ArmyCANUCKS

Hello everyone, thanks for reading my post.

I am going to get a 55 gallon (36" wide, 16" deep and 21" high) fish tank this weekend. I am upgrading from a 15 gallon that has 2 green spotted puffers in it, they will go to the new tank.

I am going to get the following fish also to put in with my 2 green spotted puffer:

Picasso Trigger (just going to get a 2 to 3" one)
Dogface puffer (just going to get a 2 to 3" one)
Purple Pseudochromis or Royal Gramma
Yellowtail Blue Damsel
Coral Beauty Angel Fish
yellow tang

Maybe the following if :
Flame Angel Fish
Blue Spotted Sharpnose Puffer
Scooter Blenny
Blue Starfish

I am going to cycle the tank tank with pieces of shrimps, LS and 5 pound of LR for 4 weeks, then if the water is good, then I will add my 2 GSPs and a damsel in there. After that I will add 1 fish every 1 to 2 weeks.

I already have a powerhead, and I am going to get a protein skimmer plus more LR.

I know I need more filtration system. I have a freshwater hangon filter but its only good up to 20 gallon. I don't know what filter to get or another other method would be good for me here. The water will get dirty because I chop pieces of raw shrimps to feed my fish.

Also for the fish stocking on the tank. You think a paicasso tigger would attack a purple pseudochromis or the angel?

Thanks so much in advance,

pinkfloydpuffer

A 55 gallon is actually the minimum tank size for two green spotted puffers. Crowding those other fish in there with them will more than likely end with some dead or hurting fishies.

sgould

Way too heavily stocked, IMO. Several of those fish have larger recommended tank sizes than 55 gallon...the trigger, the dog faced puffer, and the tang, for instance. My first suggestion would be to take another look at your stocking list and trim it back.

To answer some of your specific questions:
Would the trigger bother the other fish? Maybe. Caution is advised when mixing triggers with a variety of other species. At the same time, I have read that if you get the trigger when they are very young/small, they will be more docile as they mature than one that is stocked already fully grown. No personal experience with triggers though, so...<shrug>

Filtration?
Get at least 1 more powerhead, and definately the protein skimmer. For many SW tanks, a traditional power filter is not necessary, but in the case of a tank stocked with messy eaters (trigger, puffer), it might not be a bad idea. I would look at a canister rather than an HOB. One word of caution though if you go with one...clean it regularly!

pinkfloydpuffer

I'd also like to add that the purchased size of a fish is irrelevant as far as stocking goes. Many of them will grow very quick.

99 times out of 100, a puffer will do better alone or with another of its own species then it will with other fish. Your two gsps will be very happy alone in that 55 gal.

GreenMan13

Aren't green spotted puffers brackish also so they need a lower SG then the other fish?

pinkfloydpuffer

Green spotted puffers are brackish. However, older ones can be in very high brackish to saltwater, and they do well in it.

travie

I have to agree with everyone else. If you add any livestock to the 55g along with the 2 Puffers, you will be overstocked. You should do more research(and look at more then one resource) about the specific needs of each fish.

Matt

I agree that it is overcrowded. Look at your list and think aout the fish you REALLY BADLY WANT. Then carry on till u have a few good fish.

From Matt

pinkfloydpuffer

He said he already had the two green spotted puffers, and they need the whole 55 gallons. So if he wants any other fish then he'll have to get another tank.

Matt

Yer good point.

You Are Very Smart In The Area Of Puffers


From Matt

Peterpiper

All very good points, I would like to expand a little on the need to clean the canister regularly.
When we feed our fish some of the food ends up in the filter, this food and the wast from the fish is held in the filter with water passing through the filter constantly.
If the wast is not removed from the filter regularly, it will break down, and in the end you will have an increase of nitrates.
Lets look a little closer at the break down of the wast.
First it will break down to ammonia, the ammonia will add to your bio load and the bacteria will then use it and release nitrite, which is then changed to nitrate.
The issue is, that the filter is getting more wast every day, and so your bio load is increasing a little every day.
Now, did you know that plants and algaes also consume ammonia?
If you have a small problem with algaes in your SW tank and you are increasing the bio load a little each day, the algae will grow quicker and out compete the bacteria for the ammonia.. New Tank Synd.
After all ammonia is a base food.
By letting wast build up in the filter, it's a bit like using the dead prawn method to cycle is'nt it, just because its in the filter dosnt mean its out of the system.
As a min, look at cleaning the filter once a week for a lightly stocked tank.
Keep your feeding low.. dont over feed.

Matt

hat is very good info there Pete.

Keep it up.

