The Puffer Forum

OK,so i started adding salt to my tank,55gal fish only with one GSP.
i started off FW cycled and have added 2 cups salt with to days water change. He is about 1 1/2" right now. Last night i took about 5 gallons of water and added 2 cups salt to it with a pump and left it all night. Today,i vacuumed the sand and added the salt water to the tank. That has raised it to what looks to be 1.002/1.004. Am i to do this every week until i get to heavy BW. OR would it be better to go to full SW. ALSO,as i get to full salt water,would they be any other fish that would go in a 55 gallon with him/her? like maybe a sand sifting star? thanks for any info...

Hi,

Yes, you got it.... as long as that salt is well mixed.

I went all the way to full marine (1.026 - 1.027) with my GSPs, but did so over the course of about a year. Looking at the health of your fish will be the best guide.

As for tank mates, there may be some options, but it is always a risk. I would definitely say "no" to starfish. Especially sand-sifting starfish, which usually die of starvation in hobbyist tanks.

Before considering marine tankmates, you will have a whole host of potentia ldecisions ahead of you -- how to upgrade the water flow, skimmer, live rock, etc.

right now i have about 20lbs of live/dead rock. im useing an ac500 for the filter and i just got a new SEIO M820 Super flow pump for water flow. The skimmer will come when it is full SW along with some live rock to seed the sand/dead rock.
Once i get it up to a SG 1.010-15,i should hold it there till it reaches 4" if i read right. About how long this will be if he is just 1 1/2"

Quite a long time: anywhere from 8 months to 2 years+

I only "held" it at around 1.015 - 1.018 for a few months before pressing on up....

oh wow, thats a long time...
I have an oscar and a few tin-foils, a JD in a 135 ant they or all fast growers. This will be a big change...
Thanks again for the help