want to transition to full saltwater

[volcomkrew4life]

So I've had my Green Spotted Puffer for about 5 months now. He's about 2 inches long in a 20 gallon tank with an SG of around 1.017. I started him out in 1.015 but have gradually moved him up to 1.017 over the course of 5 months. I want to move him up to 1.021 within the next 2 months or so but I'm afraid to because I don't know much about full saltwater conditions. I really want a false percula clown or two to put in with him. ALSO, I know that the best conditions for a young GSP are high end brackish water.

So my question is...will he be okay if I move him up to full saltwater at such a young age?

I am going to upgrade his tank soon enough but for now I find the 20g to be big enough for him.

Also, what steps would I need to take to sucessfully keep a full SW tank? I mean, is it just like high-end brackish water care? Just with a higher SG? Do I need anything specific? Are my water parameters going to get all out of whack if i bring the SG up to 1.021 in a 20g tank?

I don't really do anything real crazy right now with his tank. I've got the standard setup. An AquaClear 200 filter, a 100 watt heater, a bubbler, decor, ect. And I do 30% water changes every week. I really don't wanna have to go through all the trouble of getting any unnecessary luxories (special filter, live rock, any chemicals, ect.) Please don't tell me I need to do my research first or call me ignorant because that's why I'm asking for your guys' advice before I do ANYTHING. Thanks.

[Arny]

If you want to go full marine you'll def need Live Rock, also a skimmer would be a good idea to

[volcomkrew4life]

If I get a really good HOB filter and upgrade to a 55g will I still need live rock? Even with JUST a green spotted puffer, a clown, and maybe a damsel?...

[bertie 83]

i would personally upgrade tank first. 29g min recommended i believe for a gsp. bigger is better tho esp if u want tankmates

[bertie 83]

l/r will save you time and money in the long run

[xrayjeeper83]

LR will be the most important type of filtration for any sw tank, that and a skimmer. Step up to a 55g, add about 55-60lbs of LR, some powerheads, and a skimmer. that would be the basics i do believe.

[volcomkrew4life]

So can I just go to my LFS, ask them for live rock, and bring it home and throw it in the tank? Is there anything special needed to keep the live rock "alive"? What about live sand? Should I also get some of that?

I don't have money to throw left and right so I'm trying to go the cheapest possible way without compromising quality of the tank. I'm not looking to have a 200g reef tank with inverts and corals. I just want my GSP, a clown, and maybe another fish. Just a really tiny setup. If I upgrade to a 30g, put some live sand in, have a good HOB filter, and do weekly water changes would this be enough? I'm just trying to figure out how all this stuff works...

[bertie 83]

skip the live sand its expensive ammonia in a bag, l/r needs to be cured first. 30g is fine for just your gsp but wouldnt add anything else

[volcomkrew4life]

Okay, so no on the live sand. But if I just wanted to keep my GSP and nothing else in a 30g tank would a good HOB filter and weekly water changes be enough? Or do I 100% NEED the live rock??

[bertie 83]

l/r is highly recommended will save u £££s in the long run and give your gsp something to explore. sure you could do without but think, its better for you and your puff......

[volcomkrew4life]

So how often will I have to do water changes if I DO get the live rock?

[bertie 83]

now this is where we need a s/w pro i cant answer with 100% confidence... i believe 20% pw would be sufficient opposed to 50% this may well be miles out tho so best wait for a pro to give accurate %... but its definately wise to get no s/w tank is complete without, it will be more stable.

[sevenyearnight]

I'm going to say that yes, you need live rock. The salt water bacteria that breaks down ammonia, nitrite, and to a degree, even nitrate, and the live creatures, pods and whatnot, is within the liverock. They need to be introduced or it's not much different than high brackish without the introduction of those things via liverock.
If you're on a budget, raise your salinity to 1.020, get some cured live rock, see if you can find someone locally that can sell you some from his own disease free tank. Or, you'll have to cure the liverock, there are articles on the process. Then you can get cheaper base rock, and the liverock can seed the dry rock overtime.

I wouldn't get a pair of clowns, they are vicious after spawning.

[volcomkrew4life]

Okay so sevenyearnight, basically I can raise my SG to 1.020, go to my LFS and get some cured live rock, put it right in my puffer's 20g tank, and I'll be good to go with a good HOB filter and weekly water changes?

When I upgrade his tank can I just take the live rock out of the 20g and stick it right in the new tank? Do I need anything else?

[Arny]

I'll be good to go with a good HOB filter?

I would forget about the HOB and spend the money on Live Rock