From Matt

ArmyCANUCKS

Thanks for all the replies guys. This is a great forum. Now should I still use the raw strimps to cycle the tank with live rock?

pinkfloydpuffer

Was the live rock cured when you got it?

ArmyCANUCKS

By the way I just bought my 55 gallon and a nice stand.

I put 30 pound of live sand from someone's aquarium in it.
I used 40 gallons of new water, put in prime water conditiner, mixed with salt and put in some cycle bateria solution and I poured all the water from my old tank to the new one.
I placed the LRs in the tank. They are already cured, I have about 10 pounds from my old tank. They are cured before I put into my old tank. I didn't have the proper lighting before, so the purple on the rock kinda turned a bit brownish. But now with my new lighting, and my powerhead aiming at them, they should get better.
I have a hangon filter running right now.
Then I put the two green spotted puffers in the tank. One of them was stressed out because he turned all black, but he was fine after 5 min. They look very happy exploring and coming in front of my face asking for food right away.
I am getting a protein skimmer for sure within a few weeks and more LRs.
I may work on a refrigium/sump in the future because I can fit a 10 gallon tank under my stand. I may get a canister, too.

What do you guys think?

pinkfloydpuffer

Are you using the media from your old tank in this one?

It's normal that your puff turned black after you moved him. Puffers don't like to travel, lol. As long as he's back to normal, no problems there.

The product Cycle is usually not your best bet... It's the wrong kind of bacteria, and has to be replenished constantly, costing you big $. Tetra Safe-start is usually much better. I think you should be ok for a little bit with your LR and LS and the media from your old tank. Just be sure to watch those parameters closely. Puffers are sensitive to water quality.

If you get enough LR, you won't need a filter, but otherwise you will. I think a sump would be wonderful to have.

ArmyCANUCKS

I change to a new filter media. But the problem is that this filter is effective up to 20 gallon, so that's why I am looking for other filter methods.

Oh that bateria, according to the bottle, it says it can used for marine and fresh water. And I got it for free when I bought my 15 gallon tank.

How much LRs is enough for 55 gallon to filter.

I hope a sump won't be too hard to make, I will have to read on how to make one online this week.

Oh yeah when I put them in the tank, the fat one was chasing the skinny one around the tank for like 7 laps. Usually the skinny one is the more aggresive one. One day I woke up at 4:30 am then I turned on my light. They both woke up, the skinny started attacking the fat one and bit a small chunk out of the base of his tail. They fought a few times when I fed them. But they are usually good together, sometimes they sleep right by eachother, too.

Oh I have one question. I live on an military base. So I am going home for 15 days. I have an auto fish-feeder. But I can only put dry blood worms in those. And I feed my puffers raw shrimps. So you think they can survive 16 days with just the dry blood worms with the lights on 24/7, or should I bring them to a LFS and get them to take care of them for me. But I don't trust them that much.

nemo addict

you can buy timers for your lights which solves that problem and you can buy a 14 day auto feeder and put any food in them and not feeding them for one day wouldnt be a problem leaving the lights on 24/7 would stress the fish and cause them not to rest ,,also you could end up with algae blooms from to much lighting ,,, also on the sump if you google DIY reef sump diagrams it should bring you up a lot of ways to build a sump with different options ,, there is also a handy 3 part video on utube buy earthling183 showing how he made his sump and good tips on that to

pinkfloydpuffer

Nemoaddict answered your other questions, so...

Cycle can be used, but it's not self-sustaining, meaning that if you use it, you have to keep using the product forever, which adds up to lots of $. Plus it then takes away all the ammonia and nitrite from the bacteria that you want. So I'd say, if it was free, then just chuck it. Or maybe use it in temporary quarantine tanks.

With your live sand, I'd say a minimum of 50 pounds of LR.

Was the bite wound in the fin, or the flesh? If it's the fin, it's not too bad. That'll grow back quickly. But if it's flesh, you'll have to be extra careful to avoid infection. Try moving the decor around in the tank so that they have to re-establish their territories. That usually helps with aggression. Fighting during feeding is normal though... one of mine got a red wound on his lip when they fought over a snail .

I can't think of anything cuter than a sleeping puffer

Matt

I have watched that video many times. It is really helpful

you SHould Definetely Watch It

From matt

Bubbley_99

Purple Pseudochromis or Royal Gramma
Yellowtail Blue Damsel
blue starfish
and blenny will die in that tank due to the aggressive nature of the others and puffers are not eat all types of invertabrates(not sure about black spiny urchins) and as the others say that tank will be heavily stocked and it should only house the puffers