The Puffer Forum

As said in the title, just bought a hydrometer and some marine salt today, also I will have f8's in a 29 G at a 1.004 -1.006, how many of them can fit in there? And will 5 barbs survive in that brackish and not bully the F8's? How should I start putting in salt! If you want to give me verbal directions if easier, I have a YIM

Cycle the tank as FW, as per the fishless cycling article in our Library. Then you can slowly raise the SG 0.001-2/week:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19348

2 F8s in the 29g but you could add a few other BW fish, like a pair of knight gobies.
Those barbs are strictly FW fish.

The tank is already cycled, raised the PH to an 8.0 for the F8's so is it the same bacteria?

I recently just bought a hydrometer and marine salt, and I am adding it to a fully cycled tank, 0 ammonia nitrites etc. It is going to be a low end BW for some F8's. First things first, I didn't buy a powerhead because the LFS said you could just use your hand to stir it up or something. Also, I don't have a second heater which I don't think will be a problem... Will turning my tank into BW have the same nitrifying bacteria as my FW? And how long will I have to cycle? Also, I only have 2 5 gallon buckets, so what should I use as a container?

http://www.amazon.com/Whisper-60-Power- ... pd_sim_k_5 get it for double filtration?

F-8s are low-end brackish water (1.003 - 1.005), the nitrification bacteria are the same as fresh water.

Not to be rude, I just need an answer to all my questions

Which questions have not been answered?

how long to cycle?

My HD PVR wrote:The tank is already cycled, raised the PH to an 8.0 for the F8's so is it the same bacteria?

that has been answered by you lol, bacteria is bacteria as long as you listen to the pro's and follow their links you will be fine raise sg slowly yea

My SG is now at a 1.004-.005, hopefully I will get my water tested soon to check all my nitrites and ph and such...

cool just keep upping it slowly and keep up water tests keep me posted as i will be doing the same soon, all will be fine aslong as you follow the pros guidelines

when should i do the next water change? And how much more SG should I add? What SG should I aim for in the bucket

i am no pro on this follow pps link from earlier. i assume the slower the increase the better from what i understand many small changes prob better than 1x weekly increase but the pros will defo chip in soon and we will both learn from it im sure so hold out for better advice yea

just read back through the thread an if u raised by .001 -.002 also from my reaserch weekly bacteria shouldnt be too badly affected if at all , keep up big weekly waterchanges as recommended with puffers and the end result will be a happy one. you seem to be pretty much there already. have u added the puffer? if not you need to start the water at the shops sg really so u may be one step too far ahead.also please buy your own water test kit they are so useful. good luck with the fig 8s