The Puffer Forum

So after being mislead information about the habits and water conditions that a GSP requires, I have decided to get him his own tank this weekend but need a little help I suppose.
Looking into a 20-30 gallon tank, bracket water with a power filter.

I read the article listed on here about setting up a bracket tank, but after all of these years having fish, never did salt. How is the best way to start, just use the marine salt? Do they make something to measure the salt percentage in the water?

Also, is gravel better than sand, or doesn't it matter?

Any help is much appreciated.

Yes, you will use marine salt, I'll try to find a link to something explaining how to mix brackish water to obtain the salinity you need. You want to allow it to mix for at least several hours, but ideally overnight, using a powerhead, unless you want to stir it got a few hours :/
A hydrometer or refractometer is used to measure salinity. Starting at fresh, make sure the tank is cycled with media from your existing tank. Only raise the salinity by .02 a week, this gives your bacteria time to adjust without dying off on one fell swoop.

I would definitely go with at least a 30 gallon. Because he'll out grow the 20 soon, and it's a giant PITA to move them into a bigger tank, much easier to start with one. It will be easier to keep the parameters in check as well.

I keep trying to reply to this thread but it doesn't seem to post...
Anyways, I found an ideal tank that would work great for it, but it's a little on the pricey side, and since we are still at the beginning of the month, it might have to wait until Monday (rent, car loan, wedding, etc)...
Should I put the little bugger in before I add the salt and let it cycle each week, or add it in after everything is said and done, I don't want to give it a shock from going to no salt and into salt.

I did check CL and it seems there are only huge tanks for sale at the moment, I really don't think I have the room to add another large tank like that.

Once you get the tank, cycle it with no fish as a fw tank, or just go straight SW with LR, cycle then drip acclimate him/her over to SW

Personally I would just go straight to SW, might cost more up front but will save you money in the long run

30g min is your best bet. Will outgrow a 20 in no time at all

As cool as this guy is, and as excited as I am to see it mature, I really wish I would have found this forum before believing what I read or was told. HUMPF

Considering you have not set up marine before, I'm going to suggest cycling the tank as freshwater, cycle it with used media, and start raising the salinity by 0.02 a week. Add him in before changing the salinity, make sure your parameters are holding.
To set up a medium sized tank as salt water can run you $$$, and there is a bit learn, best to not cram all of that in a short amount of time. Unless you are up for the challenge and the moolah.

Good point seven. I had been reading for months before trying my first one.

Cost me about 200 to get it up and running

I hope this helps. Initially you'll have to do some math and/or guess and check to get the amount you need to exchange at the target salinity. Some suggestions I can make:
Do a 50% water change and measure the amount of gallons you remove. You can use the formula (W x H x L) divided by 231, measuring the empty portion of the tank. Most, if not all, salt brands are 1/2 cup per gallon to reach 1.023 approximately. This is where you'll have to do some math/check and guess to get your 50% exchange water at 1.004, then added to the main tank to reach 1.002.

Oh boy, I really have my work cut out for me then don't I? lol, I'm sure I'll manage, again I'll probably be picking one up either Sunday or Monday.

How do I know if it is eating? I can honestly say I haven't seen it eaten once, but have not seen the snails either, could be another fish though. Should i try the turkey baster feeding with this guy as well? If so, the more the merrier!

Get a pair of plastic tongs, available online, sold as planting tools, also at Petsmart.
Here are some food suggestions, in addition to snails which are an important part of thier diet:

You can get some non-seasoned, uncooked seafood from a grocery store, like mussels, shrimp, scallop, squid etc. I also like to include tilapia and red wriggler worms, (available in bait shops or the bait section at Wal-mart) to offer some thiaminase (An enzyme that inhibits the body's ability to uptake b1) free/low food sources. If the seafood is fresh, freeze it first, and thaw/ soak the food in a bit of tank water (Don't use straight tap) with the addition of vitamins, such as Vitachem and Selcon to make sure they are getting balanced nutrition, as freezing does break some of the nutritional value, but it is important to freeze to kill bacteria and or parasites.

I use a bamboo kabob sticks. I break off the pointy end so they cant stab themselfs and then I can also make it look like its swimming so they get to chase it

I use those too for certain things, but it's more difficult in taller tanks. But I also can't skewer snails :/

then your not doing it right seven LOL

No eww... lol
He enjoys them too much whole too.