The Puffer Forum

if you have had a gsp in FW and slowly turn to BW..

then after a while, go marine with gsp at 1.025

do you need to use RO water, live rock etc, or do you use tap water, marine salt etc.

if you wanted your gsp in marine conditions, and wanted to add damsels etc

would you need to convert to full marine conditions, RO water, live rock and protein skimmer

or can you use tap water, marine salt if you were keeping one GSP and a few damsels?

Unless you are going to use live rock and skimming, the maintenance on full marine conditions will be just as high as mid-brackish, more expensive due to large amounts of salt needed, and it will not be any better for your GSP. I would not go full marine without at least live rock or skimming, and preferably both.

I have two GSP's, two yellow tail damsels, and a mandarin goby in a 52 gallon. I originally did the fresh to brackish conversion in a 30 gallon with just the GSP's. I then set up the 52 gallon and cycled it with about 30 pounds of very porous LR (it's cheap here in Fl.) I just have a way over powered HOB filter 2 power heads and all the LR for filtering at this point and it seems to be doing pretty well at it. The puffers really seem active colorful and happy now with ferocious appetites. Keeping the SW has not been that hard so far but, I am sure that I still have alot to learn. As for the salt I was worried it would be tough to get it all right. I do use RO water because I have well water here and it's super high in sulfur... Luckily the LFS will fill jugs (I saved from machine at work) for me for free since I get supplies there. Salt is only 14.99 for a 40lbs bag and that last quite a will so that isn't that bad either.


water change, water change, water change.

Best of luck to you! My suggestion is to read a lot and take it slow.

I am setting up 55 gal. tank full marine for my gsp. I am starting with 20lb live rock/20lb dead rock to save on the cost. I am going to be using a skimmer, and in time a sump. I figure they can live for up to 10-15 years so the better the set up the more $$$ you will save in salt(do to less water changes) over the next 10 years.

And thanks jaxpuffer for the idea of asking for ro water from the pet store.

JaxP, You really should try a skimmer. You'll wonder how your fish lived with all the smelly gunk it pulls out!

You really don't have to use RO water but it might help with algae problems.

It can be done, has been done and I've been lucky enough to do it quite successfully. Yes I use RODI water because it's the only way to keep your corals - I don't think it will matter if it is a fish only tank. I have a 75 gallon reef tank with an HOB skimmer, 2 cannister filters (YES CANNISTER FILTERS - They work and have worked for almost 2 years now so ;P ), HOB refugium, UV steralizer, 80 pounds of live rock, and a ton of different corals from soft corals, to leathers, to hard corals, to anemones, etc. I never cared much for damsels (aside from clown fish) but my puffers are in with 2 tangs, gobies, clowns, flame hawks, cleaner shrimp, blue spotted jawfish, etc, etc.. My puffer was my first fish and I didn't want to let go of him in my transition to a full reef tank so I gave them (P-Diddy & Dory both my GSP's) a chance in my reef tank, and I'm SO glad I didn't listen to everyone when they said it was a bad idea to put them in my reef display tank.. My puffers are super happy and compete for food even with my hippo tang.. Moral of the story is: "This hobby is not a science and there is no one way to do things.. Do what works for you..." Proof is in the pictures I guess:











Yes I know the last picture doesn't show my puffers, I was just showing off my clam and blue spotted jawfish (which everyone said would be eaten up by my puffers)..

Should you have any other questions feel free to email me: cthoughts1@gmail.com (I don't hop on here as often as I used to)..

I see puffers! Great that all those things are working for ya in one tank!

Thanks Pufferpunk... BTW, you rock.. You've always so helpful to everyone.. Keep up the great work on this site, I learned a lot on here..

Just because your puffer hasn't eaten the tankmates doesn't mean it won't someday, so don't get too complacent. The only puffers I have that haven't eventually eaten tankmates after several months of seemingly happy coexistence are my dwarf puffers.

BTW love that clam!

Yeah, considering that clams are #1 on a puffer's diet, I'd be worried...

Seeing a GSP in with a reef tank is like...uh...seeing a mermaid in the bathtub......it's awesome!

I got my fingers crossed for ya Cthoughts!

Holy cow, I can't believe the picture of the puffer and the shrimp. I can't even keep huge hermits alive with my baby GSP!!! Beautiful tank by the way!!!!

Cleaner shrimp rarely get eaten by their hosts.

Mm, I guess I was kind of scarred by a video on youtube of a lionfish eating one. I've always been interested by the relationship between these shrimp and their hosts.

I would love to go marine again =]

maybe sometime in the future as my gsp gets bigger.

love seeing marine tank pics...