The Puffer Forum

So what should I do?

Go to your local hardware, grocery Walmart, or drugstore & find pure, non'foaming ammonia. Or you could just feed the tank the same amount of food you have been without the fish in there. That will produce enough ammonia to get/keep it cycled, until your F8 is ready to come home. You really, really, really need test kits, so you know for sure.

I cant..

Find my a cheap test kit..

I just bought an ammonia kit for 10 dollars so that will help a bit

My HD PVR wrote:Find my a cheap test kit..

manners please. the ammonia test will only help with first part of cycle not really with a cycled tank unless something is very wrong 20 for a full kit is good will last you ages

Yep, you need nitrite & nitrate too

Sorry, i was with a friend last night, so i couldnt really type... I just needed someone to do that, I am really trying my hardest, at least I have ammonia, so if that tests high, then i know somethings really wrong

Wow, youre in a tough situation. I understand the whole 'parents say its a waste' thing and wont spend the money for you. Maybe they should be reading the forums, not you. If possible, try to get them more interested in your hobby or show them the website. I know this may not be possible to do, if they look at your hobby as a 'waste'. But you could try other things if its money you need, maybe do a few chores around the house and ask for something for going out of your way? Or mow a few lawns? If you get an allowance, that would be great too... then you could get your own test kit and whatever you need. Also, they sell test kits that are strips that you dip in the water, and they will tell you nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, ph, chlorine, and some also tell ammonia. but you already have the ammonia kit, right? so you can get the cheaper strips that dont tell ammonia. Look them up, they are by 'Jungle' and called 'Quick Dip'. If you see what they look like online you can know what to look for in the store. I hope this helps.

You know, its harsh but your parents dont realize that without the test kits, you cant be sure your water is healthy. Not having kits to test your water parameters and help monitor them to keep them in great shape could potentially lead to the death of your fish, which in the end would be a greater waste of money, and on top of that a great tragedy.

Sorry, its really not my place to say such things though. I really sympathize with your situation, and that you cant really tell parents anything. Heck, I still cant get my mom to admit shes wrong... and Im turning 30 this month.

I really, really wish you good luck with this. You sound willing and capable, and would make a great parent for a puffer if you can get all you need to care for one. I have Figure 8s, and they are a joy to keep. Its a bit of work though, and fish-keeping is an expensive hobby. Youll need a supply of things to keep them happy, a variety of foods like bloodworms, spirulina, snails (pond snails or ramshorns, which you can get at your local fish store, usually theyll just give them to you free because they are considered pests) (remember to get snails that are about the size of your puffers mouth, otherwise they will have difficulty eating them) they also like brine shrimp, but thats more of a snack, i compare them to potato chips or junk food for puffers. Same goes for jumbo shrimp. Feed them lots of shelled food, snails are preferable. Infact that should be their primary food source. Youll need marine salt to keep your SG at between 1.003-1.005. They are messy eaters so they make more ammonia than your typical fish... which is why monitoring the tank is so important. Also frequent water changes, and careful vacuuming of the substrate. Finding tankmates will be interesting too. If youre thinking of getting an F8, I recommend bumblebee gobies.

Thanks for that speech! I am trying to work for my parents, but all they are saying.. "You're ankle you're ankle! you cant work!" So.... but the reason I dont have any money is because I drained 200 on the tank and 100 for the setup and another 50 for some deco... I just went out yesterday, found somerocks outside, boiled them and im gonna make a nice little design! So, I need to do a WC I don't want to move from 1.004 higher or lower, so what should I do? What percent water change? What SG?

My HD PVR wrote:Thanks for that speech! I am trying to work for my parents, but all they are saying.. "You're ankle you're ankle! you cant work!" So.... but the reason I dont have any money is because I drained 200 on the tank and 100 for the setup and another 50 for some deco... I just went out yesterday, found somerocks outside, boiled them and im gonna make a nice little design! So, I need to do a WC I don't want to move from 1.004 higher or lower, so what should I do? What percent water change? What SG?

Im sorry, I didnt really mean it to be a speech... I really couldnt stop myself from saying all I had to say. Didnt know you were hurt either! How can you do major WC on your tank if your ankle is hurt? You shouldnt carry heavy buckets. Anyway, Ill leave it to the experts what you should be doing with your tank right now... I just want to back up my advice for the test strips, they are really worth it. Youll find that some test kits arent as precise, and they can be expensive. Since my husband and I can afford it, we use both the strips and a test kit for reassurance. But, you do what you can.

Yeah, test strips have not been known to be very accurate.

Fugu, I liked your speech.

no, i recently broke my fibula, and my parents are still very cautious about it...

i still do my wc... SHH!!