The Puffer Forum

I don't think he could be in better care than with you & us.

I suppose.

You said that you rinsed your rock because of the jelly stuff? How did you rinse it?

Also, I know it may be expensive because of keeping up with the salt and everything, but you NEED to do 50% water changes anytime your test registers ammonia. Also, are you using any powerheads or wave makers in there? Some puffer HATE too much current. You need some current, but some fish are pickier than others.

Have you ran a saltwater tank before, or is this your first go at it?

This is my first go at any tank really. Never had fish before, only a reptile that I've had for 18 years.

no power heads yet, I have one koralia evo 750 on the way, going to pick up a second if I need it. That will put me at a solid 20x turnover, which I think might be plenty for a fowlr tank with a single fish in it.

I rinsed the jelly stuff off with tank water. I just took the rock out to see what the stuff was, I couldn't identify it, so I rinsed it off and put the rock back in.

It was just on a small decorative rock in the tank, not the live rock or anything. Some of the other rocks have the same thing going on, but I haven't taken those out.

I know I should do a 50% water change, but I'm hesitant because the tank is newly set up, and I don't really want to hinder or ruin the cycle its going though. I've already probably thrown the cycle out of whack trying to treat for IP's and using melafix, I feel like if I keep messing with it, thats going to just prolong the process and thus my fish's suffering longer. At least thats how I'm registering the situation.

Plus I don't know where the tank is at in the cycle. I don't know if ammonia is going down, and nitrites are going up or not yet, On friday when I do a second test, I'll have a better idea of what the tank is doing. When I did the test today the color was somewhere between 0 and .25 ppm ammonia, so its almost nothing. Nitrites were .5ppm which i was sort of expecting since I figured the tank would be somewhere around this part of the cycle by now.

have a look for some dry rock (http://www.marcorocks.com/) and a bottle of Dr Tims... that will short cut the waiting game and save some $$

Hmm, thats actually not too bad of a deal for dry rock I think a 50lb box would be more than enough to build something worth while in my tank. How long would it take for that rock to be considered "live"?

And by Dr. Tim's, do you mean the salt water nitrifying bacteria? I used some instant cycle bacteria stuff on my tank, but I was always under the impression that those bottles of liquid bacteria were a scam for the most part?

LongGrain wrote:I'm starting to think of asking the LFS to nurse my fish back to health while my tank cycles and establishes a proper bacteria colony. Ugh, killing me.

If the fish isnt healthy in the uncycled tank then you shouldnt have him in there... Your just slowly kiling him yeah?

LongGrain wrote:Hmm, thats actually not too bad of a deal for dry rock I think a 50lb box would be more than enough to build something worth while in my tank. How long would it take for that rock to be considered "live"?

And by Dr. Tim's, do you mean the salt water nitrifying bacteria? I used some instant cycle bacteria stuff on my tank, but I was always under the impression that those bottles of liquid bacteria were a scam for the most part?

The moment you add the Dr Tim's it is live... Think of your FW days... bacteria needs a porous substance to grow on (sort of, it can grow anywhere). That is where the dry rock comes in.

That is now your filter.... if you are thinking critters and inverts as part of the clean up crew... don't worry. They will eventually move to the dry rock which was seeded by the live rock that you already have in your tank and multiply.

BTW.. Dr. Tim's is good to go. no BS in that product.

I know I should do a 50% water change, but I'm hesitant because the tank is newly set up, and I don't really want to hinder or ruin the cycle its going though. I've already probably thrown the cycle out of whack trying to treat for IP's and using melafix, I feel like if I keep messing with it, thats going to just prolong the process and thus my fish's suffering longer. At least thats how I'm registering the situation.

Little to none of your nitrifying bacteria is in the water. Your #1 utmost important concern is the fish's health & well-being, which means 0 ammonia/nitrite. Please keep up with water changes, until your tests register 0 for both.

OMG, I tried to delete what I thought was a duplicate post, but somehow deleted both...?

i'm not sure exactly how much it weighs. Its about the size of a football/loaf of bread. Real high quality stuff out of an established tank at the LFS. He said it was a lot better 'fiji" and some other kinds of rock. I was told it would be a good start for getting my tank going, along with the 20lb of live sand in the tank. I know its not enough, I'm working on finding more locally on CL and stuff, but its slim pickins in these parts. LFS wants $13/lb for more of what I have, so I don't really intend on filling my tank with that stuff. I was in contact with someone selling a bunch of rock from his 225g sw tank, but he stopped emailing me.

Sorry!

Anyway, here's Dr. Tim's: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=18986

DFS keeps it refrigerated prior to purchase.

I've also heard nothing but good about this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=19608

It's on sale right now, too!

alrighty, well 50lbs of that rock and Dr. Tim's will be my next purchase.

In the mean time, water changes are needed. As PP said, you don't take out any of your good bacteria with water changes, because it doesn't live in the water.

alrighty, well I'll have to get a bigger siphon, because last time I did a 25% water change, it took me like 3 hours to siphon out 9 gallons.

Do y'all just use a normal siphon/gravel vacuum to keep your sand substrate clean?

Get a Python & don't look back!

I've always heard that, but which one? They have like 10 different kinds, ranging from $8 to like $150

would this one be good?

http://www.amazon.com/Python-25ft-Spill ... 737&sr=8-7

My tank is about 20ft from a faucet.