Also note that we've never had a problem feeding the puffer. It eats
snails, worms, and about everything else that we've heard is normal
for a (freshwater) puffer.

Well in a way my reply had to do with care and feeding of *the puffer
without the need to fiddle with apple snails or any other snail that
can get our of control fairly easily. A few large nassarus snails that
have young in a marine environement would be all that puffer ever
needed...but evidently the "correct and propper" way to care for those
puffers is not a concern of yours.

I am giving the proper care of that puffer. It is a freshwater puffer.
It isn't a brackish puffer. You're correct that many fish stores
market brackish buffers as freshwater puffers, but this fish *IS* a
FRESHWATER species. I'm sure this puffer would TOLERATE brackish
water, but PROPER care would be to put it in a freshwater environment
(like mine). I'm not having a problem with the puffer. It's a
freshwater puffer, and it's a freshwater tank.

The Apple snails are *NOT* meant to be feeder snails. I *LIKE*
invertebrates. I especially like invertebrates like Apple snails that
have very different characteristics. I CHOSE Apple snails BECAUSE of
their amphibious characteristics -- that was what was going to control
their population. In fact, apple snails are preferred for aquariums
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE they lay their eggs out of the water -- it makes
it easy to control their population provided that you don't have some
silly Eclipse tank.

I appreciate your help with the puffer. I just don't need it. I'm
looking for some novel advice on what to do with a crappy Eclipse
tank.

Thanks --
Ted