The Puffer Forum

Also top off the tank with unsalted, treated water BEFORE doing the water change or you will throw off the salt content, as the water evaporates but the salt doesn't, it just gets concentrated in the remaining water.

Really, is this with all water or if it is with partially dechlorinated water?

Ok, well, Im gonna go swim myself for an hour or so. I've got, as you can see above, air stones in each bucket, and I've been stiring them around, pulling water back out and dumping it immediately in, to mix stuff. But I guess I'll just check the levels in an hour or 2.

Pufferpunk wrote:If he airates for 24 hours, no dechlor is needed.

Is it not true that chloramines still remain though, and should be removed with sodium triosulfate, like Prime?

So, yea, I must have gotten some more concentrated salt or something, idk, but I added about 1/2 cup, maybe less, to a 4 gallon bucket, and my SG is about 1.006. Idk why, but less salt = less money and the SG is really all that matters.

Thanks guys.

What kind of salt is it? What brand? Be sure your hydrometer is accurate as well.

When using a hydrometer, it helps if you rinse it out with fresh water a few times before using it. You can check its accuracy at this point too, by seeing if it points to 1.000 when filled with fresh water.

Be sure to rinse it out well afterwards too.

Once a month you should fill it with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 1 part vinegar and leave it to soak for 24 hours to disolve deposits that build up on the inside and make it less accurate.

Hydrometers are a lot of hassle and are notoriously inaccurate. If you plan to be keeping the F8s for any period of time and doing water changes, you'd do well to do yourself a favour and get a refractometer.

Instant Ocean Sea Salt

That will work good as a marine salt. I agree with Phaedrus that you should get a refractometer. Tihsho had their fish at near death experiences because of inaccurate readings of a hydrometer.

<EDIT> It was Tihsho, here is the thread: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... php?t=3997

Thanks a bunch guys. I will get a refractometer next time I'm out. I just tested all my water buckets before adding them; they all fell between 1.005 and 1.008. ;D

Also, thanks for the tip, I was feeling nervous about using a hydrometer, afraid I wasn't using it right, but thanks to Phaedrus, I tested my tap water, it tested 1.000.

Thanks for all the help. These fish are really growing on me, a LOT.

Just for my own interest, do any of you think I should see a change in personality/behavior once I switch them over to Marine Salt?

Raphael - I think you are thinking of Tihsho who had a bad experience with an inaccurate hydrometer. That thread by rocker was talking about housing puffers together.

Skeptikal - Brackish puffers do tend to perk up a bit once they have some marine salt. They look more vibrant and are more active. (Provided of course that they are healthy to begin with).

They are, I can assure you, lol.

Sorry, it was Tihsho. I have editted the post.

Yup was me. What a craptastic day that was.