Don't know what to do...

[Stefanie]

Hi All,

I have been careful trying to plan a home for a F8 puffer over the last few months... I went to the store yesterday to find out about their water... I asked since they claim they keep them at 1.004 sg which brand salt they use... here is the reply: whatever is available, sometimes marine salt, sometimes rock salt.... now to my understanding rock salt does not make water brackish, or does it? How should I cycle my tank? I am lost...
Would it be OK to cycle it at 1.004 (using marine salt), and slowly aclimating (sp?) the fish?

Thanks for any help...

Stefanie

[LittlePuff]

Use marine salt and cycle it that way, then slowly acclimate the fish.

Kim

[Bred]

Any kind of salt will raise the salinity, but only marine mix salt contains trace minerals and buffering agents necessary to sustain marine life.

In addition to using marine salt, you should use a buffering substrate such as aragonite or crushed coral in order to maintain ideal pH and carbonate hardness.

You could cycle the tank at 1.004, as LittlePuff says. You may not need to slowly acclimate the fish if the store keep them in a salinity close to 1.004. They should be able to tell you that next time you ask.

Good luck!

[RTR]

There may be TDS differences betwwen 1.004 with NaCl and 1.004 with marine mix. I would drip-acclimate the fish.

[Stefanie]

Thank you all for your replies. I will cycle the tank at 1.004 (using marine salt), and then slowly acclimate them (drip). I will be using aragonite as substrate with RTR's recommended RFUG filtration and additional filtration (HOB or canister, not decided yet).

Thank you again!!!
Stefanie