New to forum and Puffers

[Pufferfreak42]

Hi Everyone,

I just joined this site and this is my first post. I recently purchased a beautiful Green Spotted Puffer and am in the process of converting my tank to a brackish tank. I bought "Puff" this past Saturday and was told I will have to start making the water brackish this weekend for which I am prepared to do. Could someone please direct me to a link or site so I can do this properly with stressing Puff. I just thought of that name, corny I know. I've been wanting a Puffer for quite some time now so I'm very excited to now have one.

I plan on just having him in the tank with no tankmates, is that ok or will he be lonely? Also, some of this fins has been nipped at the store, will they grow back? They were definitely done at the store and not by his current tankmates. I'm sure he's pretty young but is there any way not to find out if he's male or female now?

Thanks in advance for your advise and help. I'm sure I will have more questions as the time goes on.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Welcome!

This link will explain it. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19348

Also, here's an article for you to read. library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/

He won't get lonely. Only schooling fish will get lonely. Many puffers don't do well with any tankmates at all.

His fins will definitely grow back, no problem.

[busybones]

Welcome to the forum PF42!

There is no visual way to tell a male from a female GSP...I wish we could!

[Myaj]

For sure read the links you were given above.

Long story short, 30 gallons minimum, use marine salt and get a hydrometer that starts at 1.000 (some of them start higher, so you want one that starts at freshwater) or a refractometer (more expensive, but more accurate and easier to use).

What size tank is it in now, and what tankmates? If your current fish can't handle brackish -> marine, you will have some decisions to make.

[PolishPuff]

Welcome to the Forum

[hali]

hello and welcome

[Pufferpunk]

How did you cycle the tank? What size? Be sure to read the links provided.

[eieio]

Greetings Pufferfreak42!
tons of info in this site and forum, and all the help you could ask for

[Pufferfreak42]

Thanks for the welcome and help everyone.

Reading that link has gotten me so confused. My tank is 25 gallons tall, so where am I going to find a 20 gallon bucket? What do people do with very large tanks. I'm actually nervous about changing the tank to brackish, it seems so complicated and I suck at math.

I'm glad his fins will grow back that's a relief. Currently his tank mates are tetras, swordtail, danio and a pleco, however, they will be gone by the weekend or put in the guppy tank. I'm not concerned if he's male or female as I have no plans on breeding or having tank mates as I have read they don't really like company.

I've had this tank running since March 2009 so it's well cycled, with an Aquaclear 50. I have the marine salt as well as an hydrometer.

I have to say again that I've wanted a puffer for so long and I'm very happy to have found this forum as I plan on doing a lot of reading.

[J-P]

welcome to the forum!! you're going to have fun here!!

[LilGreenPuffer]

If you look in the "Brackish Puffers" area, there should be a "Brackish Water Mixing Part 2" somewhere that has all the math done for you already. No one could do the math, so Dadof4 broke down and did it for them.

[Pufferpunk]

20g bucket is fine, since we only recommend a 50% weekly water change.

[LilGreenPuffer]

My tank is 25 gallons tall, so where am I going to find a 20 gallon bucket? What do people do with very large tanks.

You can use several smaller buckets, or a (NEW, unused, very thoroughly rinsed) trash can for mixing salt water. But with very large tanks, I think most people use a Python, a special hose used for getting water out of a tank and right into a drain, or right out of the faucet and into the tank.

We wants one, precious! We wants it for our own! We are lazy and do not like carrying 3g buckets across the room, and it makes a mess, yes it does, precious! We WANTS it!

/Gollumrant.

[Myaj]

LOL, you use a 5 gallon bucket and carry it back and forth a couple times

For the salt, don't get too worked up about it. The nice thing is that it really does take a fair amount of salt to raise the salinity by .002, so if you want to be over cautious, you can just add a tablespoon or two the first week, then the next week, and TWO tablespoons to the new water, then the third week add THREE tablespoons to the new water. That won't raise a tank that size very quickly at all, no where near fast enough to hurt the bacteria, but at least you are getting some salt into the water. You can't do this method forever of course, as eventually your salt levels will get into the marine range, but it will be fine for a few weeks until you get more comfortable with the whole concept.

But this is why you need a hydrometer or refractometer.. so you know what the water is Its really not that hard, and the biggest worry is changing it too much too fast, but as long as you have your measuring device, and mix up your new water within .002 of the existing tank water, you won't hurt anything. Because no matter how large of a water change you do, if your new water is within .002, you can't make it go up or down more than .002. Make sense? Its really not that difficult, and people worry about getting their "goal" salt mixed up properly, but I just add a little salt to my bucket, stir, let it sit for a bit, stir again and check the level.. if I need more salt, I add more, if its too high, add a little water.. then just remember next time how much you added to bring it up that high, and start there.. but always double check before you add the water to the tank.

Anyhoo, you don't have to hit that .002 raise each week on the nose.. you can't go over it, but no one says you MUST raise it that much each week. Slow is okay Its getting the salt in there that is important.. your puffer will appreciate it immediately.

So if you can follow those articles Dadof4 wrote, great! If they are a bit too much right now, just do the tablespoon a week thing until you get the hang of it all.

[LilGreenPuffer]

And don't forget to calibrate your hydrometer!