GSP not growing.

[Pufferpunk]

More surface area wasn't the only reason I suggested LR rubble in your filter box. It works as a mini-refugium, giving a healthy place for detritus-eating pods to thrive & multiply.

[Aquarist]

LFS guy said that with enough LR in the tank itself, pods should grow just fine. However, he did mention copepods eat algae only. And there was some other species that was detrivorous.

[Aquarist]

A LSF is a business, they are there to make a profit. Of course they want you to buy more rock, their advice will benefit them financially. PP has no ulterior motive for her advice. It's your choice who you trust.

I didn't say I was going to take my LFS's advice, I was simply stating what they said. I do appreciate all of the information I am gathering here!

[jus85411]

when you have a forum of people with successful puffer keeping years telling you not to trust your LFS for puffer information(or any for that matter), why would you still listen to them? were not talking just years, decades some of them. RTR from what i understand has published many many articles, PP as well has published articles(on puffers!). sevenyearnight is right, they are there for a profit. if you come in there saying im going to crush up rock i already have to put in my filter, and with the little knowledge they already have, of course they will look at you funny cause they have no idea why your doing that and try to get you to buy something. its the nature of businesses. they dont want to give you advice, they just want your money. few and far between will you find a knowledgeable and reputable LFS. and im not just talking about the people who commented on this thread, theres people talking about LFS all over this forum. the "sure your GSP is ok in a 10 gallon, they only get 6 inches" and "they are freshwater with aquarium salt" flood this place with new users coming in. please just listen to advice given here, if the LFS store tries to tell you differently. ask them how to keep your puffers teeth trimmed. see what they say.

[Pufferpunk]

Alright, give the guy a break...

I didn't say I was going to take my LFS's advice, I was simply stating what they said. I do appreciate all of the information I am gathering here!

[jus85411]

no no i didnt mean to come off like "listen to us or else..." i just wanted to beat into his head that the LFS shouldnt be trusted, no matter the information. sorry aquarist if that came off a little strong

[Aquarist]

I'm worried/weary about getting live rock from my LFS due to the fact that I am very indulged in Ocean Conservation, and I understand the live rock trade vastly harms the oceans.

Any advice?

[jus85411]

feeling crafty?

http://www.livingreefs.com/diy-live-roc ... 15531.html

[Aquarist]

Not really feeling crafty... Have no problem with paying for the live rock, I just have issues with the potential destruction of ecosystems.. Any advice on that? I'm not a crafty person

[jus85411]

haha me neither. thats why i have never tried making it yet. eventually i will try but not now. only when i go setup my big setup one day which i am debating making all(tank, stand, live rock, etc) from scratch. thats a long time from now though. your best bet then is craigslist for someone breaking down a tank or selling cheap for whatever reason. cure it for a little bit and you should be good to go. all that rock has been previously purchased from stores so your kind of in a sense helping the ecosystem by not taking more out. but really you shouldnt look at it that way. if you dont get it, someone else will and that will be the same thing. unless its just a mental thing, if you contribute then you feel bad. then i can understand you definitely not wanting to. but either way unless you personally know the breeder of the fish you keep, anyone can say they have tank raised fish...

[Aquarist]

I know my LFS guy relatively well, but, I'm pretty sure my GSP didn't come from captivity, was probably captured from the ocean.

I'm only thirteen, it's not really my choice if I can buy it off of Craigslist or not. Think my only choice is my LFS, which I don't really want to contribute to the whole trade. Again, I want to make the puffer happy, but I do what I can for ocean conservancy. So, I think it would be kind of hypocritical of me to go buy tons of live rock, your opinion?

[jus85411]

no i dont think its hypocritical. we all im sure have had that conversation at least once in our life. how wrong it is to keep something from nature in captivity, but its not like your or me is responsible for the whole thing. it started a long time ago and theres not really much a single person can do about it unless you organized a massive(and i mean massive) hold out on pet stores and pets in general. but pets have become a household item sadly. not something you call family like a lot of serious keepers would do. theres people who buy fish cause its cool and "gangster", eats anything you put in the tank and kill anything alive. that type of person was probably the person who started the trade and really its up to people who want to do right to try to re-educate people when you can because like i said if you dont get it, someone else will and the LFS will just have to replenish their stock. maybe first browse around craigslist for a little and if you find something close by for a good price ask your parents if they will take you. if not then you know your pretty much stuck going the LFS route. either way i dont think its hypocritical. lots of people dont agree with keeping fish in captivity, but a lot of those people do it to ensure that at least one more fish can live as close to happy as it can

[Pufferpunk]

You now have enough LR to seed any dead rock you add to the tank.

[Aquarist]

The skimmer is here. Should the power head be completely covered with water?

[Pufferpunk]

Yes