NEW Tank set up help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dasboot1]

Hello all, Only just joined lol

I have brought a 40 gal (US) today, filter, heater, air pump etc........ £60 second hand but looks like new

I am getting a Ceylon puffer when the tank is cycled.

I have been told that these puffer love a high salt level and spoke to a chap last week who keeps his at 1.024.

What i want to know is if I put straight in at this level will it be ok, the shop by me keeps them at 1.012 and they are about 30mm.

Next quest is, after i have filled the tank at 1.024 whats the bast way to cycle? i know there are better things on the market in the US but all we have over here is off the shelf tonics which state a cycle in 4 days, do i get this and bang it all in the tank on day 1 with a few items of food like prawn/clams etc to bump up the ammonia or do you have any better idears?

Thanks for any help

[purplecandle]

Hello!

I am not an expert...and I am a replying, with what little I know, because I do not see many people online at the moment..and I do not want you to think you can cycle a tank with some product in 4 days..do not waste your money...as far as I know Dr. tims is the only product that works..

Go to the library and read articles about cycling and fishless cycling..

Next..if the puffer at the store is at 1.012 you should not just dump him in a tank that is at 1.024..If I were you I would make the tank what the puffer is at and then slowly raise the levels..but there are better experts on the forum that can tell you more...

So go to the library! Push the learn button at the top! Also go to the pufferpedia and learn about the ceylon..

[pufferpuggirl]

Well it's good that the shop by you keeps their Ceylons in brackish water, however, unless you have a filter sponge that's been kept at that salinity, you will kill any bacteria that's built up in your sponge if you dump that salinity into your tank right off.
What most people do is start off low and build it up slowly, so that the beneficial bacteria that's built up in your filter sponge won't be killed off.
There's an article in the library detailing how to go about fishless cycling, which is what's advised. There's only a couple products that actually instantly cycle a tank, and quite alot that say they do but don't. We used to have those Bactinettes over here, and they did work, but I haven't seen them in the longest time so wonder if they've been withdrawn from the retail market. The best way is to borrow a mature filter sponge from a tank that's been set up a while and fully mature, that's a quick way to get it done, but even if you go that route, you will still have to raise the salinity very slowly in order to keep the bacteria alive and well.
I'm sure some other members can detail this a little better than I can. Good luck and welcome to the forum!

[dasboot1]

just for confirmation the filter which came with the tank is new so has never been used in any water

[dasboot1]

oh yer, how many could i have in this size tank, stick to 1 or 2?

[purplecandle]

just for confirmation the filter which came with the tank is new so has never been used in any water

Then You will have to do a fish less cycle and introduce ammonia (pure) and bacteria...before you raise you salt levels...

You said you had a friend with tanks? Borrow one of his old, healthy filter sponges...

[purplecandle]

40 gallons in the minimum for one healthy happy ceylon..I think they get like 8 inches..according to the pufferpedia..

If you want more than one puffer in that tank you need a different type of puffer LOL

[Nick]

Always better to understock than overstock a tank. 1 will be much happier in a 60 than in a 40, and quite probably happier than 2 in a 90.

[Pufferpunk]

I suggest fishless cycling at the SG the fish is in at the shop. Bring in your hydrometer or refractometer & test their water. Be sure they are using marine salt. You can follow the info in our Library on GSPs as a guide forth Ceylon--care & feeding are identical.