Safe salinity level for my Puffer

petebsbll · 07/23/2006, 12:17 AM

Hello everyone again. The tank has just began its fishless cycle process. My question is would a salinity level of 1.013 be safe enough for introducing my football sized puffer into for his 30 day quarentine process? I think 1.009 is a little to low unless he shows clear signs of parasites when I put him in. I would quarentine him in something besides my display tank but the 125 is the only tank I have set up and it is empty with nothing else. Also what would a good water temp be for my friends 30 day cycle? I will not be adding Live sand or Live Rock untill I know he is parasite free so they do not have areas to live in, if you think this is a bad idea please feel free to tell me why.

Thank You ,

-Peter

pnosko · 07/23/2006, 01:09 AM

Is this your first fish (in this hobby)?

lux_06 · 07/23/2006, 06:26 AM

ok, i dont understand....

i think you may have some things confused, if your tank is new and needs to cycle, it wont take 30 days, it may take more it may take less it is cycled when ammonia and nitrite levels are 0. not after 30 days.

30 days however is suggested as minimum but sufficient time to quarentine a fish with hyposalinty, S.G -1.009) in a seperate tank to your display...... i wonder where you have this puffer now????

you say you are quarantining him in your display but isnt your display cycleing???? these 2 things CAN'T happen together.

yes your quarantine tank should remain free from live sand and rock.

BUT that live sand and rock needs to be in your display cycleing as that is how it will create your biological filtration.

as far as the temp goes normal temp of 78 is fine.

i think you may need to do a bit more research on this as you have some correct ideas but seem to be getting confused as to what can happen and when...

Dubbin1 · 07/23/2006, 08:29 AM

Heck with all that, I want to see a picture of this puffer

petebsbll · 07/23/2006, 10:51 PM

Haha trust me guys, I have been researching A TON ! Sorry my threads are brief and not detailed enough for you guys to fully understand. The local fish store still has the Puffer Fish. My 125 is currently on its 5th day of its fishless cycle. I have been adding food everyday and testing the water levels (Ammonia,Nitrite,Nitrate,PH, and Copper). My ammonia sky rocketed yesterday and so did my nitrite and nitrate levels. I am hoping they will lower back down to zero in the next 4 to 5 days. As far as the salinity level goes it is currently at 1.013 but from researching more I am going to measure the salinity level in the tank its being held in at the LFS and then adjust mine to that. Once my stars and stripes is introduced to the Display without the Live Rock and Live Sand I plan to slowly drop the salinity levels down over a period of 2 days. Once to hyposalinity I intend to keep it at this for ATLEAST 30 days to notice and stress causing parasites. By doing a fishless cycle and getting all my levels safetly established I feel strongly that I can have the puffer in the aquarium for a period of 30 or so days before introducing the live sand and live rock as these can be parasite homes. I hope this information helps a little more on the situation here. I quick description of my filtration is One extremely large overflow box with two tubes running to my MegaFlow 3 wet/dry filter. The return pump is a mag 12 with pvc pipe running back to the aquarium and splitting at the top to go to the left and right side. Also inside the aquarium I currently have to maxi-jet's to help cycle the water. Any feedback and corrections on what to do differently will be greatly appreciated everybody and thanks again for taking the time to help me on my new hobby.

-peter

Tat2demon · 07/24/2006, 05:19 AM

Im so confused I dont even know where to start.

So youre cycling a 125 with no rock and no sand. Youre going to QT the gigantic puffer in here then this same tank will become your display tank?

The first thing I can think of is that without any Rock/Sand I dont know if the tank will ever finish cycling with that fish in there. It may finish before you put it in but a puffer that size is going to be poopin like a small dog. You have no biological filter to take care of that.

The next thing that comes to mind is that you will be adding sand and rock after your QT period. Chances are this will start another cycle unless your sand and rock come from a local shop that has been storing it in an established tank for some time and you can guarantee it has been cured. Any rock that is shipped in will probably need to be cured again.

Also keep in mind the sand storm your puffer will have to live in when you eventually add it.

pnosko · 07/24/2006, 08:52 AM

Peter, I think your approach is a good bit less than ideal, given the limitations of having a single tank. Is this fish now in a 30g all by itself (I would hope so)? If you're committed to purchasing it, have the LFS remove their substrate and LR if it has any and let its existing tank be the quarantine for 30 days. That will buy you some time to complete setting up your display tank with LR and substrate and letting it cycle.

