New Tank Questions

[kb1100]

I am starting my first brackish water tank and have a few questions.

1. What would be the best sand or crushed coral? My local pet store uses a crushed coral which seems cool, but I have read bad things about it. I have also read about sand being used although that seems like it would be difficult to clean.

2. I have added 1.25 cups of instant ocean salt per 10 gallons and my hydrometers needle isn't moving. I read that 1 cup per ten gallons should be like 1.005. Is there something wrong or should I just keep adding salt?

3. I have read the fishless cycling article, but my fish store said once my salinity was right it would be fine to add the fish. I specifically asked how long the tank should run. Is this true or whats the deal?

Thanks!

[Pandora]

Hi,

I recently set up my first Brackish tank too I mix the water in a bucket and check the salinity in there before putting it into the tank, it tends to be 4 heaped spoons per bucket to get it to 0.005, and I have aragonite on the bottom of the tank.

Definitely get it cycled before adding any fish, the aricle on fishless cycling in the library here is great, I set the tank up, then added a frozen prawn or 2 to the tank to rot for the ammonia, and tested every day til the ammonia and nitrite were at 0 and nitrate below 20, then did a 50% water change before adding the fish, but if you are in USA there's a product called Biospira that cycles straight away

What puffa(s) are you going to get?

[kb1100]

Alright thanks for the help.

What size spoons are you using? I guess I will just keep adding more until I get some results. I am in the US, so I'll have to check out that Biospira.

I was planning on getting a green spotted puffer but the pet store only has a big one on display at the moment so I have to wait anyways.

[riggers]

Awww man is bio-spira only in USA? I've never looked for it here but I sort of assumed it would be somewhere I guess. Not that I was planning to use it anyway but oh well.

[riggers]

In response to your question though . I will be using sand and I don't think it should be any harder to clean really. I will be using play sand or filter sand probably cause it's so cheap!

[Pandora]

A normal dessert spoon

and yeah...I searched high and low here in the UK for Bio-spira when I got sold the puffers and tank all in one day (I know.....noob idiot) but no bio in the uk

[kb1100]

I found some stuff at the pet store that is like bio-spira called cycle. From the details on the bottle it seems like it will accomplish the same thing.

I also bought some crushed coral. After I washed it and put it in though it made the water very cloudy. That has since settled but the water now stinks. Do you guys think I need to change out some of the water or is that ok?

[riggers]

I have seen cycle in the shops but apparently it doesnt work . Not sure about the coral whether this is normal or not

[crazedpuffer]

Cycle doesn't work, it is just garbage.
I'd change the water just to be safe, it shouldn't do any harm though

[Idontknow]

I have added 1.25 cups of instant ocean salt per 10 gallons and my hydrometers needle isn't moving.

Depending on the salt, I have found that one cup of marine salt per 5 gallons will raise the SG by 0.005. The hydrometer needs to be rinsed out with fresh water before and after use. Also, if it is a new hydrometer, you need to soak it in salt water for a day.

[Pufferpunk]

Also, if it is a new hydrometer, you need to soak it in salt water for a day.

Never heard that one before.

[kb1100]

Depending on the salt, I have found that one cup of marine salt per 5 gallons will raise the SG by 0.005.

Thanks for the help.
I found that I had to add a little over 2 cups per ten gallons to get it up to 1.010.

Also, if it is a new hydrometer, you need to soak it in salt water for a day.

When I went back to the pet store the salt water guy told me that as well. He called it seasoning.

[Idontknow]

Also, if it is a new hydrometer, you need to soak it in salt water for a day.

Never heard that one before.

I don't know why, but it said it on the directions.