The Puffer Forum

Okay so I just set up a new 75 gallon tank yesterday. I was told I needed to put my GSP in the new tank right away because he is about 4' and in a 10 gallon tank right now! I bought the freshwater master test kit and I need to know what levels for everything is appropriate for him. I do not want to just stick him in there! I put Prime in the 75 gallon tank yesterday. So this kit has pH, High Range pH, Ammonia (NH3/NH4+), Nitrate (NO2-), Nitrate ((NO3-) What are all the safe levels for him? I tested the pH so far and it is reading a little over 7.6.... any help would be great!

what are the perams on the 10 gallon?

J-P wrote:what are the perams on the 10 gallon?

Im sorry I do not understand!

Good for you

I wouldn't worry about the pH as it isn't overly important as long as it's stable. Ammonia should be 0, nitrite should be 0, and nitrate less than 20 (the lower the better). Once he's in the new tank (are the temperatures the same?) you will see some ammonia and nitrite show up. Do water changes to keep these values as low as possible until the tank is cycled (and then they'll both be 0).

The only thing you need to do is dechlor with Prime & match temp. You can acclimate the puffer to the different water just like as if you just bought him from the store. Place him in a bag with tank water from the 10g & add a 1/2 cup of the new tank's water into it every 10 minutes for 30 minutes & then you can let the puffer go into his nice, big tank.

babbs28 wrote:

J-P wrote:what are the perams on the 10 gallon?

Im sorry I do not understand!

PP beat me to it. if the 10g was fully cycled, just move all the filters substrate and decor over to the new tank, add the dechlor to the water and fill'er up! Let the little guy go into his new home and you should be good to go

The larger water volume will greatly dilute the puffer's waste (ammonia) and the Prime will protect your puffer from the negative effects of ammonia and nitrite as this tank cycles.

Right now, as long as your tap water reads 0 (mine is registering 0.5 ppm, each company varies) your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate should read 0 in your 75 as it is brand new. I agree with not really worrying about the pH, unless it was under 6.5, which it is not.
Your puffer releases ammonia as its waste product pretty much constantly, mostly through the gills and also through the vent. As this tank cycles, the ammonia levels will rise, and as the bacteria cultivates to break the ammonia down into nitrite, those levels will rise. And as the second group of bacteria grows that breaks down the nitrite into nitrate, you will see the ammonia start to lower, and then the nitrites will lower. When the tank is cycled, the ammonia and nitrite will stay at 0 between water changes and you will have a reading of nitrate, you will want this to stay under 20. Ammonia and nitrite are very toxic to fish, nitrate is much less toxic, but still needs to be under 20. With a cycled tank, regular water changes will be enough to keep the nitrate level under 20.

Until this tank cycles, you will need to do more than the recommended weekly 50% water changes, as the bacteria needs time to be able to keep your ammonia and nitrites down, so you will have to remove them with water changes. The Prime will neutralize the ammonia and nitrites so they are harmless to your fish, but will still be available as food to the growing bacteria. This needs to be added every 24 hours.

Normally daily water changes are suggested on an uncycled tank, but with only one, four inch fish in 75 gallons of water, I'm not sure if you could do it every other day, safely. Hopefully someone can advise you as to the best water change schedule until this tank cycles.
Check your levels before you do water changes so you can get a better idea of when the levels are dropping off on their own.

that is if the 10 isn't cycled. If it is, the bacteria may be able to support it in the larger tank, and will most likely level off within 48 hours. IF everything goes smoothly

That would be awesome, but I'm thinking she said before the 10 gallon was not cycled, I could be wrong, hopefully.

I remember that too.

yes my 10 gallon was not cycled it was only up and running for maybe 2-3 weeks. I am thinking about going to get Dr. Tim's one and only nitrifying bacteria. any suggestions?

I would still add the media etc from the 10g as it will hold some friendly bacteria. Also i would just keep up daily 50% w/c until cycle is complete.

Dr. Tims would be great (fw version) also tetra safe start is good too. You can pour them directly in the filter since that's where a majority of the bacteria propagate.

IMO, a single 4" GSP in a 75g will not need daily 50% WC. Keep an eye on the parameters & the second you see any ammonia/nitrite, you do a 50% WC.