Rethinking Tank Plans

[McCool]

I can't seem to find any south American puffers, so I'm thinking I may have to go with something else. My tank is 55 gallons, two 60 gal filters, rock, lots of fake silk plants. Ammonia & nitrite 0. Nitrate 20-30. Tanks got a good amount of current, and lots of hiding places and caves. Current stock is Giant Danios, Plec, and African Knife. Temp stays around 79. First, does anyone know somewhere that Carries south American puffers? Are they seasonal? I have only found two sites that have them, and both are out of stock. LFS isn't having any luck finding them. Saw some on aquabid, but with shipping, it was just to much, and they are gone now.
Now, my LFS just got in some full grown, beautiful F8 puffs. I know I would have to rehome my current stock, but I'm fine with that. How hard is it to switch over to brackish? How many could I have? I have a snail breeding tank up and going, so no worries there. How many BBGs could go with them? Mollies? Will the salinity change kill my bacteria?
Sorry for all the questions, but this whole time I have been reaching SAPs, and really am wary of brackish.
Any help is appreciated!

 

[Shovelman]

I can't seem to find any south American puffers, so I'm thinking I may have to go with something else. My tank is 55 gallons, two 60 gal filters, rock, lots of fake silk plants. Ammonia & nitrite 0. Nitrate 20-30. Tanks got a good amount of current, and lots of hiding places and caves. Current stock is Giant Danios, Plec, and African Knife. Temp stays around 79. First, does anyone know somewhere that Carries south American puffers? Are they seasonal? I have only found two sites that have them, and both are out of stock. LFS isn't having any luck finding them. Saw some on aquabid, but with shipping, it was just to much, and they are gone now.
Now, my LFS just got in some full grown, beautiful F8 puffs. I know I would have to rehome my current stock, but I'm fine with that. How hard is it to switch over to brackish? How many could I have? I have a snail breeding tank up and going, so no worries there. How many BBGs could go with them? Mollies? Will the salinity change kill my bacteria?
Sorry for all the questions, but this whole time I have been reaching SAPs, and really am wary of brackish.
Any help is appreciated!

*lowend brackish

 

[McCool]

Yes, they like a salinity around 1.005-1.008, correct? Please correct me if that's wrong, its just what I gathered from a few minutes of research.

 

[nmonks]

Figure-8s are very easy to keep in brackish tanks. I'd suggest allowing 15-20 gallons for the first specimen, and 8-10 extra gallons for each additional specimen because they can be territorial. They aren't sociable towards other fish, but BBGs work well, though they can be difficult to feed.

Salinity for neither species need be as high as SG 1.008; SG 1.002-1.003 will be ample, and that'd allow lots of potential for plants. Brackish water is easy to make (check out my Brack Calc tool for more on the weight of salt needed for a given salinity) and buffers against pH changes, so there's really less to worry about than there is with freshwater!

Cheers, Neale

PS. Yes, SAPs are seasonal, as are most wild-caught Amazonian fish. They tend to appear from mid summertime through autumn.

Yes, they like a salinity around 1.005-1.008, correct? Please correct me if that's wrong, its just what I gathered from a few minutes of research.

 

[McCool]

Now I just have to decide if I should wait for some SAPs or go with fig eights.....
Will the change in my salinity kill off the bacteria?
Do Fig8s get along with Mollies?
Thank you for you're help!

 

[nmonks]

Going from freshwater to SG 1.002 or 1.003 can be done in one fell swoop without any risk to your filter bacteria.

Mollies might work with Figure-8s, but a lot depends on the personalities of the puffers you get. If it were me, I'd try something a bit snippy in itself, like Liberty Mollies, if you can get them. Failing that, try some robust Black Mollies rather than an idiotic inbred form like Balloons. If you get the Mollies first, let them settle in, the add the Figure-8s, you have a better chance for success.

Cheers, Neale

Now I just have to decide if I should wait for some SAPs or go with fig eights.....
Will the change in my salinity kill off the bacteria?
Do Fig8s get along with Mollies?
Thank you for you're help!

 

[McCool]

Awesome! I think I may try it! I will have a brack quarantine tank set up, so if the puffs pick on the Mollies, I'll have somewhere to move them to.
Thank you so much!