gsp product questions

[Annaxox]

Ok, my 55 gallon is cycled and now I have a few questions about the products I am going to buy with two gsp

This is my list so far:
aragonite/crushed coral (How much of this do I need? Do I use only this as substrate or do I use regular sand or gravel and add this to it?)
hydrometer (What is the best brand? Is there a particular type I should or shouldn't get?)
snails for breeding (I plan to just ask for pest snails and raise them in a spare ten gallon. Basically all I do is add snails and they'll do the rest, right?)
instant ocean salt
water testing kit (What is the best brand? I plan to raise the salinity until I am at 1.021-1.022 eventually and not go to full marine so I need a kit that will work for brackish water as well as fresh.)

Am I forgetting anything? I really can't wait to bring the little fellows home. A long time ago I received on as a gift but had to return him because I didn't have the correct set up and I fell in love with his personality, the little guy would eat krill from my hand like a puppy. ^^ Now I feel like I can afford the care and proper equipment and so I've decided to try again.

Oh! And I should add that I'm using a marineland magnum 350 filter ^^

[trekenk]

Hi annaxox and welcome to The Puffer Forum. To get you started here is a great link from our library.

library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

First off you only need just aragonite.
There are many great hydrometer ( check ebay for good prices) don't forget to also purchase the calibrating fluid.
Instant ocean salt is good.
Make sure to get the liquid test kits not strips.

If you haven't already picked up your GSP's may I suggest just getting one unless you plan to upgrade your tank size in the future. GSP can live in high end brackish but it is always suggested to go full marine in order to save money on water changes. With one gsp in full marine in a 55 gallon you can alway add a small clown. If you are not famliar with salt water please do some research on the proper filteration which is different that fresh or brackish.

[las]

bump... im also interested in the snail farm route.

[Annaxox]

Thank you! How much aragonite should I get? Should I use that as my only gravel or do I add it to regular gravel/sand?

I don't think I want to go full marine because of all of the extra equipment needed. I've looked into it and I am mostly confused by the sheer volume of stuff you have to know and buy xD How is it cheaper than staying Brackish? Do you change the water less often? I have heard that a lot of people put two in a 55? I will only get one if I need to but I am confused by it, why should I not put two in?

And thank you again, you're really helpful <3

[Annaxox]

Thanks for the bump ^^

[trekenk]

The puffer library article that I linked suggests 30 gallon minimum. Minimum being the key work. Puffer Punk the sites owner did have two GSP's in a 55 gallon and it was to small. Many people find their single GSP is happyer in a 55 gallon alone than a 30 gallon. They are messy fish and do need lots if space and water volume ( they get the size of a nerf football). As far as the aragonite you don't need to mix gravel/sand with it. Couple inch to cover the bottom is good.

As far as high end brackish verses full marine you are correct a lot fewer water changes are needed with the proper saltwater set up thus in the long run it does save you alot in the cost of salt. The initial setup may cost more but you will be much better of in the long run.

[Annaxox]

I will consider buying the protein skimmer and live rock necessary for a full marine. I've always wanted a marine tank but I do get easily confused by the vast amount of stuff you have to know xD I think you're right, I'll only get one littler guy. I was hoping to get two but I do want what's best for the puffer. ^^

I am so excited! I love their smiling little faces <3

Do you breed your own snails?

[Salmon]

Single kept puffers tend to be more personable I have come to find out so you are wise to get only 1.

Breeding snails is easy. They don't really need decorations or substrate, just decent water quality and food. If you over feed they tend to breed faster, but more waste is produced thus more or bigger water changes. There really isn't much to breeding snails if you choose pond/plant snails and ramshorns because they are both genders, meaning you don't need a male and a female just 2 snails. It may take a bit to build up your population if you start with very little, but I assure you they can breed pretty quickly.

[sevenyearnight]

I can say from personal experience that high end brackish is more expensive and *can be* less stable than marine. Marine also doesn't have to be all that complicated.

For instance, for one GSP in a 55 gallon, (just one example of a set up) you could go half/half on liverock vs base rock to equal 1.5 - 2 lbs per gallon of rock total. Here is a great site PP posts time to time to get some base rock: http://www.marcorocks.com/
You can get some liverock from a local fish store, or even from people on craigslist, it will seed your base rock over time.
Get a circulation pump or two, Koralia is a reliable brand, you'll want to have some surface agitation and flow around your liverock.

A skimmer is important, but you can add it when you can afford one, it's better to get a quality one. This is an important part of filtration, so don't wait too long if you don't get one right away.
I'm not setting up anything elaborate with a sump or anything, so I needed to find a good HOB one, this is the one I decided on: http://www.marineandreef.com/Remora_Pro ... C13111.htm
Bakpak and reef octopus also make HOB skimmers.
(My husband bought me a knock off brand skimmer, it was dirt cheap. I'm too scared to set it up on my GSP tank, so it's going on another tank, and it's getting a plastic bin under it because I'm certain it will overflow. So, don't get a cheap skimmer lol.)

The upkeep on high brackish is a PITA.

[Annaxox]

Wow! I am really surprised by the price on that one! What a good find! All of the ones I had looked at were hundreds and hundreds xD Have you ever bought live rock from fosters and smith? I was looking at their site the other day and liked the rock there.

Other than adding the live rock and protein skimmer what else would I need? And how do the rocks stay live with the puffers eating the stuff that lives in them? Do you have to keep replenishing the supply of inverts?

I've never used marine salt before so I would like to know: when you add your first .002 and then do a water change, how much salt do you have to add to raise the level to .004? Because not all of the salt will come out with the water change so I would have to figure out how much salt is left before I know how much to add, right? And what is the best way to add the salt without making the salinity unstable during the change?

[trekenk]

Here is a link on the proper way to mix salt. Don't forget you can't raise your SG by more than .002 a week.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19348

[Pufferpunk]

We have a BW mixing article right here in this forum.

[trekenk]

As far as live rock your best bet is to start out and see if you can find any reef clubs in your area. Check craiglist ect. Live rock can be pricey bought from the LFS.

[Annaxox]

Thanks for the link! That will surely make things easier xD I will check around for live rock in my area but I'm not confident I'll find anything. Haven't checked yet, so who knows lol Thanks guys!

And clown fish can really live with gsp? They look so gentle and unassuming, you wouldn't think they'd be tough enough. What other marine fish can live with gsp? =O

[Pufferpunk]

My GSPs ate 1 of the 2 false percs I added to their tank in one night. Returned the other one before they got him too. Better to try a tomato clown.