The Puffer Forum

Ok, so I've added my gravel from a gsp tank from my lfs. Should I wait or add the ammonia now?

You need to start feeding your bacteria w/ammonia now.

ok, fed. I have my ammonia tester up to "alarm" and my chemical tester is past 0.8. About when should I test next? And does this sound like it's going well?

I noticed some individuals were telling you to go to Aquatics Unlimited here in Milwaukee. I live 2 minutes down the street from AU and love it. That being said, I would never ever, ever, ever buy a brackish fish from them because they keep them in freshwater (along with just about every other LFS around here).

Go to [b]Hoffers[/b] in Milwaukee, WI (yes, it's quite a drive north but soooo worth it). They have a whole brackish section (with SG at 1.008) and have beautiful puffers/bumblebee gobies in stock all the time.

Hey Pufcraz! Good to see another Milwaukee person!

Hoffers has a so/so reputation. Yes, they do keep their puffers and gobies, etc in brackish, but they keep ALL their puffers in brackish, including the freshwater ones. The only puffers I've ever seen them keep in freshwater were dwarves and some lurkers. You can go there right now and see modestus and probably SAP's in the brackish tanks.

I like them, a lot. The fish are generally not in the greatest of health but they do try hard. I really like the store. Its definately worth going there as well as AU. Personally I think the staff at AU are rude, and because of that I haven't been there many times. But I've seen them keep puffers in full marine, full fresh and some brackish setups as well.

yeah, i called au to see if they keep them in brackish. They said they keep them at about 1.002. But ill check out that hoffers too. Thanks guys

Ok, so the ammonia levels in my tank are at 0, and the nitrite is spiking. How long until i can expect to see nitrate? And should I not change the water until the nitrite is totally gone?

If it is a fishless cycle, there is no need to do a water change at this point. You can expect to see nitrates in a matter of days.

Have you been adding ammonia to the tank daily?
The bacteria will need a constant supply of ammonia to stay alive.

Once you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite and detectable and increasing nitrates, your cycle should be complete.

As a final test, you can add a double dose of ammonia and see how long it takes the tank to metabolize it.

Once that is complete, do a total water change of about 90% and immediately add your fish load.

Yeah, theres been ammonia in it everyday since the cycle started. So for the double dose of ammonia, how long should i expect that to break down?

hopefully quickly. Could be 24 to 48 hours...

Ok everyone, so ive been cycling the tank for a few days now. The ammonia spike, than the nitrite. But the nitrite has broken down and left me with low nitrate(about 10). Is this normal? And if so, am i ready for fish or do I go for another turn with the ammonia?

The nitrate is normal.

You will be ready for fish once you add ammonia and by the next day there is Zero ammonia, Zero nitrItes and readable nitrates.

At that point you do a big water change and you are ready for fish! Sounds like you are either there are almost there.

Ok, cool. Thanks for the quick reply myaj!

Old Orchard Acquarium (in Skokie IL) has all types of puffers from freshwater to marine. They also have an extremely knowledgeable staff.

Good luck.

Min Pin mom

So I got the tank setup and added the fish yesterday. Everything sems to be going well. So heres a few more questions. I have three figure 8s(1.5-2 in.) and 6 bumblee bee gobies(.5 in) Right now Im feeding the puffers small snails and a frozen cube food. So heres the question, how often do they need to eat, and how much? The woman at the pet store said half a cube would be good. So should i do that twice a day? And how frequent of water changes do you recommend? Thanks to everyone who's helped me to where im at!