Help! I inherited a GSP today, no cycled tank.

[kilofey]

i consider my tank cycled when my water tests are ammonia/nitrite 0, and nitrate above 0 and under 20... and when i get the same readings consistantly for 4 or 5 days... i mean, it should always have those readings, but after the levels are stable for 4 or 5 days, thats when i relax and consider it cycled, and i start doing water changes weekly instead of daily... but its a good idea to keep checking it once a day for a few more days, and after its cycled, i ususally test my water the day after a water change... i just feel like it gives a more accurate reading... that part may be all in my head, but i dont want to be reading just dechlorinated tap water... i wait till the filter has cycled the water through a bit

[An2n]

I see. I used a those strip to test water parameters for it cost me ten bucks, but i guess they inaccurate.

Question, is it safe to use a plastic container for a place for my puffer while I do water changes on my tank?? has anyone have done this before? Plastic container like the ones that you can buy at walmart, specifically and what about for brackish water mixing?

[Pufferpunk]

I have never moved a fish for WC.

[kilofey]

just keep the fish in there for the WC... its bad to expose them to air.

you could use a few 5gal buckets to mix salt.... or those big trash cans, i think they are usually about 50gals, at least the one i used to have was.... i think you can get them at hardware stores, you know, the ones you put yard waste in, not the ones given out by the city. maybe get a pump so you can pump it from the garbage can? or some 5 gal buckets... but that would suck....

hey puffer punk, didnt you say you never mix your salt for BW? something about adding it to the HOB filter? would it work in this case? not sure how big your tanks are or the size of your filter (i think its a 90gal thats on order for her, if i remember correctly). HOB is hang over back right? BTW, how do you do it? just add some, let it disolve, then keep adding until you get your desired SG? it seems easier than mixing, id like to learn if youve got time to type it out .... for possible future puffs... GOD WILLING I CAN FIND ANY! theyre so freaking hard to find in cali! stupid non-puffer friendly state

[Pufferpunk]

hey puffer punk, didnt you say you never mix your salt for BW? something about adding it to the HOB filter?

Yes, although many may disagree with me, I've been pre-measuring the amount of salt I know is needed to keep my 29g F8 tank at 1.005 & after draining out 50% I add 1.75 cups to the impeller side if my HOB Aquaclear filter, as the tank is filling with tap water, dechlorinated for 30g with Prime, directly in the tank.

[kilofey]

Yes, although many may disagree with me, I've been pre-measuring the amount of salt I know is needed to keep my 29g F8 tank at 1.005 & after draining out 50% I add 1.75 cups to the impeller side if my HOB Aquaclear filter, as the tank is filling with tap water, dechlorinated for 30g with Prime, directly in the tank.

well i dont disagree lol... that doesnt sound so bad... the only thing holding me back from going brackish is having like 5 five gallon buckets sitting overnight waiting for it to disolve... cause that im sure can get annoying.... but im wondering if there would be enough space in my filter for however much id need... hey, would you mind following me over to another thread (so i dont hijack this one) or can i PM u, incase you dont want to hear everyone telling you how they dont agree with it? (cause im seriously considering BW... since i cant find any FW puffs )
thanks

[Pufferpunk]

Sure but in Chgo it's 1am & bedtime for me.

[m-bertelson]

I use a 18 gallon sterilight container from walmart cost $3.50 with lid mark on the inside were 10 gallon would be ,(sense my tank is 30g) start with warmer water use desired amount of salt add prime power head 10 min done. It works great for me. While It mixes I due other tank maintenance. When not mixing water works great for all your fish supple storage.