The Puffer Forum

I just picked this up as a hobby less than 2 weeks ago and I currently have 2 GSP in a 5 gallon tank. After some research on the internet, I learned that my 5 gallon was wayyyy too small for my GSPs so over the weekend I ended up getting a 30 gallon tank off craigslist.

I spent most of the day cleaning the tank and accessories it came with and now the tank is fully fcan I illed with water. However, I also learned that "cycling" the tank is necessary in order to create the needed bacteria. As of right now, my 30 gallon is all setup but I need to find a source for bacteria to settle before I can transfer my 2 GSP. I called a couple pet stores and they aren't able to provide any used filter media to use as a source. They did mention some other over-the-counter chemicals that I could buy to establish the same bacteria. Again, I'm new to all of this but I remember reading an article somewhere about how you should avoid buying the bacteria establishing chemicals because they are not as effective.

What can I do to establish bacteria in my new 30 gallon tank? Can I throw in some "less-sensitive" fish and depend on them to create bacteria from their bioload, etc. Or, I remember reading something like dropping some raw shrimp into a pantyhose and letting it decay...

Also, what are some good tank mates for a 30 gallon tank? Could I get away with putting a pleco in the tank? If not, what are some algae eaters I can get that are safe for brackish?

Any general tips and cycling tips will be much appreciated!!

If you want to cycle right away, you can use biospira (High Brackish to marine ) or Safe Start (Fresh to low brackish). Just put into your filter.

http://www.instantocean.com/sites/Insta ... plash.html
http://www.strictlypetsupplies.com/_046 ... lon-8-45oz

Cycling with shrimp will take about 4 weeks or so.

Here's the link to the fishless cycling in the library
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/

esbe02 wrote:Can I throw in some "less-sensitive" fish and depend on them to create bacteria from their bioload, etc.

If you are looking for fish that will withstand living in a tank while you cycle it I recommend danios (but they are not brackish so...maybe mollies, they survived a cycle once in my tank). You also need to add live bacteria to your tank to cycle it.

What did you clesn theused tank with? If the 5g isn't cycled (heck, even if it is, it's just too small to keep 1 GSP in there, never mind 2), I'd put the 2 puffers in the 30g now. There is an emergency cycling article in our Library. DON'T LET THE SHOPS TRY TO SELL YOU ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT WE RECOMMEND!

Pufferpunk wrote:What did you clesn theused tank with? If the 5g isn't cycled (heck, even if it is, it's just too small to keep 1 GSP in there, never mind 2), I'd put the 2 puffers in the 30g now. There is an emergency cycling article in our Library. DON'T LET THE SHOPS TRY TO SELL YOU ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT WE RECOMMEND!

I used tap water from my outdoor hose and just wiped everything down with a sponge.

As for the 5g tank, no, i did not cycle the tank properly but the fish have been living in the tank for about 2 weeks now. The fish seek to be doing okay, however, one seems a bit stressed because it hasn't been eating as much as it did before.

Per your comment, I will probably throw the GSP in as soon as the temperature moves up to high 70s as I'm sure the 5g tank alone is stressing them out due to limited living space.

thanks!

esbe02 wrote:The fish seek to be doing okay, however, one seems a bit stressed because it hasn't been eating as much as it did before.

This will probably get worse and worse in their uncycled tank.


Until you get the 30g cycled please do 50% water changes daily.

Again if you use Safe Start, it will get your tank cycled right away.

Idontknow wrote:

esbe02 wrote:Again if you use Safe Start, it will get your tank cycled right away.

I read somewhere that Safe Start was only effective for freshwater, my SG is at 1.010, so would it be better to resort to Bio-Spira?

I'm planning to go my the pet store tomorrow and look for these products to get my cycle going.

I was bored and read the back label of my dechlorinator (Tetra AquaSafe) and I realized I overdosed my 30g tank. Based on my measurements, I accidentally added twice the amount of water conditioner to the tank. Will overdosing x2 be harmful and perform a 25%-50% water change or am I okay?

Good news is that no fish are in the tank as I'm waiting to cycle it.

Also, no one has mentioned tank mates for GSPS - on my own web browsing, I've read that mollies and african cichlids are doable. Others?

esbe02 wrote:I was bored and read the back label of my dechlorinator (Tetra AquaSafe) and I realized I overdosed my 30g tank. Based on my measurements, I accidentally added twice the amount of water conditioner to the tank. Will overdosing x2 be harmful and perform a 25%-50% water change or am I okay?

Good news is that no fish are in the tank as I'm waiting to cycle it.

Also, no one has mentioned tank mates for GSPS - on my own web browsing, I've read that mollies and african cichlids are doable. Others?

The safe start I'm not sure which one you need, I'll let someone who knows more than me answer that.
The aqua safe OD shouldn't be harmful.
Tank mates for a GSP....really, none. GSP's are notorious fin nippers and will terrorize most other fish, including ones bigger than they are. You may get by with "friends" for a while but eventually the "fish are friends not food" rule will not apply and they will become a delicious snack.

You really need to get those poor guys into a larger tank ASAP.

Actually, in a while, you'll either need to get rid of one GSP or get a 60g tank. 30g is the rule for one, not two. The 30g will certainly tide you over for a while, though. A lot of people cycle with shrimp. I don't reccomend this. It's cruel for the animals that you expose to the ammonia and nitrites. I suggest fishless cycling, which is actually quicker, easier, and cheaper. There's a library article on it. I cycled in two weeks fishlessly, and with the addition of a heater, it can be even faster.

Idontknow wrote:I read somewhere that Safe Start was only effective for freshwater, my SG is at 1.010, so would it be better to resort to Bio-Spira?

You are correct Safe Start is good fresh to low end brackish 1.000 to 1.008. Yes, I think Bio-Spira would be better for you.

He can't fishless cycle the 30g tank while the fish live in an uncycled 5g.

Pufferpunk wrote:He can't fishless cycle the 30g tank while the fish live in an uncycled 5g.

If the fish are in the 5g... Oh, yeah. Got it. Move the fish into the 30g, then cycle... got it.