Reasoning Behind My Gsp Layout...

[phlawed]

Ok, the tank layout.....

Substrate---crushed coral
Decorations---Rocks
Front Decor---Shells

Well, alot of people are complaining this is not a proper brackish enviroment...and to be truthful, you are correct it is not.

But, now look at the fish involved, a green spotted puffer....ok a very common puffer.

Past that....taken from his original habitat and put in a selling tank...one big transfermation in his life...ok...

here is what i proposed to my puffer instead.....I knew he already made one big jump in transporting that is not easy for any fish, especially a puffer...just go and look at GSP's at almost any LFS that have been there for more than a week and you will see....

So anyways, since i knew i wanted a live rock saltwater tank, i decided to go with a GSP, since i didnt have the money to start up a full saltwater tank right off. The day the LFS got their GSP's in i went and bought the most colorful and most active GSP i could find in the tank. This is my 3rd GSP BTW, 1st didnt do so well with acclimation, sister took him and is doing well, 2nd was my fault due to bad filtration system and nitrites would never settle, but this one has been perfect. So after selecting a good specimen (so to speak), I began his acclimation...LFS sold him at 1.005. So i changed the water until i was at 1.005 and began to acclimate him to the water temp...tank was at 1.009 before this. So now im thinking, ok, i know i want this fish to be a marine fish eventually, but at the same time, i know at his size in nature he is a brackish (low-medium). But, then it kicks into me....he has already gone through one major changing of enviroments, why another? So thats why i went with the coral substrate and rock background...so that when he moves into his 37g live rock home, its not another shock. It will just be an upgrade IMO to him. I do plan on putting 1 mangrove in the 37g tank, so maybe that will satisfy some of the brackish guru's.

Does anyone see a problem with this plan? If so explain.

Puffer is as happy as ever in his all rock and shell tank showing bright colors and coming to the front of the tank anytime i approach....will even chase my finger around the glass like a game...probably just wants to eat it..haha...but is fun to show people


also, he is up to 1.013 hehe getting so close, i cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nmonks]

Sounds as if he's ready to go to marine conditions, to me. Once you get above about 1.012, the water is going out of the fish and the salt is seeping into the fish. Raising the salinity merely increases the speed at which this happens, the fundamental point is that it is now operating as a seawater fish not a freshwater one.

So long as he's swimming about and eating happily, I wouldn't worry too much about what other people say. It's good to take advice, and to read around as much as you can, but you also need to blaze your own trail some of the time. Provided you don't put the life of the fish at risk, there's no reason not to experiment and see how things work out. Just keep an eye on the fish, its behaviour, the filter bacteria, etc.

Cheers,

Neale

also, he is up to 1.013 hehe getting so close, i cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[demonmagus]

what SG does the puffer need to go to?

 

[AMS]

what SG does the puffer need to go to?

Eventually full strength marine waters (1.020-1.025) are arguably ideal.

 

[demonmagus]

and what size tank?

sorry for questions, that should be my last one

Then again... what decor would you have in full marine

 

[AMS]

and what size tank?

sorry for questions, that should be my last one biggrin.gif

Then again... what decor would you have in full marine huh.gif

People say 20 gallons is minium, but I personally wouldnt keep them in anything under 30 gallons. Decor in marines is basically limited to liverock (which really isnt decor but rather your filter). You could get into other aspects such as decorative algae, corals (if you consider them decor), and other things, but for a GSP tank youre best off with just LR and possibly decorative algaes if your up to the challenge.

 

[phlawed]

and what size tank?

sorry for questions, that should be my last one

Then again... what decor would you have in full marine

its refered to as a FOWLR tank. Fish only with live rock.