07/23/2006, 12:17 AM	#1
petebsbll Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 13	Safe salinity level for my Puffer Hello everyone again. The tank has just began its fishless cycle process. My question is would a salinity level of 1.013 be safe enough for introducing my football sized puffer into for his 30 day quarentine process? I think 1.009 is a little to low unless he shows clear signs of parasites when I put him in. I would quarentine him in something besides my display tank but the 125 is the only tank I have set up and it is empty with nothing else. Also what would a good water temp be for my friends 30 day cycle? I will not be adding Live sand or Live Rock untill I know he is parasite free so they do not have areas to live in, if you think this is a bad idea please feel free to tell me why. Thank You , -Peter

07/23/2006, 01:09 AM	#2
pnosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 3,584	Is this your first fish (in this hobby)? __________________ Looking for perfection in an imperfect world. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (1844-1924) Current Tank Info: Dusty 110g, 55g & 29g tanks

07/24/2006, 05:19 AM	#6
Tat2demon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 833	Im so confused I dont even know where to start. So youre cycling a 125 with no rock and no sand. Youre going to QT the gigantic puffer in here then this same tank will become your display tank? The first thing I can think of is that without any Rock/Sand I dont know if the tank will ever finish cycling with that fish in there. It may finish before you put it in but a puffer that size is going to be poopin like a small dog. You have no biological filter to take care of that. The next thing that comes to mind is that you will be adding sand and rock after your QT period. Chances are this will start another cycle unless your sand and rock come from a local shop that has been storing it in an established tank for some time and you can guarantee it has been cured. Any rock that is shipped in will probably need to be cured again. Also keep in mind the sand storm your puffer will have to live in when you eventually add it. __________________ Nate cham - "Taste it, if it tastes like poop.....it is." Current Tank Info: 400 gallon in progress. 8x3x2.5

07/24/2006, 08:52 AM	#7
pnosko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 3,584	Peter, I think your approach is a good bit less than ideal, given the limitations of having a single tank. Is this fish now in a 30g all by itself (I would hope so)? If you're committed to purchasing it, have the LFS remove their substrate and LR if it has any and let its existing tank be the quarantine for 30 days. That will buy you some time to complete setting up your display tank with LR and substrate and letting it cycle. __________________ Looking for perfection in an imperfect world. Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France (1844-1924) Current Tank Info: Dusty 110g, 55g & 29g tanks

07/23/2006, 06:26 AM	#3
lux_06 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: down under Posts: 472	ok, i dont understand.... i think you may have some things confused, if your tank is new and needs to cycle, it wont take 30 days, it may take more it may take less it is cycled when ammonia and nitrite levels are 0. not after 30 days. 30 days however is suggested as minimum but sufficient time to quarentine a fish with hyposalinty, S.G -1.009) in a seperate tank to your display...... i wonder where you have this puffer now???? you say you are quarantining him in your display but isnt your display cycleing???? these 2 things CAN'T happen together. yes your quarantine tank should remain free from live sand and rock. BUT that live sand and rock needs to be in your display cycleing as that is how it will create your biological filtration. as far as the temp goes normal temp of 78 is fine. i think you may need to do a bit more research on this as you have some correct ideas but seem to be getting confused as to what can happen and when...

07/23/2006, 08:29 AM	#4
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	Heck with all that, I want to see a picture of this puffer

07/23/2006, 10:51 PM	#5
petebsbll Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 13	Haha trust me guys, I have been researching A TON ! Sorry my threads are brief and not detailed enough for you guys to fully understand. The local fish store still has the Puffer Fish. My 125 is currently on its 5th day of its fishless cycle. I have been adding food everyday and testing the water levels (Ammonia,Nitrite,Nitrate,PH, and Copper). My ammonia sky rocketed yesterday and so did my nitrite and nitrate levels. I am hoping they will lower back down to zero in the next 4 to 5 days. As far as the salinity level goes it is currently at 1.013 but from researching more I am going to measure the salinity level in the tank its being held in at the LFS and then adjust mine to that. Once my stars and stripes is introduced to the Display without the Live Rock and Live Sand I plan to slowly drop the salinity levels down over a period of 2 days. Once to hyposalinity I intend to keep it at this for ATLEAST 30 days to notice and stress causing parasites. By doing a fishless cycle and getting all my levels safetly established I feel strongly that I can have the puffer in the aquarium for a period of 30 or so days before introducing the live sand and live rock as these can be parasite homes. I hope this information helps a little more on the situation here. I quick description of my filtration is One extremely large overflow box with two tubes running to my MegaFlow 3 wet/dry filter. The return pump is a mag 12 with pvc pipe running back to the aquarium and splitting at the top to go to the left and right side. Also inside the aquarium I currently have to maxi-jet's to help cycle the water. Any feedback and corrections on what to do differently will be greatly appreciated everybody and thanks again for taking the time to help me on my new hobby. -peter