brand new need some advice

[biggyjay]

hey everyone!

so I'm brand new on this forum and pretty new to the fish keeping hobby (not even a year!). i've been extremely interested in keeping green spotted puffers and have been doing massive research for the past two weeks. just when i think i read enough about them, Oh look!! More info on them! lol well i don't mind learning, in fact i feel i've really been trying my hardest to learn as much as possible about this hobby. so anyway back to the point. through my own research i learned the differences in wet/dry(trickle) filters, sump/regufe combo filters, i've learned a good deal about skimmers, and what is recommended for FOWLR tanks (which is what i want to accomplish now!) so basically i want to keep 2 green spotted puffers in a 55 gal with LR. now is it ok to start juve gsp's (like maybe an inch) in full marine? is it dangerous for them at such a size in any way? what filtration method would be best? i was thinking a wet/dry but i've heard they become a nitrate problem if not properly cared for. at what level will this be dangerous to the gsp's and does a wet/dry also add to the volume of water for the tank like a sump/fuge does. btw i have no intention of going reef with this tank at all. it will be solely devoted to these 2 gsp's. now i also considered a sump/refuge but the only reason i would use the refuge would be for a DSB, LR, snails, and crabs for the puffers but from what i've read a lot of people say it would be pointless especially if there's LR because it becomes another area to maintain due to the waste produced and i would still have nitrates because i wouldn't be growing macro. would it be ok to just toss a bunch of snails into the display and just hope they colonize themselves in there? i think thats about all the questions i can think of/remember at this time. so yea thanks ahead of time to anyone that helps

[Pufferpunk]

There is a thread here on keeping juvie GSPs in SW: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15647

I really feel you need a bigger tank for 2 adult GSPs, more like 75g. You could also add a few tank mates, like a trio of yellow-tailed damselfish or a tomato clownfish. Best filtration, IMO, would be 1.5-2lbs LR/g, a good protein skimmer & plenty of flow.

[biggyjay]

oh wow I wasn't expecting a response from pufferpunk I've seen you on a lot of other forums too! anyway 75 is doable since my stand is rated up to that. a LFS has some pre owned ones for $1 a gallon and a few are predrilled but they look weird O_o like one hole is at the top left corner then another hole is in the bottom left corner. I'm sure this is some type of overflow and return design but I don't quite understand it. and is that really the only filtration you'd recommend?

[Pufferpunk]

LOL, this is my forum!
What I listed is typical SW filtration.

[biggyjay]

I see...so plenty of flow like powerheads and the such?

[Pufferpunk]

Powerheads to keep the detritus from settling in the rocks/sand & a good protein skimmer.