First time potential puffer keeper, advice appreciated!

[pufferpuggirl]

You can always go marine later if that's what you want. Say you get a Ceylon or GSP ... keep it in a brackish tank, like I am, and then later, much later, if you can afford to go to marine, do it. Otherwise keep things simple for right now. Sounds like you have enough to contend with doing a cross-country move.

[mrs.som]

Yeah, I think that is what we'll do, PPG, thanks for the input!
Can you keep two Ceylons together in a 55 gal?
On a side note:
We decided on names, well, at least two of the names, "Gollum" and "Smeagol" My husband has already started doing little puffer voices, "Mistress, we loves the food, yes we do, us is hungry Mistress..." lol....

[pufferpuggirl]

Well you might be able to keep 2 together for a short time in that 55, although some will look down on this, as they are supposed to have 40-gallons each adult puffer.

[mrs.som]

PPG, oh that's ok if it is just one Ceylon. I'm not the type of person that will overload a tank for my own pleasure. I want my fish to be happy.
Thanks for the info!

[Pufferpunk]

A single Ceylon in a 55g, will be a HAPPY Ceylon!

[mrs.som]

Pufferpunk, I am hoping that I get a Ceylon but will be happy with a couple F8s too
On a side note: I am thinking about making a pvc cave tower (covering the pvc with silicone then substrate) to provide the fella(s) with adequate entertainment and am wondering how big the individual pipes need to be, diameter-wise. I see the info on puffer size but it is just about length, not width/diameter, any guesses on that? I would hate to make them too small and have them get lodged.
Thanks!

[pufferpuggirl]

Are you talking the diameter for F8's or Ceylons?

[mrs.som]

PPG, both, if possible Sorry for not clarifying.

[pufferpuggirl]

Well, to be on the safe side, I get all my PVC for a 3" diameter. That's not saying that a Ceylon will get that large .... but I like to have extra space, and since I tend to move things around sometimes, I get a basic "one size fits most".

[mrs.som]

Thanks PPG! I was thinking 3" would be a good size too. Also considering one of those terra cotta strawberry pots, just gotta see them in person and measure the openings.
Man, I am very excited about all this! Last time I used Stability for helping cycle the tank (worked like a charm!) but I think I'm gonna have to be more patient this time around as I'm dealing with brackish water.

[pufferpuggirl]

Best thing to do is do it slowly and not hurry. You can still move the cycling process along by using a mature filter sponge from an established aquarium, if you have access to something like that. Or gravel. I've started a tank by using the nasty black water from my external filter, which I'm sure is loaded with bacteria.

[J-P]

Last time I used Stability for helping cycle the tank (worked like a charm!) but I think I'm gonna have to be more patient this time around as I'm dealing with brackish water.

That depends on the starting SG and the target SG. Low end brackish tanks share the same bacteria as FW and as you progress upwards then marine and FW bacteria share the same water column and then later marine bacteria takes over. There is a post / thread here somewhere about it.. but I forgot what the sensitive zone is.

you can start the cycle as normal and raise the SG by .002 per week library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/ "Cycling, Specific Gravity, Acclimating"
If I find the link for the trouble zone I'll post it for you.

[J-P]

got it

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21282&p=225774&hili ... ia#p225774

also see:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19348

[mrs.som]

Thanks for the info both of you!
I must admit I am really nervous about getting the brackish thing right but I'm positive I can figure it out if I do it carefully and go slowly!

[Flutter]

So what kind are you getting?