The Puffer Forum

I didn't know where to put this since F8s are brackish and I'm pretty sure most everyone here agrees.

Anyway I was at an LFS here in Dayton, and I always look at the marine puffers since they are so cool. I happened to come across an F8 in full marine conditions. Is this unusual to anyone but me? They also had 3 other F8s the same size in the freshwater/brackish section, but the one in full marine looked healthier. Is this strange? it seems that way to me

Are you sure it is not a Ceylon? They look very similar. Otherwise they are not doing good to that F8 either way. Post pictures if you can.

I didn't take any pictures. I'm 90% sure it was an F8. If I go again this weekend I'll definitely snag some pics if it is still there

Way back in the dark ages when I first worked w/F-8s, I did not test them above mid-level BW. Those long-ago trials gave the best outcomes in low-end BW (SG 1.003-1.005). I have personally never tried them in FOWLR and full marine, but it is possible that they would do fine there. I have not run across any reports on anyone keeping them at FOWLR conditions, but it could be another stable level for them as It certainly is for GSPs and likely also for Ceylons. FOWLR when well managed is an apparently a very good while relatively lower-cost operating system. I would love to see some long-term results on an of the so-called BW puffers.

Hard data on F-8s, GSPs, and Ceylons in FOWLR versus low-end BW would be very interesting and could be valuable to the hobby. Unfortunately I am too old to start such long-term trials myself.

FWIW

Maybe that will give me something to do should I ever decide to try brackish again and eventually get into salt water

RTR wrote:Way back in the dark ages when I first worked w/F-8s, I did not test them above mid-level BW. Those long-ago trials gave the best outcomes in low-end BW (SG 1.003-1.005). I have personally never tried them in FOWLR and full marine, but it is possible that they would do fine there. I have not run across any reports on anyone keeping them at FOWLR conditions, but it could be another stable level for them as It certainly is for GSPs and likely also for Ceylons. FOWLR when well managed is an apparently a very good while relatively lower-cost operating system. I would love to see some long-term results on an of the so-called BW puffers.

Hard data on F-8s, GSPs, and Ceylons in FOWLR versus low-end BW would be very interesting and could be valuable to the hobby. Unfortunately I am too old to start such long-term trials myself.

FWIW

I'm new to brackish puffers and wanted to know if base rock, which I think is dried and very clean live rock, will be okay to have in freshwater conditions at the start and slowly move to SG=1.003-1.005. Will it raise my pH too high?