brackish/marine) or understock my tanks so that I can make more manageable water changes (which is my chosen solution).

[LilGreenPuffer]

A lone GSP in a 30g wouldn't be understocked, would it? I thought that 30g was the minimum.

[marksrush]

If you've properly understocked your tank, you aren't required to do 50% per week changes. It's a waste of water and salt for brackish and marine environments (since you can't really reuse that water in your house). You can do 25% per week changes and have a stable and clean aquarium (again, assuming it is understocked).

This isn't to say that changing the water is bad, but I personally am trying to cut back on my water consumption (all consumption, really), and one of my largest uses is water changes. I try to either make use of the extra water (tough to do with brackish/marine) or understock my tanks so that I can make more manageable water changes (which is my chosen solution).

Agnate, you are so right (as usual). I have a 4" GSP in a 55 brackish, and a 2.5" Ceylon also in a 55 brackish. Both are the only fish in their tank. It's nice because, as you say, it cuts down on the need for massive weekly water changes, which in turn saves on the salt bill...and these days, I need all the help I can get!

[Agnate]

It completely depends on the size of the puffer, LilGreenPuffer. I agree it wouldn't be understocked if it was full grown, but if it was only a 2" puffer, I would consider it "understocked" and stick to 25% water changes per week. I don't want to discourage water changes, but I just wanted to make sure they weren't performed unnecessarily.

[Pufferpunk]

He's so cute and viscious. He reminds me of my wife. Whatever he needs, he's gonna get.

The wife too?

[LilGreenPuffer]

It completely depends on the size of the puffer, LilGreenPuffer. I agree it wouldn't be understocked if it was full grown, but if it was only a 2" puffer, I would consider it "understocked" and stick to 25% water changes per week. I don't want to discourage water changes, but I just wanted to make sure they weren't performed unnecessarily.

Ahhh.