New Tank TODAY!!!!!!!

[Tapiana]

Hello There -

TGIF - and I am getting GSP a new tank today!!!!! I found a new 29g BioCube on Craigslist with heater/skimmer/air pump. YEAH

I just had a thought though: If my SG is 1.004 - will LS live in that?

It will be FO - no LR and I will be using some dead coral and shells as decor - will this affect any readings?

I can not wait to see him in his new tank I will post pics ASAP!!!!

Taps

[Tapiana]

Hello -

Thought I would share the tank goodness with you. Readings this morning are:

Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10
Ammonia - 0

SG 1.008

Looking good so far! Substrate is LS - LR as a decor and in Bio Filter. I have not added Ammonia - should I do that? According to the cycling article - I should but I was afraid of killing the good bacteria.



Tank with Digits the polydactyl (he has 7 toes on his paws - and thumbs)

Taps

[plurmaster]

Is that the 24 gal JBJ Nano cube?

[taureandragon76]

I am not 100% sure but I would think that the LS won't live in that low of SG and eventually with your gsp's needing full salt won't you need to have LR in the tank? Pretty sure all full salt tanks need the LR to cycle properly and maintain good bio, as the LR is your main bio filter in a salt tank.

[Tapiana]

The tank is the 29 gal Bio Cube - love it!

As for the LR - I hope it will live in that low SG - the LFS said it would. I have LR in my Bio filter - took out the Bio Balls - and filled it with chunks of LR - that seems to be what most "Reefers" do to help with the cycling.

I will keep you updated

[plurmaster]

Then that must be a big cat!!!

[Pufferpunk]

Sorry to say all your LR/LS will be DR/DS within a few days in that SG. I think you jumped the gun here too fast to "SW". Why is everyone in such a hurry to get their juvie GSPs into SW? Do you guys know that GSPs rarely even visit the ocean? It is fine to keep an adult in that SG, since they prefer high-end BW & with just a little more salt you can keep a nice SW tank but there is no reason to jump into it so fast with a juvie. Save some $$$ on salt & raise the lil guy up proper.

[Jay.B.]

although I have seriously enjoyed the challenge of learning everything I have, and overcome the hurdles that stood in my way, and have a very happy (nearly 3") GSP...

I actually wish I had kept him in mid brackish for a few more months or so before raising the salinity, don't get me wrong though, I have no regrets about doing it as he appears to be one healthy happy little fishy, but... it's forcing nature and taking a gamble, sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

[yunachin]

Be very very careful with those larger cube shaped tanks as they have been known to just explode for no reason. I am proof, as we have had it happen twice here. Something with the way they are manufactured causes the glass to be weak. I would just make sure to have it in an area that if it does happen to break, it won't destroy electrical outlets, or other things of value.

[Pufferpunk]

Aren't those plexiglass? I have heard the same thing on my reef club forum. Also, that would make the tank only 24g & square, instead the long length they like to swim.

[Tapiana]

Good Morning -

Oh geez - now I am concerned. The SG is 1.005 - .006 (I thought that this was the correct SG for GSPs less than 2 inches?) So - my LR and LS are gonna die? Good Deal I would assume then that if it dies - this is gonna mess up my water. Should I remove the sand and rocks then?

The tank is glass (8mm) - I hope it won't explode - that would be bad for the fish. I think the actual "tank" filled with 27g of water - 2 g for the filtration system. I just need it to hold the little guy for about 2 years until we have the room for a longer tank.

Thanks for the info - keep it coming!

Yes - that cat is huge - he is currently on a diet much to his chagrin.

[Pufferpunk]

Yes, remove the sand & rock & return it for now. I agree--a busted tank is never good for the fish!

[CoreyK]

Yes, I'm sorry to say your live rock is no longer live, almost everything in it is now dead. Marine organisms are not built for water at such low salinities due to how they osmoregulate.
If the LS was from a bag labeled "live sand", it was likely never "live" anyway. Don't worry about the sand, it will become "live" once you add LR.

This isn't necessarily a catastrophe - the die-off from the LR will provide you with a source of ammonia, which will cycle your tank. I'd keep an eye on your parameters and you should see a spike of ammonia followed by nitrite, and when you start seeing only nitrates, you should be cycled and ready for fish.

[Tapiana]

So -

Sorry about this - I am not sure what to do. Take the sand out - or leave it in since it is likely dead. Take the DR out - or leave it in? I do know that I am going to have to change out the Bio Filter now.

Crap - this sucks. I assume that the SG is ok - I am not increasing it until he grows more. Should I add some Bio Spira to help out?

[Pufferpunk]

No need for B-S. The rock die-off will produce enough ammonia to cycle that tank. When the ammonia/trite reach 0 the trate will spike & then you can do a 80% water change & move your puffer. It's like cyling with a piece of shrimp.