puffer noob

[underdog5004]

So, I have 4 freshwater tanks at home, and I was thinking about getting either a Figure 8 or GSP and putting it in my 15G tank. The tank has the same footprint as a 10G, but it higher. It is planted with all kinds of nice things, including java fern, marble queen sword, amazon sword, anubias, and is going to have quite a bit more soon.
So, here come my questions:
Can I keep a GSP in this tank?
Can I keep a F8 in this tank?
What kind of salt (aquarium or marine) should I add if I get a GSP?
What's a good SG for the puffer and my plants?

I'm sure I've got more questions, but I can't think of any right now. I plan on feeding my puffer a mix of snails and yellow shrimp, which I'm breeding in a couple of my other tanks.
So, let me know what you think about this! I'm totally open to any kind of advice.

[Dadof4]

So, I have 4 freshwater tanks at home, and I was thinking about getting either a Figure 8 or GSP and putting it in my 15G tank. The tank has the same footprint as a 10G, but it higher. It is planted with all kinds of nice things, including java fern, marble queen sword, amazon sword, anubias, and is going to have quite a bit more soon.

Welcome to the Forum! Glad you're doing some research first.

So, here come my questions:
Can I keep a GSP in this tank?

GSP need a minimum of 30 gallons to do well. It seems extreme for such a small fish but they are messy eaters and they eventually grow to the size of a Nerf football. If you keep them in anything smaller for a length of time you run the risk of stunting them and shortening their lifespan considerably. Here are two articles to read regarding stunting and GSP care.
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4030

Can I keep a F8 in this tank?

This would work but I think the 10 gal footprint is a little small. Correct on the minimum gallons but the swim space is limited because of the footprint.

What kind of salt (aquarium or marine) should I add if I get a GSP?

You would need marine salt for keeping either a GSP or Fig 8. Both require brackish environments. When you start to bring the SG of the tank up, remember that you can only increase by .002 per week or you will kill off your established bio filter.

What's a good SG for the puffer and my plants?

The Fig 8 requires a SG roughly 1.005 - 1.008 and the GSP needs a high brackish, 1.010-1.015, and can go all the way to full marine as they get older. As for the plants, I'm not a plant expert but I do know a lot, if not most, plants will not survive in brackish environments. Someone else can probably advise you better on the plants.

I'm sure I've got more questions, but I can't think of any right now. I plan on feeding my puffer a mix of snails and yellow shrimp, which I'm breeding in a couple of my other tanks.
So, let me know what you think about this! I'm totally open to any kind of advice.

Ask away! The people here are great and open to questions!

[Myaj]

Dad is correct on everything.. I personally wouldn't hesitate on putting a Figure 8 in a 15 gallon tank as they are more of the exploring types of fish.. pack it full of plants and they'll love it.

A GSP would get way too big.

Marine salt, not aquarium salt.. and you'll need a hydrometer (get one that starts at 1.000) or refractometer (more expensive but more accurate) to measure salt levels.

As far as the plants go, start in freshwater and raise your salinity very, very slowly, a lot slower than .002 per week if you want any chance of the plants acclimating and surviving.. aim for around 1.003, 1.004 max.. a lot of people feel that Figure 8's actually appreciate the buffering and higher pH of the salt than the actual salt itself.. in other words, they don't seem to do any better at higher brackish levels than they do at lower levels, and in some cases, actually do fine in freshwater if it has very high pH and hardness ("liquid rock" water), but adding a little salt will make sure you get them the conditions they like.

The java fern and anubias will probably be okay with the salt, not too sure on the swords though (I *think* they like softer water but I'm not sure).

Welcome to the forum and good job on doing your research first!

[Pufferpunk]

My anubias aren't doing very well in my F8 tank at 1.0005.

[Myaj]

I had both nana and barteri and even a little of the petite nana in Frank's tank for over a year.. I kept it really low brackish though, never any higher than 1.004

[underdog5004]

So, from my other thread, I learned that: 1 cup of marine salt added to 5G of water will raise the Specific Gravity by .005. It thus follows that 1 cup of marine salt added to 15G (probably more like 13, after you subtract out the rocks and stuff) will raise the SG by .001. Furthermore, I need to do it slowly, so here's my plan:
I'm going to add a 1/2 of MS about every 5 days for 20 days, raising my SG to 1.004 nice and slow, giving my plants and biofilter time to adjust. Does this sound reasonable, or is there some other way I should add MS?

[Myaj]

Personally, I'd go a lot slower than that if I wanted the plants to live, but that's just me

[underdog5004]

Personally, I'd go a lot slower than that if I wanted the plants to live, but that's just me

Er, I meant to say, 1/2 cup of salt, not 1/2 of the total salt

[Pufferpunk]

Myaj, Are your plants growing in there?

[Myaj]

Yes, they were (I've since torn down that tank). Not nearly as fast as in freshwater, but they were growing and green.