A new member with a few questions

A place to discuss general puffer care or news.
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Sterling
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 4:30 pm
Location (country): South Africa

A new member with a few questions

Post by Sterling »

Hi everybody!

I'm from South Africa and loooove fish. I recently sold some of my fish and now I have a 4ft (60gal) and a 12gal setup that's open. My heart is set on puffers!! But I like doing lots of research first, I want to make sure I can take proper care of them. I've tested our tap water and it's as follows
GH is between 3 and 6
KH is also between 3 and 6
pH 6-7

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to water parameters
Is this water suitable for puffers without having to add anything more than salt if I choose a brackish species?

The puffers available here are the dwarfs, figure eights and the green spotteds. I have kept fresh brackish and marine but many years ago. Any help would be great!

Thanks
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bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: A new member with a few questions

Post by bertie 83 »

Stability is key. It's rare to have perfect water straight from the tap to meet a fishes natural water, if you keep it stable (so long as extremes are avoided) you are good to go. Gsp are best kept in a marine tank so remineralised todo water is best for those. Whichever you choose be sure to cycle the tank properly before adding the puffer, see our article on fish less cycling.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32987
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
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Re: A new member with a few questions

Post by Pufferpunk »

12g would be best for dwarf puffers.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32987
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Re: A new member with a few questions

Post by Pufferpunk »

12g would be best for dwarf puffers.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32987
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Re: A new member with a few questions

Post by Pufferpunk »

12g would be best for dwarf puffers.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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