water change question

[lunarflame]

As many of you know, im new here, and just got my first f-8 puffer fish.

I was wondering, when I do my water changes do I mix the water salinity to 1.005 and then add it into my tank? or should I do it a different way? Will this keep the water salinty the same ..

I hope that makes sense...

[Jayhawk]

I mix a bucket of water up to 1.005 SG then add it to the tank. It doens't take a ton of salt (unlike high BW or full SW), so mix and wait a couple of minutes and you'll be fine.

I can't recall if your tank is up to 1.005 SG yet? If not, I'd make the new water maybe 1.002 (if you're doing a 50% water change). This won't quite raise your SG .001, but a gradual increase each week up to 1.005 is easier on your biological filter than a big increase and there's not a rush with a figure 8 unless it has ich or something the salt will help cure.

What I did was week 1 added water at 1.002, week 2 added water at 1.003, week 3 added water at 1.004 and since have just added 1.005 water and eventually the tank reached 1.005.

Eric

[Pamela]

Yup...slow and steady wins the race. Well, preserves your good bugs, anyway. Took me about five or so weeks to get up to 1.004, then I went crazy and took the tank up to 1.005 in one week.
Pami.

[lunarflame]

thanks!

My tank isn't fully 1.005, so i am slowly putting it higher.

[Pamela]

Is that a live plant in there? Or the world's most convincing fake?
Pami.

[lunarflame]

its a live plant. There are a few varietys which will live in brackish water. that isnt one of them, but it may live, if there is any sign of it dying im going to place it in my fresh tank and get a more suitable one

[Pamela]

Yeah, do, cos if it starts going off it'll really mank your water up.
Plastic ones aren't THAT bad, and Bumble will need quite a few in his little palace.
Pami.

[PetPirate]

Ideally you should mix your water for at least 24 hours beforehand. When you add the salt, there will be lots of constituents and processes that will take time to reach equilibrium. Most salts even recommend this on the side of the bag/bucket -- and we all know, big-bucks companies only recommend increased complexity if they absolutely have to.