Questions about saltwater.

[East]

Please, give me a hand. I understand that my puffer will trim his teeth on live rock and I was wanting to raise to SW so I can add live-rock and the like.

What do I need to upgrade? And by need, I mean absolutely need. I am a poor college student making my rent. So far the tank is brackish (from freshwater), I have a heater and a submerged filter with some shells and sand. I still have yet to add some crushed coral or calcium substrate. He is a GSP named Bob (because I couldn't think of a name).

Thanks so much to anyone who can help me out. Please list the absolute essentials I will need to buy and how much they will cost me. I will respond to you as soon as I have the time to, thanks!

[Brandon8521]

The bear essentials for a fowlr(fish only with live rock) if im not mistaken would be a heater, protein skimmer(there is a good thread on that in the marine tank section), 1 lb of live rock per gallon of water, and a power head for water circulation. Of course a light to but as long as your not doing corals you should be ok with a regular 15 or 20 wat light.

[Brandon8521]

this is the link for the skimmers info

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=190

didnt mention hydrometer cause im assumeing you already have since you said your tank was brackish.

What size tank is it and with what live stock?

[East]

Well it's a 10g (I know I need a 30.. moving to that at a later date, he's about an inch and a quarter long now). My GSP is the only inhabitant at this point and will likely remain so. I just read that I can avoid a skimmer if I change the water on another forum, is this true, and how often would I need to do changes if so? Thanks for all your help.

[Brandon8521]

I wouldnt try to do the 10 saltwater. And not useing a skimmer on the 30 would defet the purpose of makeing it saltwater. Alot of people go the SW route because a skimmer lowers your water change volumes that you need to do, in return saveing you money on salt in the long run. If your not going to use a skimmer i would just stay at highend brackish keeping it at 1.019 or 18 and you can still put some base rock in there for the GSP to nibble on i have about 10 pounds in my 33 which he picks at all the time. With the base rock you still get the look of saltwater without the coraline algea and also its a good idea to go with a aroganite substrate or crushed coral. Forgot to mention that b4.

[Brandon8521]

Also i know someone else is going to push the issue aswell i wouldnt wait long at all to get him the 30 it will be hard for the biofilter in that 10 to keep up with the waist output of even a puffer that size.

Some ?s i have is is the 10 gal cycled and if so how did you cycle it?

[East]

As far as waste, I do clean it often to keep the waste down. I've had him for a year now, and he hasn't shown any signs of stress or puffing due to the environment. He seems quite happy ATM. I bought a product designed to cycle with for a couple of days before I put him in the first time. More recently upon moving I cycled the tank for a couple days with some of his tank water to help prepare for the move. I suppose in response to going SW to help with water changes, I would say that it is not my goal to slow my water changes- but rather to help provide him with something to trim his beak on, aside from foods. Changing water in a 10g really isn't too much of a burden. I might add some base rock if that will help out (if I can locate some), thanks for the suggestion along with SG details, that will definitely help out.

[Pufferpunk]

I am really surprised he remains that small after a year.

[Brandon8521]

How big was he when you got him, PP has a point. Mine has grown about an inch in only the few months that i have had him so far. He may be staying that little due to stunting. With the tank being so small the hormone build up may be causeing him not to grow as fast. Do you have anything to test your water parameters, the reason im asking is because trying to cycle a tank useing tank water is useless. The bacteria doesnt live in the water column it lives in the filter and substrate. Another reason i ask is your nitrate levels will help indicate how the hormone build up is in your tank.

[SammyDee]

BCUMMINGS is 150% correct. Get a bigger tank. You're stunting his growth. MIne grew 2" In 6 months of having them. Make sure your feeding a variety of raw shell on crusteacians for food. Not flakes or pellets. Puffers need meaty crunchy foods(tons of snails). Maybe consider buying a 30gal on CL for cheap and save the 10g to be used as a snail breeding tank. I see you live in OHIO whereabouts? I live in SE michigan. But I have family I visit in Toledo. I have a 40g with a wood stand and everything else if interested. PM me or email me if interested...

[Kungpaoshizi]

dunno if you have bought stuff yet, but you'll save hundreds of dollars if you read up on the hiatt cycle and right now bacteria.
it works, I was told don't use it, but I'm glad I didn't listen

[jdak]

dunno if you have bought stuff yet, but you'll save hundreds of dollars if you read up on the hiatt cycle and right now bacteria.
it works, I was told don't use it, but I'm glad I didn't listen

Where do you save the hundreds?

[Kungpaoshizi]

No skimmer, no calcium reactor, no co2 reactor, no phosban reactor, no sump, no fuge, no additives (with ph rock).
Less of a need for wc's (less salt, less di water, less time). No algae (less time).

Last I checked a skimmer for a 100 gallon tank will cost a couple hundred for a decent one. Won't even get into the costs of the other stuff since they're stupid exspensive too..

Does that clarify?
Oh, edit:
No need for live rock (what, people suggest 2xgallons, so 100gallons = 200$ LR)
No need for powerheads since the way you setup the output and the pure massive amount of GPH takes care of all around tank flow.
I suppose if you really wanted to get technical, now I've had mine setup for so long, I never use test kits lol
I check alk and calcium (since I have corals) and that's pretty much it.. the quick dip paper test kits from walmart is all I really use, and a ammonia card that's suctioned to the front of the tank...

And I actually use the 5$ led strips for lighting, working on a write up, but for my 55g tank w/corals I've spent:
460$

Now I get to just sit back and enjoy it

[Pufferpunk]

FTS?

[sao870]

you all are generally confusing me i can only imagine the how the O.P feels atm, but since you only have a 10g tank with a underwater filter i say you go and get alot of fake plants a HEATER!! is very important if you go salt a skimmer would help but if you cant afford that put in aragonite sand and some Live rock . And you should really look for a bigger tank on Craig's list or you can get like a 20 long for like 20 bucks...... im a college student so i understand the whole being broke thing.