Green Spotted Puffers

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
N

NNorth123

Feeder Fish
Mar 18, 2020
3
0
1
29
I’m new to brackish water tanks and would just like some help. When purchasing my green spotted puffers and following the guidance of the fish shop employees. I’ve not got my tank set up for nearly 2 weeks and I was told I would need to add more salt without doing a water change. Now I was wondering if I’m able to add salt directly to the tank with my GSP’s in or should I empty some water pre mix, then add the water back?

image.jpg
 
Most people say to remove some, mix the salt into it and then slowly pour back in.
When I've added bunches of salt to a tank I haven't bothered with that. I just took a plastic sieve, filled it with the necessary amount of salt and hung it near one of the filter outlets to slowly dissolve and get distributed around the tank.

The main thing is you just don't want to take a kilo of salt and dump it straight in, leaving a big lump of salt piled in the tank.
 
TwoHedWlf said:
Most people say to remove some, mix the salt into it and then slowly pour back in.
When I've added bunches of salt to a tank I haven't bothered with that. I just took a plastic sieve, filled it with the necessary amount of salt and hung it near one of the filter outlets to slowly dissolve and get distributed around the tank.

The main thing is you just don't want to take a kilo of salt and dump it straight in, leaving a big lump of salt piled in the tank.
Click to expand...

So once I’ve weighed the right amount of salt could I poor a bit at a time close to the filter which then should distribute it and no harm will come to my GSP’s?
 
Yeah.
Best it's in something otherwise your fish will probably see this thing floating around and try to eat it. Maybe put it in a fish net and hang it in the tank?

A few bits aren't going to hurt them, but they might go
b89e5c85aa2597fc1d0ea3a3cd86c598a6aee070.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: Magnus_Bane
Your tank has only been set up for 2 weeks and you added 4 puffers already? Did you use established substrate or filter material? What is the salinity of your water now?
Chances are if this is a brand new setup the good bacteria hasn't established yet. If you go and start adding salt it will set back the cycle period even longer. Keep in mind this tank will eventually be too small for 4 gsp and they will need nearly full strength saltwater in the future.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Raka, deeda and tlindsey
spotfin said:
Your tank has only been set up for 2 weeks and you added 4 puffers already? Did you use established substrate or filter material? What is the salinity of your water now?
Chances are if this is a brand new setup the good bacteria hasn't established yet. If you go and start adding salt it will set back the cycle period even longer. Keep in mind this tank will eventually be too small for 4 gsp and they will need nearly full strength saltwater in the future.
Click to expand...
I left the tank running for 1 weeks before buying the GSP’s they’ve been in the tank for 2 weeks sorry I didn’t make that clear. And I am aware I will need a new tank once they’re older which is already in the works but could you recommend what size tank I would need for them once they are full grown. The tank is 70litres now
 
NNorth123 said:
I left the tank running for 1 weeks before buying the GSP’s they’ve been in the tank for 2 weeks sorry I didn’t make that clear. And I am aware I will need a new tank once they’re older which is already in the works but could you recommend what size tank I would need for them once they are full grown. The tank is 70litres now
Click to expand...

Full grown in full strength seawater they can grow 6-8" . You may find that they may not get along as they grow. The larger the tank, the better tank. 180 US gal (680 liter) would be good.
What is the salt level now? I would suggest slowly increasing the salt content, best done during water charges. Premix a small amount of salt in the volume amount of water you usually change during a water change. Monitor the salt level with a hydrometer, or better, a refractometer.
 
Having one 3in Figure 8 Puffer in a 20gal I have a good idea of your maintenance to come, its going to be a lot, and nothing short of it.

I have a spare powerhead, heater, and bucket that I use to premix my brackish. Lets me use much warmer water to start to get the majority disloved and the powerhead takes care of the rest overnight. The heater keeps it at 78 so water changes are easy! I am able to addjust the salinity in the bucket 1.005 to 1.010 depending on the volume I remove from the tank 3-10 gals, 1.008 is my target.

As others have said hold off on salt till you have cycled your aquarium. 1 week isn't a cycle period unless you had some form of bacterial seeding. With an addition of 4 heavy protein consumers most "established" tanks would still see some form of micro cycle as the bacteria catches up to the bioload. I am curious what you ammonia is currently?
 
  • Like
Reactions: spotfin
When I lived in NYC a millennia ago. I worked for a custom aquarium and maintenance company. Our bread and butter were saltwater aquariums. We tested the cheap hydrometers against a properly calibrated refractometer. The cheap hydrometers were off by lethal amounts. A decent refractometer will only set you back about $20 and needs to be calibrated with RO/DI.
You have a 20g aquarium and maintaining proper salt levels will be incredibly difficult without weighing out the correct amount of salt. I killed more fish in small aquariums by adding to much salt because of the lethal swing in salinity.
If your budget permits go buy the largest aquarium you can afford and fit in your home and transfer your puffers into a more stable home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom