F8's with GSP

[Pufferpunk]

Yes, if your system is stable after a week, you can add another F8 but you will again have to keep a close eye on the parameters (as you are adding more bio-load) & do water changes accordingly.

[kaylas]

Ok, thanks. So, should I use stability plus some chemicals that are supposed to get rid of the ammonia, or just keep using the stability and wait it out?

[Nick]

I have no idea if stability works well or not, it's apparently a fairly new bottled bacteria product. Have you added anything else to the tank, other than stability, conditioner, and the puffer? If not, keep us closely posted on how soon the ammonia and nitrite levels go down to zero, so we can compare how long it took vs. a tank with no additive.

[Pufferpunk]

Do not use any ammonia-removing products or the bacteria you need to develop that "eat's" ammonia won't develop properly.

[kaylas]

I haven't added anything else to the aquarium. I did about a 40% water change last night and the ammonia is still the same but the nitrites are down to zero.

[Pufferpunk]

Just keep doing what you're doing.

[kaylas]

I'm having a little problem with my SG. When I first set up the aquarium I had it at 1.008 by adding 1 tablespoon to every 5 gal. Well, I did a 40% wc and added about a tablespoon and a half. The next day, sg was around 1.004. So, I mixed up another tablespoon in some water, poured it in, checked it the next day, and its still about the same. I did a vinegar soak with the hydrometer and even mixed up some really salty water to test (it registered a lot higher) to make sure nothings wrong. But, I just cant seem to get it back to 1.008. I did another wc change today, and added back about 5 gal, which had about a tablespoon and a half of salt mixed in and checked it about an hour later to see the same reading. My hydrometer mesaures like 1.001, 1.004, 1.008, etc and I thought maybe it might be actually lower and just reading a minimum of this- but i dont know. Just wanted to see if anyone had any advice. I don't want to get it too salty by adding more :S.

[cobra1713]

ok first off are you using marine salt or aquarium salt? for a brakish tank you need to be using marine salt.

sexond how i mix salt, idk if theres a better way but it works for me cus i only have a 30 gallon tank, is say your tank is at 1.004 and you want to get it to 1.008 and you do a 50% water change you are gonna need to add water thats at least 1.012. so when you get the water (i presume its in a bucket) add the dechlorinator then start mixing the salt, figure out what salinity your aiming for and what it says to mix for marine salinity. i use instant ocean and to get 1.012 would mix about a 1/4 cup per gallon. and then text the salinity. you can always add more salt or water to get the salinity to what you need it to be. then add it to the tank. when you get close to full check the salinity of your tank and make sure its at the salinity you need. then mix the last bucket at 1.008. also make sure not to change the salinity of the tank overall more than .002 in a week cus that can kill off the bacteria you are trying to gain in a cycle. (sorry if these directions arnt very clear im not the greatest and writing directions. maybe someone has a more precise way to make a brakish water mix)

[Pufferpunk]

I don't know how you could have gotten 1tbsp/5g to make a SG of 1.008. It takes me a cup of salt/5g to make it 1.005.

[Nick]

I suspect there was a large air bubble on the hydrometer arm when the initial reading of 1.008 was made, and your current much lower readings are accurate.

[kaylas]

Well when I checked it, it was 1.008 for several days- until I did the water change. Plus, I always check it for air bubbles. Hmm :S idk. Maybe just a fluke. I mixed up some more water today and will probably do another wc tonight and check it.