The Puffer Forum

Wat is a good saltivity level for gsp's

1.018- 1.025 is what we class as marine conditions suitable for housing marine fish, gsp are in this bracket for health and longevity in household fish tanks.

My new GSP has been in full salinity for several months now, and he's already grown a quarter of an inch. He's also a much brighter green, and extremely playful and active. Happy little critter.

El Scorpio wrote:My new GSP has been in full salinity for several months now, and he's already grown a quarter of an inch. He's also a much brighter green, and extremely playful and active. Happy little critter.

Did you gradually change the salt level or just transferred it to a salt tank?

The LFS I got him from had him in brackish with a SG of 1.005. I drip acclimated him over a few hours to full marine water. Not once did he act uncomforatable or disturbed by the process.

Brilliant thread!

I just got a GSP, I think he was a trade in and i have no idea about his age but he is about 3" top to tail. He's a fat little fella and an endless fascination so I called him Oddball.

Reading this, I am very eager to move from brackish to salt water so I can get some live rock going in the tank Mostly because Oddball seems bored and paces the tank sides a lot and so finding occasional critters in the live rock should give him something better to do. Also the biological filtration sounds amazing - Reduced need for water changes and noisy filter pumps aren't priorities but they would certainly be appreciated.

Basically, I've got to do A LOT of reading to do but I thought I'd gush because I always get some good advice + feedback here.

Remember to set up a 24/7 lighted ( is that a word?) refugium to help you reduce the need for water changes

How often for water changes in full marine conditions without a refugium?

You'll have to test the water for a while & see. If you have enough LR (1 1/2-2lbs/g) & a skimmer, I'd say you'll be OK with about 20% every 2 weeks.

I'm looking at the tank Saturday to purchase and bring home. Then I will add enough LR to complete that part of it. As far as a skimmer goes what generally is the best to go with puffers in general?

LR must come from an established tank, otherwise you'll have to cure it elsewhere.

Since George died I had to go and get me a new GSP. Ive had the new guy, George Jr. for almost a week now. He is maybe an inch long at the most, definitely a juvenile. I acclimated him to full marine (1.025) over the course of 24 hours. He has been in my 55 gal saltwater tank for only about 2 days, but he has definitely transitioned well. I know that this thread is more designed for the health of the GSP longterm, so I will be sure to keep everyone posted.

Unless you're keeping corals (probably not a good idea with a GSP), you only need the SG kept at 1.020.

+1 to Pufferpunk's suggestion on salinity. High density is throwing money away when you are aiming for FOWLR +skimmer + refugium. Once you are there, this will be so much easier and cheaper to operate.

Also +1 to Bertie's suggestion on the refugium - that will assist in maintaining high water quality plus dump invert snacks for the puffer to search for and eat. A win-win set-up.

It will eventually have a few corals, currently i do have an anemone though.