The Puffer Forum

AthrunZala wrote:so now im getting a aquaclear power filter 50 for my 30 gallon. And i've chose to get a powerhead so anyone can recommend me a good powerhead and im still looking on heaters probally tetra or Aqueon but how many watts are recommended for a 30 gal?

I really would not recommend a heater by Tetra. Though I trust many of Tetra's products, I do not trust their heaters at all. If anything, you will likely have to replace their heater due to high fluctuations of temperature because of inconsistency. Go with the Aqueon.

As for a powerhead, I'm not sure how necessary they really are. When I put one in my 60 gallon, the additional water movement stressed out my GSP pretty significantly. He would immediately go from a pearly white belly to a dark grey belly until I would remove the powerhead. The Aquarclear 50 should provide plenty of movement for your fat buddies.

If you're deadset on a powerhead though, I would merely purchase one rated at lower setting as not to cause too much water disturbance for your chubby footballs.

if i don't use a powerhead what anotehr choices are there for air pumps and how many watts should a heater for 30 gal for gsp be?

AthrunZala wrote:if i don't use a powerhead what anotehr choices are there for air pumps and how many watts should a heater for 30 gal for gsp be?

There's a formula for this. I think it goes 5 Watts per every 1 gallon? So you should be fine with 150 Watt heater. Someone clarify me if I'm wrong? As for not using a powerhead, you could just use a bubbler if you wanted to just oxygenate the water.

It depends on the plants you want. Some need more light than others.

Jivenjune wrote:

AthrunZala wrote:if i don't use a powerhead what anotehr choices are there for air pumps and how many watts should a heater for 30 gal for gsp be?

There's a formula for this. I think it goes 5 Watts per every 1 gallon? So you should be fine with 150 Watt heater. Someone clarify me if I'm wrong? As for not using a powerhead, you could just use a bubbler if you wanted to just oxygenate the water.

Is he correct?

im probally going to get java ferns and java moss maybe moss balls because gsp grow pretty slowly and the plants can survive in SG up to 1.010

LilGreenPuffer wrote:It depends on the plants you want. Some need more light than others.

Sorry... I was thinking watts per gallon for lights...

AthrunZala wrote:

Jivenjune wrote:

AthrunZala wrote:if i don't use a powerhead what anotehr choices are there for air pumps and how many watts should a heater for 30 gal for gsp be?

There's a formula for this. I think it goes 5 Watts per every 1 gallon? So you should be fine with 150 Watt heater. Someone clarify me if I'm wrong? As for not using a powerhead, you could just use a bubbler if you wanted to just oxygenate the water.

Is he correct?

Most online aquarium stores recommend that a heater have 3-5 Watts per every 1 gallon of water. Even more people seem to recommend having two heaters to keep the power at a properly even temperature (properly one for each side of the tank).

No powerhead necessary in there, the filter will provide enough flow.

ok thanks so i'm going to get a aquaclear power filter 50 for my 30 gal. Still not sure about heater but it should be about 150 watt. And an aquaclear air pump.

AthrunZala wrote:ok thanks so i'm going to get a aquaclear power filter 50 for my 30 gal. Still not sure about heater but it should be about 150 watt. And an aquaclear air pump.

I still think you would be better off without the powerhead. The only time I use a powerhead is when I'm mixing marine salt in a bucket of water or in my community cichlid tank where they seem to appreciate the water flow a bit more. You might want to consider just spending the money on a large variety of food for your puffers. Puffers appreciate a fairly complex diet. Twenty dollars could give you a variety of some of the following: freeze-dried plankton, high quality earthworms, live crickets from a pet store, seaweed and a clip or maybe even clams on a half shell to help scrape their beaks.

You might even be better off just buying more decorations with the twenty dollars you would spend buying a powerhead. Puffers are pretty intelligent and also appreciate a complex environment to constantly explore.

Powerheads just seem to have a limited function in smaller sized aquariums.

AthrunZala wrote:ok thanks so i'm going to get a aquaclear power filter 50 for my 30 gal. Still not sure about heater but it should be about 150 watt. And an aquaclear air pump.

jivenjune i'm not using a power head i'm using an air pump

AthrunZala wrote:

AthrunZala wrote:ok thanks so i'm going to get a aquaclear power filter 50 for my 30 gal. Still not sure about heater but it should be about 150 watt. And an aquaclear air pump.

jivenjune i'm not using a power head i'm using an air pump

Ah, I read that wrong. My apologies.

If I were you id get a large ADJUSTABLE heater, A Large Aquaclear 110, and a simple bubbler. This way when you do move to a larger tank than a 30g you wont have to invest in anything but the tank and decorations. I gaurantee you wont want one cute GSP in that 30g get him a buddy and put them in a 55-60g. plus even with the 30g youll be forced to do larger water changes. The larger your tank the more dilluted the bad pollutants become and trust me they are dirty fish worse than goldfish if you ask me. Plus the best part about the aquaclears is you can buy random loose media to fill it with and not always having to buy aquaclear replacements thats why Ill choose aquaclear any day. Itll save you money plus it filters great its easier to maintain and has an adjustable flow rate. After water changes crank it up but its better to leave it on low bc the water passing thru gets filter 1.5x as oppose to 1x on full blast. And i believe that it will last you 20 years like someone said above. They are built well and hardly ever break unless by negligence of it owner and even with that it still sholdnt break. I just got a 110 aqua and my older 70 aqua filter has been going strong for 5 years with zero problems. Ps I know everyone says 30g per Gsp but imagine if he grows to 6" that still wont be enough room for him to actually enjoy himselve. I got 3 in a 55g but in a year ill move them to a 150 no less even though I really just need 90. Always check Craigslist.org for tanks you can always find them dirt cheap or even free sometimes. So you dont waste 500 bucks on a large tank at the LFS. good luck want to see pics when its done.