The Puffer Forum

You don't just add a "small amount of ammonia" to cycle a tank. It is a precise science that requires counting drops & measuring the ppm daily.

Agreed but once cycle complete, to maintain cycled tank until puffer arrival

Then you continue at 1/2 dosing.

once again i let myself down by not adding a little detail. yes 50% is the correct amount( in my defence i would class that as a little. however that is not good info to pass on. i will be more specific in future i promise) lol

Added a few more plants.

It appears i got some false readings yesterday, Today i got 4ppm ammonia and 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate. I think the tubes were contaminated yesterday with left over residue. No biggie, I'm not in a rush i want it to go perfectly, i learn't the hard way a year ago with both a GSP and F8. GSP got new tank syndrome and F8 only lasted 2 days. Going to get a new filter tomorrow cause the built in one is just pitiful, it has no flow at all, it's just a dribble. If i run both filters, should i maybe run foam in the new faster flow and ceramic/carbon in the old slow flow?

I also have a small problem with the water you can't really see too well in the photo but it's turned a slight yellow colour. I'm worried it may be from the travertine background, or would the ammonia cause that? or even the bog wood? i left it in a bucket of hot water for a few hours when i bought it.

It's probably just tannins from the wood. I usually soak wood for at least a week. I put it in food safe container, spray hot water over it, and change the water every day until the water is mostly clear. It will still leach tannins into the water though. However, the travertine background is something I'd double check on for safety. Is it attached to some mesh or something? Is it inert rock?

Ok got positive readings today double checked them and I'm definatly getting nitrate and nitrite. Added the new filter a fluval u1 a few days ago with some stress zime and it's much better.

Meet Clint!






He is setting in well, fed him a couple of river shrimps last night and a couple of snails just now.

So cute.

Can you get some pics of that fluval in the tank

Very nice !!!!

I'm so jealous of all of you that find abei puffers! Clint is especially cute, romandy.

xrayjeeper83 wrote:So cute.

Can you get some pics of that fluval in the tank

Will do tonight, it's next to the old filter, however the old one has now packed in! I'm gonna give it a look over tonight.

My partner is a bit concerned as she's been watching him during the day just swimming up and down the front of the glass which I know is a classic sign of boredom. He's got lots to explore so I'm sure he can't be bored already?

I know this is an old topic now but.
Since he is new the pacing around right now might have just be from him being nervous and unsure of his new environment.