The Puffer Forum

So I finally got the OK from the condo association of the condo I am moving into in January to set up my 210 gal glass tank (little do they know there is also a 55gal wet/dry sump and a 50gal Rubbermaid refugium filled with liverock and powerheads). I currently have the fish in my sig and would like to add another trigger (possibly the Christmas islands Deep Water Trigger from divers den if it is still available). Do you think that is an appropriate stocking for this size system or can I add something else?

The real measure of tank size is foot print. I would assume this is a 6'x24" tank? If so I wouldn't add another trigger unless you are planning on getting a 8' tank soon (the fish maybe small now and the tank look understocked, but they all get big). I am more of a reef guy so a FOWLR person might chip in.

i was going to say i didnt think another trigger would be a good idea. especially since the S&S puff requires like a 150+ himself, triggers are generally like 75ish i may be wrong though, and the eel requires a decent sized tank himself. thats one thing that most people dont learn right away in fishkeeping. you may have a big tank, but that doesnt mean you can have 8 big fish. you have to consider the final size of fish and the waste they would put out. forget about the extra 100 gallons in filtration, even that realistically is only giving you an extra MAYBE 50-65 gallons because each bin will pretty much be only half full to compensate for power outage and water going back into the sumps. that filtration will definitely help since its more water volume but its going to be a lot of big fish that are aggressive, in a small environment to them. so aggression will probably take over that tank and cause havoc over time. i would just stick with the one as they grow out, unless like mekong said you have plans for a 8' tank in the somewhat near future. happy fish = happy owner

how do you guys know the foot prints of these tanks off hand like that??

i just went off mekong said with the length of the tank. plus real quick went to this site i just linked.

http://alysta.com/books/fishtank.htm

that link i have favorited for quick access to tank sizes, dimensions, weight(empty and an approx full) and a standard 180 would be 6' in length roughly.

as well as this one, but i think they are the same dimensions.

http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/size-chart.html

thank you!! I bookmarked it also

You guys got the footprint right. I actually just picked up another 180gal so I'm going to have 2 triggers, the clown and the eel in the 180 and the puffer and maybe one other friend in the 210.

That is good. The puffer will be more outgoing and social the less it has to be stressed over. He will also have more time to bond with you when he's not looking over his shoulder at who's getting at his food.