The Puffer Forum

Hi everyone. I found a 75 gallon tank on craigslist for 75 bucks, comes with a stand, one of those custom concrete/rock backrounds, and a hood (without lights :\ ). Anyways, I currently have my puffer in my 10 gallon. He's a little bigger than 2 inches I would say, and is currently in an almost zero salt environment. Now, I was wondering if you kind folks could direct me to the filter and all necessary devices I would need to get, because I plan on either making it brackish or full marine, and acclimating him to it (will that work?) Also, what is the best way to cycle my water quickly? I was thinking about that when I first get it, I should do a 50% water change in my 10 gallon, and pour the water into the 70 gallon just to get it a jump start, and do that every day while running a filter. (I would also add in enough tap water to let the filter run). Any help would be great, thanks!

Hi!! For the cycling, read this. library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/ What a deal you found there! I'm guessing you've got a gsp, so you're on the right track with the salt. 50% water changes in the 10 gallon every day will need to be in order. Now for the exciting topic of equipment..

You will need..

Argonite sand
Decor (fake plants, ornaments, caves, etc.)
Lights Bulbs (lol)
Skimmer
Heater
Live rock (if in full marine)
Melafix
Dechlorinizer
Marine salt
Test kit
A bucket-type thing to catch the puffer.
5 gallon bucket (for water changes and mixing salt)
Siphon
Uhh.. err.. that's all I can think of. And please fell free to add onto my list, can't quite think right lately..

EDIT: Ohh, derr!! You'll also need food (shrimp, bloodworms, etc.) and LOVE .

You have to know--all this wonderful advice came from a 12 year old who has only been on this forum for a few months &b knew nothing before he came here (about keeping puffers). He's a really fast learner & I'm soooooo proud of him!

Quick question - what kind of puffer are we talking about? GSP for sure?

You'll also need a hydrometer or refractometer, to measure salinity.

And yay for Lil Swimz!

Oh thanks guys. I'm blushing.

Auctionedllama, does your puffer happen to look anything like these? ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/

Yes, very impressive for a young person, who joined not even two months ago and is already a fahaka! A protein skimmer, however, would not be appropriate until very close to full marine.

The specific gravity would need to be at least 1.018.

I'm on basically all day, that's how.

Hey sorry. Yeah I forgot to mention that I had a GSP. Also, is it necessary to have a skimmer, and what is melafix? Also, I would like to use pool filter sand, because I have a pool, and it is very cheap. Is this a problem?

Pool filter sand is great.

A skimmer and live rock are only for when you take them up to marine conditions, which is optional, but many people like to do it.

Melafix is a medicine that is very helpful for skin conditions and bacterial infections that you may have to deal with. It's very gentle on puffers' scaleless skin.

Hi again. Turns out I'll be getting a 55 gallon. Anyways, I was thinking about taking the already cycled water from my ten gallon, and doing a 50% water change about every two days and slowly filling up the tank while I run a big 55 filter so the water doesn't get filthy. Is this a practical way to start a tank so I don't have to cycle it? Also, I plan on adding salt to it as I add it into the 55 gallon, and making it full marine. I have heard that making it marine will kill all the bacteria in it, so will this method be useless? And after I have the tank filled up, I plan on taking my puffer (in a zero salt environment) and slowly acclimating him to full marine conditions. Is this practical? Thanks (I would also like to know if a porcupine puffer will be compatible with a GSP in a 55G)?

Welcome!
On your last set of questions:
Th beneficial bacteria live on surfaces so using the old water wont work unfortunately, using some of the gravel or media from your other tank will help seed the new one and get the cycle started. If you raise the salinity of the cycled tank by more than 0.002 (i think) a week it will kill the bacteria.
Im not sure how the slow acclimatisation would work hopefully someone can help you with more info on that soon. Unfortunately a Porcupine need about 120g to its self so it wouldn't work with the gsp in your tank. Sorry it all sounds abit negative but your GSP will love his new tank!

Fastest way to cycle a tank that is brand new is by the fishless cycling method written up in our Library. If you have aa fish in an established tank & you are just upgrading, then you take everything from that tank: substrate, filter, decor, water & move it all to the larger tank, instant cycling the tank. Adding some Bio-Spira wouldn't hurt either.