Suitable size tank for stars and stripes?

[pragmaticflip]

I saw an aquarium made by deep sea at a local fish store in Dallas, Tx. The size of the tank is 180 gallons. The dimensions are somewhat different then most tanks at 60 inch long/ 30 inch deep/ and 24 inch high? Since i only had nano-reef tanks my question is do large fish such as stars and stripe need long tanks or just big volume tanks? I do not want to upgrade the tank if the fish gets too big.

[edmlfc1]

You came to the right place. I think that tank would be perfect for a stars & stripes puffer. Here is a link to more information: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Marine/A_Hispidus/
As always the bigger the tank the better as they are a heavy bioload. The puffer will need enough room to turn around in and with those dim. he/she would have plenty of turning room.

[pragmaticflip]

Thanks. Also does it just depend on the individual fish as far as maximum length in a home aquarium? I know some will never get as big in home aquariums as they will in the wild. And last question was thinking about getting a 50 gallon trigger system sump. Is that suitable for bio-load if it was hooked up to a deltec/AquaC EV-240 Protein Skimmer/ or Trigger System TS500 Protein Skimmer. I would only plan on getting the S&S and maybe a wrasse.

[edmlfc1]

Yes they need enough room to turn and swim. And Yes that would be a great set up for the bio load.

[Pufferpunk]

I know some will never get as big in home aquariums as they will in the wild.

Not true at all actually. With the proper housing & foods, there is no reason a fish can't exceed it's wild size, It has no predators, diseases to fight or lack of food to find in captivity. #1 reason it might not live as long in captivity is overfeeding fatty foods & lack of growing/swimming room.

[pragmaticflip]

Thanks for the info. So would the 60x30x24 be enough for a fish that can reach around 17-20 inch's? or am i better off getting a smaller puffer like a dogface or porc? I dont want to be one of those people with a fish too big for thier tank. Also is it better to by marine puffers when they are small or when they are big?

[Nick]

That tank sounds reasonable to me, so long as the skimming is very good and there's enough biological filtration to take care of the nitrates, etc. Especially with a large sump, maybe 65 or 75 gallons.

[Puffer Queen]

Received your PM about my opinion of your tank and set up - I agree with the advice already given.

If you go with this tank, you will definitely need to watch the water quality. Be careful adding wrasses that bury in substrate to sleep. Puffers are nocturnal and will often blow the substrate looking for food.....sleeping wrasses are often mistaken and may end up injured.

Best of luck.

[pragmaticflip]

Thanks for all the feedback. Has anyone ever try to keep a kole tang with a puffer as a means of algae control or would a 5-6 inch tang become dinner? and the last two questions...1) how important is tank height? and 2) Would a Picasso Triggerfish be a better tankmate for a puffer then a red coris or bird wrasse? Like i said before i only want 2-3 fish at max.