bought 29g and want puffers. newbie

[mikeKICKz]

here's an update. I rinsed out my gravel. My tap water wasn't good so I got all my from dispensers in front of vons. Put half cap of prime solution. And all my decor is in. Waiting 2 hours to plug in heater. Nothing is touching heater which is set at 78 degrees. Tell me if I'm doing something wrong. You guys were such a big held in building me. I have to spend time with my family now. I'll be back at midnight California time when I'm at work. Thanks

i will post picture when stand's stains dry and clear coat is appied.

[Boxermom]

Not sure what you mean by "I got all my from dispensers in front of vons" but I suspect you might mean you got distilled or purified water. If so, that's not good for freshwater tanks. What's wrong with your tap water?

[mikeKICKz]

too much amonia

[Boxermom]

You have ammonia in your tap water? Have you contacted your water department?

[mikeKICKz]

so the water im cycling is not going to work?!

[Boxermom]

Water has minerals and other stuff that fish require for their health. When water is distilled or purified, all of that stuff is removed. Which is okay for saltwater and brackish tanks because marine salt adds the trace elements back in, but for fish in pure freshwater, its not good.

As far as the Prime, only very small amounts are needed. Using that much in a relatively small tank is just a waste. It won't hurt anything but if you can measure it for an appropriate dose, it will last much longer.

[mikeKICKz]

when do i start adding marine salt and how much at a time?

[Boxermom]

It depends on which kind of puffer you get. If you are getting a F8 or GSP, you can either wait until you get it and slowly start raising the salinity, or cycle it with brackish water now and acclimate them once you are ready for them. How much depends on which type of puffer you get. Read PufferPunk's GSP article in our library if you haven't already, and that will give you a good idea of what to do.

[mikeKICKz]

if i get both?

can i add some ghost shrimp in the tank to add some bacteria

[Boxermom]

A 29g isn't sufficient for both, and they are incompatible as F8s require low end brackish and GSPs require high end brackish.

The best way to cycle a tank IMO is to do so without harming livestock. We have a very good article on how to do a fishless cycle. In addition, ghost shrimp will not be able to establish a sufficient biological filter to handle a puffer.

[Pufferpunk]

And how, pray tell, are they supposed to learn if they aren't told? I don't think my comment was negative at all, not even "slightly." Are we now supposed to just ignore when someone is doing something wrong just because they didn't specifically ask about it?

My 1st thought when I saw that post was that the GF was in a too small tank. I didn't say anything though. I think that too many folks are scared away from forums when told they're doing things wrong with something other than what they were 1st looking for help with (heck, even with the fish they ARE posting about). Then they get angry & don't come back & their fish suffer. Not everyone's thick skinned & open to every suggestion we make. We need to be honest, yet also encouraging.

[mikeKICKz]

punk is the water that im using ok? so no go with the 2 different puffs.

[Pufferpunk]

Correct, no go. If I were you, I'd go with my origional idea of how my 29g is stocked. I think a 29 is a bit too small even for 1 adult GSP.

Boxermom is right, you need to find out why there is so much ammonia in your tap water (not fit for human consumption!). Perfectly fine to use for cycling though. How much ammonia is in your tap?

Find out what SG the fish you choose are in at the shop. Most BW fish are kept in FW, it's easier for them that way.

[mikeKICKz]

aren't we all friends here.

i decided to hold off of the f8 and just getting ONE gsp. anyways the f8's fins at the pet shop mostly has damage fins. can they grow those back. also the pet store i've been going to has a Porcupine puffer that has been puffed since the first time i went there, and that was on monday. tail is missing to, so sad.

i'm cycling right now with the water i got from the dispenser. hopefully everything goes well. when i get off work this morning i will probably take a pic of my set up. should i leave my light on while cycling?

[Pufferpunk]

Light isn't necrssary. I suggest againsdt shopping at any shop that treats it's fish the way yours does. Don't go with the GSP, just because the F8s look bad. Take your time & find what you want.