The Puffer Forum

So I put up a new 29 gallon tank for 1 Leopard or GSP as he has been called. I did a lot of research about food, parasites, tank size type and decor.

He was being kept in full salt water, and I was told that brackish is best, right now he is in 1.010 salinity. He has eaten snails, ghost shrimp, and frozen brill shrimp so far. Thing is I am worried because I did not cycle the tank before hand. There is a bio-wheel? Bio-filter? Option on my filter that I have been running. I love my fish, and It is obvious MORE research couldn't have hurt, or to be more prepared. But it is too late, he (Iggy) is home now, and I want him to be healthy and happy here forever!

Tomorrow I am going to buy water testing strips so I can pay close attention to the levels in the water, but what should I do since the tank was not cycled? What is the best way to keep my fish alive? Thanks all in advance, and I'm glad to be a part of the community.

Plan on buying this tomorrow, http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=3433706 Hopefully will help?

Might help for you to read this.

library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

The nutrafin doesn't work as far as I know. The only proven product that works is Tetra Safestart. It the new formula of Biospira for fresh/brackish water, add it directly to your filter. Your biofilter doesn't just grow on a bio wheel, the bacteria grows on filter sponges, substrate and decor. The other things that work are getting used filter material from someone with an established cycled tank and squeezing it directly in to your filter or adding the media itself to the filter and getting some gravel or decor from an established tank and adding it to yours. If you do the gravel, put it in a mesh bag and lay it on the bottom of the tank ....instant emergency cycle. Until you can do one of those things, do daily 50% water changes and use a good dechlorinator like Prime or AmQuel with every water change. Really monitor your water parameters closely for ammonia and nitrite and if you see them do a water change.

+1 on everything that's been said!!!

Since your puffer is in a nice big tank, you're going to have an easier time of it than most people going through an emergency cycle. Yay!

By the way, if you get ahold of the gravel that Dadof4 mentioned, you can stick it in some (new and rinsed) pantyhose and put it into your filter. There, it will seed your filter right away, and it will convert ammonia/nitrites more efficiently, since so much water will flow through it. I've done this, and it worked great. The important thing is that you try to find bacteria that's been in a tank with a specific gravity of 1.008-1.012. If there's a big difference, all or most of the bacteria will die.

One way to find a brackish tank would be to post on craigslist.com, and ask if anyone has one. Another option would be to find a local club. If your LFS has brackish tanks, you might be able to get some from them, although this would be more likely to transfer diseases to your fish.

Good luck! And welcome to the forum.