fishless cycling?

[Nuclear_Glitter]

You mentioned that you guys already have a 60 gallon tank. Assuming it's cycled, why not just use some filter media and a couple decorations from that tank to get your tank cycled. All you'd do is add the decor to the tank, and feed the tank with flakes daily until you get your puffer. Then just do an 80% water change before you put your puffer in.

Also, welcome! =]

[RTR]

A parameter is anything which can be measured. There are many parameters we can measure in our tanks:

Temperature.

pH - whether our water is acid or alkaline

GH - how much calcium and/or magnesium is present in the water.

KH - how much carbonate and bicarbonate are in the water.

Ammonia - the primary nitrogen-containing waste product of fish ans many inverts. It is highly toxic to most aquatic life, also written as NH3. It is highly toxic.

Nitrite - the first oxidation step of nitrogen waste. It is also highly toxic. It may be written as NO2

Nitrate - the final oxidation step of nitrogen waste. It is more than 100 times less toxic that ammonia or nitrite. This is the final stage of detoxification of nitrogen waste in most tanks. It is also written as NO3.

The above info is very basic fish-keeping info that any hobbyists can and should know about tank parameters. Frankly, everyone should know that before they start fish keeping. This is a highly specialized form, not a basic one. I cannot and will not write a full introductory book on this hobby in response to a basic question, this is not the time or place for that. I know plenty of teens and sub-teens who are far advanced past that level.

Novice hobbyists can learn a lot on the web, but they have to do some work for themselves. If they lack all the basic information, they have work which must be done and learned before they can hope to keep any living creature in captivity. They cannot expect to be spoon-fed everything. I can and have taught a great many folks basic to highly advanced fish keeping, but that is not appropriate for this forum.

Good luck to you.

[pufferlover19]

So for nuclear_glitter, if I just put maybe some fluval bioballs from my current 60 gal and put those in my filter for my tank, would that work too? I wouldn't have to put different things in to fix the water or anything?
and to RTR, I don't really feel comfortable using to many things offline, because it's hard to tell if they are reliable or not. I'm coming here to get information from people who I know will give me reliable information.

[Nuclear_Glitter]

Yes, the bioballs would help seed your filter. Just be sure to keep feeding the tank so the bacteria stays alive.

Also, RTR is a huge help. He has degrees in these fancy science areas.