New to the forums, need help with my tank!

[melbell86]

Hello All! First of all, im an avid fish lover, and have had many fish over the course of my life. I currently have a 10 gallon tank with a khuli loach, a few snails and a ghost shrimp. My boyfriend came home with a Green Spotted Puffer he saw at walmart because he knows puffers are my favorite fish. I have had dwarf puffers in the past so i have a little bit of experience. I knew that i couldnt keep the puffer in that small of a tank, and freshwater, and i know they are a bit aggressive. Long story short, as an early birthday present, we went to petsmart and i purchased a 28 gallon bowfront tank (which came with a heater, light, and filter), marine salt, marine aragonite sand, some plants and a nice coral hiding rock. I talked to the worker who had puffers of her own and she showed me all the stuff i needed. I also got the device that measures the ppm of salt in the water. Here is the problem. I have my new little guy George in a tupperware right now because my tank is so cloudy im not sure if he can go in it. I rinsed the sand many times over like i was directed but the water is still cloudy. I conditioned the water and also added 3 Tbs marine salt per gallon (the ppm read 1.014) and my filter is going. I know this isnt the best situation for the fish, i wish i had a brackish tank all cycled and ready but i wasnt expecting him. here are some photos of my tank right now, and george.

my main question is can i put him in the tank now, or should i wait a while longer? and any information you can give me would be great. Thanks!

[xrayjeeper83]

Have you cycled your tank yet????
How long have you had the tank up and running?

Im leaning toward that being just sand that needs time to settle.

Cute puffer

Oh and your going to get scolded for getting a fish from walmart(I know you didnt but your BF will)

[melbell86]

Oh trust me, i know i will be getting scolded! We have an awesome local feed and seed that has good quality fish where i usually get mine. My tank has only been cycling for the day. There are all sorts of wrongs in this situation, but im just trying to make it as right as i can with what ive got. Im pretty sure its just the sand and particles that need to settle to the bottom as well, but i wasnt sure if that was bad for the fish. Ive been doing research for hours now and the sand i got does this.

[JRC3]

Idk, I would think all the water should be changed out of the 28g to remove the salt and start cycling it. This will clear things up a bit and your young GSP is in FW now anyway.

More importantly...If your 10g is all that is available I'd go buy a divider for it and put the GSP in there immediately. Worst case put it in with the loach because that GSP will die in that little bowl.

[xrayjeeper83]

I would not be putting the GSP in that tank any time soon. You around 2 weeks for it to cycle, unless you put a seeded filter on it to speed the cycle up. I agree with JRC put it in the 10 and just fab up some kind of divider untill the 28 is cycled. The GSP wont last long in that container

[melbell86]

thanks guys. creating a divider now, gonna let the tank cycle for atleast a week before i put him in there. thanks for the help

[JRC3]

library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

What brand and model of filter is on your 10g and how long has the tank been set up?

[Pufferpunk]

Anything's better than keeping it in a bowl. I've kept fish in cloudier... Add floss to the filter & keep changing it out when it starts to clog. I bet it's clear within 24 hours.
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

[xrayjeeper83]

also be sure to test the water daily to watch for cycling

[melbell86]

JR3- I have an aqua clear 20 on my 10 gallon right now. I have had that tank since frebruary of last year and do regular 1/3 water changes every other week. I have had my khuli loach for 13 years now and recently added the ghost shrimp and one snail, which weeks later became 4 snails

ive been rinsing the filter and the water seems to be getting less cloudy. My khuli loach hides almost all day in his house till i feed him, so im wondering if it will be ok to keep my gsp in there till the tank is cycled, although im afraid the snails and shrimp might be a goner soon. He is very small at the moment. Im trying to create a divider of some sort for the time being

[trekenk]

melbell86 did you read that emergency cycling article? Lots of good information there. When the time comes there is a great sticky here on how to safely raise your salinity to brackish then full marine if you care too. One word of advice 1/3 water change every other week won't do for puffers. 50% or more weekly is suggested. Good Luck with your guy.

[melbell86]

thanks guys for everything. I read the article and i have prime and i put that in my tank already. I am going to head down to the local feed and seed store and see if i can pick up some of that bio stuff mentioned in the article to get the bacteria going.

[trekenk]

I am going to head down to the local feed and seed store and see if i can pick up some of that bio stuff mentioned in the article to get the bacteria going.

Write down the name and don't let them try to sell you anything other than the product mentioned most of the others are crap.
You might also like to get some used Filter Media or Sponges from a healthy tank. If you trust your LFS that is a good source, they will usually give them to you free or for a small fee.
Have you done that 90% water change to get that marine salt out of there. I am sure that Walmart doesn't keep their GSP's in marine or even brackish so unless you want to drip accumulate him he must go into a FW tank.

[melbell86]

thanks so much trek. My local store is amazing, clark feed and seed. they specialize in all kinds of fish, and their workers are really knowledgeable. I will write down the name and also talk to them about getting a used filter to get the tank going <3 I just love my little guy so much and i want to make sure i do everything i can for him.

[trekenk]

<3 I just love my little guy so much and i want to make sure i do everything i can for him.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Puffers they are so so addicting. I really wish you all the luck with your little guy.
I added to my last message about getting that marine salt out of your new tank.