New and looking for advice!

[eye_heart_puffers]

Hi, I'm Lisa from Manchester UK.
I've been fish keeping for a few years, and about a year ago, i fell in love with puffer's.
I currently have.....
1 south american puffer and a striped red eye, in freshwater.
4 green spots and a Figure 8 in brackish.

But i have joined to get help on starting a marine tank to house a porcupine, I'm willing to do anything needed, no matter how long it takes, but i just want to make sure i get the best advice on set ups and equipment before i start to purchase. would it be better to start from scratch or buy and existing aquarium?

Looking forward to meeting everyone who thier puffers as much as i do!

[My HD PVR]

Well what do you mean "starting from scratch" and you are aware that they need full marine, and a minimum of a 120 gallon tank?

[Flutter]

Welcome

It might best for you to make some changes with your current puffers before springing into getting a porc. Good for you for starting to do research on this one before getting it South Americans do better in groups of at least 3 and green spotted puffers and F8s are not compatible. They require different salinities, GSPs are much larger and aggressive than F8s, and GSPs require at least 30gal each. How long have you had your current puffers?

Take a look at these pages on your current puffers, we actually have a lot of reading that you can do on them too.
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/C_salivator/
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/C_Asellus/
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Biocellatus/

[eye_heart_puffers]

I am I have been doing a lot of research on tank conditions and size, that is not a problem, i just want to make sure i get the best to start with so i don't have to change his tank again.
As Starting from scratch i mean to buy the aquarium and the equipment seperate or new, setting up and letting it mature, anyone know the time scale to get to a sutiable stage for a porcupine starting from new.

[eye_heart_puffers]

I have had my gsp's and figure 8 for about a year, i was sold my gsp's as freshwater when they were tiny and have had to do a lot of research very quickly to save them at the moment they are very happy together but thanks for the advice, i will definatley get them in better conditions before any progrees on a porcupine.

My south american is in a community tank with other freshwater fish, he seems quite happy but is he still best in a group? if so i will try to fine some more.

My research on a porcupine is going to be very invasive before i would consider getting one, i am prepaired to tank my time on this one to get everything just right
Thanks for the link, i will have a good read through!

[jus85411]

how big of a tank are the F8's and GSP's in? also the south americans? im not surprised you have had success keeping the F8 and GSP species together, i made this mistake at first as well. i had two GSP and two F8 in a tank, i sold off the F8 though because of the different conditions they require. F8 need the setup you currently have, brackish with a SG of 1.005. GSP's need marine, they can do good in brackish too, but years of keeping puffers and studying them, its found that they do best and live longer in marine, as well as breed in marine. i would strongly suggest getting the GSP and F8 separated and in tanks to accommodate their adult sizes. other than that welcome! and you will find the people here are the most loving of puffers you will ever meet. they will never ever steer you wrong and they want whats best to your puffers like you do!

[eye_heart_puffers]

My Gsp's and figure 8 are in a 450l tank at 1.012, seems i may need to remover the figure 8 asap! my south american is in 600l freshwater community and seems to be doing realy well. i was advised to have a group of at least 3 s.americans is this true in the community tank?
I have lots of expirience with freshwater fish but i'm quite new to the puffer world

[xrayjeeper83]

Yep get 3-4 more SAP's and the one you have will be even happier.

and 1.012 is to high for an F8 longterm.

Oh and since I dont think it has been said......We need pics lol

[PolishPuff]

+1 for SG being to high for F8.

Most members agree that 1.005 for F8 is perfect.

[sevenyearnight]

That figure 8 would be great in a smaller tank alone, but if I'm doing my math right, 450 liters is ok for 4 gsp even as adults, as long as they don't seem to fight.

Please post pics!

[Pufferpunk]

Some links for keeping large marine puffers:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=192
library/puffers-in-focus/big-marine-pufferfish-care/

[Black Widow]

dont buy a marine setup brand new, as youll be screwed on price. My advice would be to get a 4x2x2 second hand for your porky and run it from there! Youll need a tank, stand, sump and all pipework.

[Pufferpunk]

Look on Craigslist & also Reef Central, for a local reef club near you.

[Black Widow]

Look on Craigslist & also Reef Central, for a local reef club near you.

Craigslist is for you yankee bargain hunters , in UK we use Gumtree.com and Aquaristclassifieds. By far the most popular reef forums here (UK) are Ultimatereef.net and Saltybox.com, all good for bargain tank setups

[eye_heart_puffers]

Thank you for all the info and links, i will take a look at them all