Need advise on setting up my puffer tank

[boosted23]

Thank you bertie, I am not gonna rush it, i am just getting antsy now. I got the co2 dialed in now, with my dkh at 10-11 and ph at 7.1, i should have about 20-35ppm of co2. Now i have to go to ace hardware and pick up some pure ammonia cause my ammonia level has dropped alot in my tank. I told the pet store that i am going with for my puffer that i want to get it in january, that way it gives them time to locate one, quarantine it to make sure it is healthy, and for me to make sure i cycled the tank correctly. Oh and get some more decor..

[bertie 83]

If the ammo level is dropping rapidly you are well on your way. Are you showing nitrite yet?

[boosted23]

Yes bertie, ammo. was 0ppm, nitrite was 0.25ppm and nitrate was no more than 20 ppm(hard to read the color)

[bertie 83]

Are you using dip strips? Sounds like you are well on the way now. Chances are you will be cycled before Christmas day, what better gift lol

[boosted23]

No, i am using api's master test kit, the liquid and vial one. I got ammonia today and am putting it in at small amounts to get to 3-5ppm and gonna check tomorrow to see if it is back down to 0ppm. If so then it says i am cycled, if not and half or more is gone, then i am still in the cycling process.

if i am ready by christmas, SWEET!!! that means i can order my new friend then, if not, i will just wait. It might be hard to find one right now as i have been reading that this time is out of their breding season. Hopefully they can find one rather quickly. Lol Two of my l.f.s. Are trying to get me to get an Mbu, but i know i dont have the proper tank to house him.

[Terrance]

I got my pal after Christmas last year. I still see a few in stores now as well.

I don't understand why mbu cost so much. I see them a lot in my area.

[defool89]

dude dont fall into the temptation of falling for an mbu...he will just end up getting tooo big ...fast..and you will halvto let him go. just wait, fahakas are not too hard to come by and its totally worth it.

[boosted23]

no stores here in phoenix or the surrounding area has a fahaka. I have to order it. I want to start off with a juvenile. A small one. That way i know he is well cared for from the get go. I havent seen a fahaka in person yet. Cant wait.

defool, dont worry bro, i will not get an mbu just cause i want a puffer asap. I know that the l.f.s. Dont know that species and it size as an adult. I woouldnt/ couldnt do that to one.

[defool89]

does your lfs doe special orders?

Mine does in a sense where they can try and locate a fish, if they find it they will bring it in with no shipping charge to me and will hold it. If i decide i dont want it they just have another fish in their inventory no harm done to either party. I would only not accept a special order if it looks unhealthy, skinny sunken in stomach, random lumps ect... if it looks healthy they just marker on the glass NFS "Fahaka Puffer" and will hold it for a reasonably amount of time.

[boosted23]

Yes my l.f.s. Do special orders. I have two that put me on there list for them to locate one. Both, when and if they locate one will let me know and i will tell them yes or no to get it here. When it gets here, both stores have quarantine tanks and they will hold it for a week or two before they will let me pick it up just to make sure it is healthy and disease free.

i picked these two stores because they have great reviews by people and i when i went to there stores to check if out, they were definately good stores to buy from. They both sell quality fish and products.

[bertie 83]

If ammonia is dropping fast you are nearly there, don't forget nitrite is also toxic so you need to let that drop to 0 before your cycle is complete. Fahakas are amazing fish, just watch your fingers. Mine had no fear and would not hesitate to attack me if I imposed on his private space

[boosted23]

I raise the ammonia level to 4ppm yesterday and i tested it today and the ammonia level only dropped 1-2ppm. So i still have cycling to do. Now my question..... I have read that during the cycling process, you shouldnt do a waterchange until you see the drop in ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Some say you should. So should i or should i not percorm a water change on the 7th day.

bertie, i am gonna try my damndest to get that little guy to allow me to touch him. Lol

[Pufferpunk]

Follow the cycling article in our Library.

[defool89]

has anyone here been bitten by a fahaka before? I really dont want to experience this but can imagine it being bloody ....I try to leave mine alone, but i am guilty of the occasional pet...I try not to do that ..lol i do things i shouldnt do gahhh

[Tim]

has anyone here been bitten by a fahaka before? I really dont want to experience this but can imagine it being bloody ....I try to leave mine alone, but i am guilty of the occasional pet...I try not to do that ..lol i do things i shouldnt do gahhh

I'd imagine that if they got a hold of your finger it would be gone after the chomp . No idea how much power they have in their jaws though.