The Puffer Forum

I have a 3.5 gallon tank that I breed ramshorn in, but I also have a couple of other tanks that have very large snail populations.
On my small tank I've just got a regular filter (no need for a sponge filter unless you've got shrimp in there) and a heater, as I feel the temperature should be that of what a regular tank is.
Add your snails, and voila!

Ok guys. I really appreciate all the help so far, but after getting a master LIQUID test kit and redoing the test i had done on test strips previously I'm slightly confused.
I think what has happened is this--after removing my old substrate and replacing it with sand, removing and donating all fish inside, then waiting 24hrs with no fish this has caused my tank to recycle/minicycle. (please read entire post for more info)

Updated info:
I do have 3 large mystery snails a ghost shrimp and and ammonia source now in the tank and have added stress zyme and stress coat.

My reading are as follows 8 hrs after a 30% water change are as follows.
ph- 7.3
Ammonia .25ppm
Nitrite .25ppm
Nitrate -60+!

water is moderately hard and buffered

My guess is at this point I just need to wait and let it recycle but I wanted to see what everyone thought.

The real issue is I have ordered my GSP and it should be here in under a week! (This can be canceled if needed I GUESS! )

Should I buy an instant cycle product? Part of me thinks I should stop adding additives and just let it go?

If I were you I would do a huge water change, add some used filter media and add some live bacteria...

And then As soon as I got the puff, I would add more live bacteria...

Of course, this would be an emerceny since the puff is on its way..

I use a product call stability, you have to look for it, not many stores have it...

I would stop adding stuff to your tank, and I would do as purplecandle suggested with getting some mature filter media and putting that into your filter. That way your tank will be good to go and your puffer will be okay. Do you know anyone with any media you can have? Or do you know anyone that's got an external filter? I've opened my external filter and poured the water from inside it into my filter when I needed my tank cycled immediately and it worked nicely, as there's loads of bacteria inside an external filter.

Be careful of "immediate" cycling products, most don't work.

purplecandle wrote:If I were you I would do a huge water change, add some used filter media and add some live bacteria...

And then As soon as I got the puff, I would add more live bacteria...

Of course, this would be an emerceny since the puff is on its way..

I use a product call stability, you have to look for it, not many stores have it...

The problem is I don't have access to used filter media....Should I ask my LFS?
When you say add Live bacteria you mean something like BIOSPIRA?...EDIT: Wait is Biospira for feshwater Tetra Safe Start?

Ugh I havent had to do this in so long!

I appreciate the help !

Of course immediate cycling products DO NOT work......Call your LFS and see what they have ...and then look for reviews online...Do not let someone talk you into buying junk!

I only mention stability because I have had success with it, in a couple tanks...and it took a few days/ up to a week one one occasion:)

I do not know about biospira...look for reviews online..

Yes, ask your lfs for some used media to help things along!

The BEST product out there is Dr. Tims....You can order it online...

Ok..... I have done a 50% WC and added a product from TLC called Start Smart. My LFS was out of BIOSPIRA and only had one bottle of expired Tim's. I checked a few reviews online for this product and decided to give it a shot.

I will be keeping everyone updated to see if this product is worth while.

If anyone has used it I would like to know your experience also!