The Puffer Forum

I have a F8 puffer fish and he is now in freshwater. He is about 5 months old and I want to add some salt. But I was unsure as to how much. How much sea salt would you add per 10 gallons?

You need marine salt & a hydrometer to measure it with. Raise the specific gravity slowly--no more than .002/week, less is fine. For a rough estimate, it takes about a cup of salt/5g to raise the SG by .005. Your eventual goal is 1.005.

Welcome corinaswim!

I had the same question in the very beggining... I tried a lot of math to discover that I need to mix (in a 8G bucket) 6 tablespoons to get .001. This is not a receipt! I'm using Red Sea salt and this measure works fine for me. Try yours... add some tablespoons of MARINE salt in a container and check with a hydrometer the SG. If I could do it, everybody can!!! LOL
Feel free to ask if you have doubts.

Good luck!

Are there different levels of hydrometers? Because the one that I bought (and the only one available) begins it's measurement at 1.012. How do I know if it raises .002? Also, I have added 2 cups of marine salt to 20 gallons and the hydrometer has yet to budge. The temperature is 80 degrees, free of chlorine and I stir the salt as I add it. Am I doing something wrong? I'm new at this and accidently came about owning a GSP. I just want to make sure I do this right before I add my GSP to the tank. He is currently in a FW 10 gallon tank and I am cycling and attempting to set up a 20 gallon tank. It has been filled and filtering for 2 days with Aragonite sand in the bottom. I am just now attempting to add the salt and feel completely lost. Any help will be great, thank you.

about 2 tablespoons per gallon should get u at the right amount of salt.

Unfortunately, like you, I found this out the hard way. If you're using what I think you're using, there are actually TWO different hydrometers to choose from. I had to take mine back (luckily I hadn't opened it), and got the one that measures from 1.000, which is the one you should be looking for.

Here's the one you're likely using:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... h&keepsr=1

And here's the one you want to get:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... h&keepsr=1

Hope that helps!

Also, Can F8s tolerate an SG of 1.008? Because that is what my brackish tank is at right now with my BBGs (as that's what I had read the F8s needed)... am I wrong?

I was told to put my F8 at 1.005. A GSP should be a little more.

Thanks, I definitely have the wrong hydrometer, in fact, the actual one in the picture. Haha. I will add 2.5 cups and then get the right hydrometer. I'll see how that works. How long should I wait after I get the Salinity to .002 to begin dripping Geoffrey (my GSP)?

GSP's should be almost marine by the time they are nearly full grown.
Agnate-F8s can tolerate 1.008 fine, but I think they do best between 1.004-1.006

Heh, yeah, just seemed like you'd have the same Hydrometer problem I did! ^_^

Okay, after my tank is properly cycled and settled, I'll ease it back down to 1.006-ish.

Can I add my GSP while the salinity is .002 and then take him out while I am adding another .002? Or should i wait until the tank is 1.005 or higher before I add him?

You can raise the SG as slowly as you wish but not faster than .002/week. Raise it with the puffer in the tank. It is not the puffer that has a problem with fluctuating salinities, it is the biological bacteria that supports your tank.

Ok thank you very much.