The Puffer Forum

Hi all,
I am very happy at the moment! Last weekend I set up a 35 gallon hex tank and quick cycled it for three gsp! So far the water readings are perfect. I used my filter from my 29 gallon tank to help things along and I added some bacteria from the store. Can't remember the name right now though. Today I did a 50% water change (which I was dreading). Last weekend I used a 5 gallon bucket to fill it (yes I did) with a bad back!
Today, after much thought I broke out my siphon filler and cleaner that I got months ago and have been too afraid to try. Well, it worked like a charm, the puffers didn't even notice and, and, I added 1.5 cups of instant ocean to the tank as it filled.
I had used aquarium salt and wanted to get rid of that asap. So, for those of you who have looked at the Jungle cleaner siphon (I thinkit is called no more spills).. it works fantastic! The hose I got is long enough to reach all my tanks! Thank you Lord@
Have a great one..
Mary
Oh, should I add more salt now? They are about 1.5" long.. I have 24 table spoons of instant ocean in the 35 gallon tank at this moment>
Thanks!
Mary
I LOVE PUFFERS, AND I LOVE THIS SITE

do you have a hydrometer? can you tell us the salinity and Sg?

Just as a head's up for future maintenance, I *wouldn't* pour the salt crystals DIRECTLY into the tank while you're filling it. Mix it up in a small bucket (like 1-2 gallons of water), and then take a cup and scoop it into the tank as you're filling with the siphon. That way you can guarantee that all of the salt was dissolved properly before you added it.

Also, are you perhaps thinking of the Python siphon?

Agnate wrote:Just as a head's up for future maintenance, I would pour the salt crystals DIRECTLY into the tank while you're filling it. Mix it up in a small bucket (like 1-2 gallons of water), and then take a cup and scoop it into the tank as you're filling with the siphon. That way you can guarantee that all of the salt was dissolved properly before you added it.

Also, are you perhaps thinking of the Python siphon?

you WOULD pour the salt directly in? Is that a typo.... ? Surely you WOULDN'T pour it straight in... right?


You really need a hydrometer... adding salt can be tricky as if you add too much at once then it will kill your cycle....

Was the filter from your old tank brackish? If not, and it was fresh then if you add more than 0.002 salt a week, then all the bacteria in the filter will die, and your cycle will be killed.....

Do you have a 29gallon tank and a 35gallon tank? You should really consider splitting the 3 GSPs into two groups, with one in the 29gallon and two in the 35 until you can get them a bigger tank. (You'll need at least a 90gallon when these guys get over about 3.5").

*Sigh* Apparently my typing sucks. I meant to say "WOULDN'T"!!

I'm glad you are finding water changes much easier than you considered. You'll have a lot of them in your puffers' future!

If you are going to pour the salt or salt concentrate into the tank, pour it into the filter (on the impeller side), so it can mix in there & not fall directly onto your fish. It can burn them. You must measure the salinity with a hydrometer.

Please post your water parameters: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH & SG.

you said a 35... for 3 GSP? Thats going to be WAY overstocked.

Just ONE GSP alone needs 30 gallons. On top of that, since it's a Hex, it will have a lower oxygen content because of it's small footprint and hight.