The Puffer Forum

flashing and scratching can also be due to irritation from ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels. i've never experienced this with puffers, i'm still new, but i did run into it with some of my cichlids when i got lazy on water changes. i'll leave the advice to the experts, but just thought i'd throw that...

i guess i figured it would still be cycled

I've had just 2 pleco's in there until last night when i added the salt. tuesday i got rid of all the fish, there were about 16 community fish in there.

ok i'm real close to being set for fish now. i removed the driftwood and replaced with lots of rock. have my sg at 1.004 (which matches what the LFS has the puffers at) my ph is up from what it was and still rising. everything seems to be in check. now i need to start breeding snails.

what do you do your mixing in? last night i used 5 gal buckets and it was a pain in the a$$. maybe just because it was the first time and i need some practice. also how much salt (aprox) do you add to say 5 gal to make an sg of 1.005?

i bought the "instant ocean" but i'm pissed, i want a free t-shirt!!!!

hey dude i'm new to puffers too. you should read the thread i started titled "new to this site and puffers" everyone has been very helpful in answering lots of the same questions i'm sure you have. i've learned a TON in the last two days or so. the "library" was also very helpful.

ok that all makes sense to me, just never thought of it. so do you suggest some sort of rubbermaid container to fill with water the day BEFORE a water change? or the day of an hour before or what? do i need to heat this water that is just chillin out to my basement temp of around 66-68 degrees?

can i ask whats wrong with mixing it in slowly and testing straight out of the tank?

ok when you add your salt..do you just put it straight in the tank or mix in buckets first?

ok i'll do some reading later on tonight. thanks for all your help so far everyone! i appreciate it

i'm not even familiar with the KH, i've kept lots of cichlids and piranha, but never even botherd to check it what does it indicate. don't mock me if this is a dumb question

how long would something like this work without being replaced? will the substrate visible dissolve? or just trace elements in the substrate? this might be something i just need to "play by ear" but if anyone has done it, try and estimate.

i'm using an aquaclear not sure of the model number but it is for 40-70 gal tanks, and mine is 30 so i should be all set as far as flow. i'm going to clean it today, and i'll try putting some of that substrate in my filter. that is a good idea. i'll start with a small amount so i don't make any big ...

so basically i NEED to get some of this substrate to at least mix with my sand?