Setting up 20 gallon F8 brackish tank

T

teekee542

AC Members
Apr 1, 2005
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brackish

hello,
I to am trying to set up a 20 gallon brackish tank for a figure 8 puffer and i am having the worst time trying to cycle it. You see, i read that you cant cycle a brackish tank like you can a freshwater b/c the same bacterias that can live in a freshwater tank cant live in a brackish tank. Can someone PLEASE help me out!!!! also what would you say would be the appropriate salt ratio.... 2tbs/5 gallon of salt?!? THANKS ALOT>>Ash
 
There are bacteria that will survive in brackish tanks--they are just different from the strain that survive in FW. You can cycle it fishlessly at the target salinity with no problems.

You will need to get a hydrometer or refractometer--relying on a volume measurement will not give you stable values since salt volume changes with humidity.
 
But first find out what you LFS uses for F-8s. Most of them come in in FW, not BW. If that is the case, you cycle FW and after the fish is in you increase the specific gravity no more than 0.002 per week to allow bacterial adjustment/replacememt.

If they keep the fish BW, find out what density and cycle at that level.

See also:

http://www.aquasource.org/CMS/modul...s&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=103&page=1
 
Alright, so right now i have my 20g running with feeder fish, its been liek this a week. So should i remove the feeders, and maybe as SOME salt. How does cycling the tank fishless do anything. Im just curious...THANKS. Also most of the LFS around me dont carry figure 8 puffers, only GSP and i wanted F8's because i know two could fit in the 20G...do you know of a place where i can buy them online?!
 
ack another post! Well i went to another LFS today to browse for f8's and i bought some instant ocean!! yay! They only had GSP there and i think i will end up purchasing just one of them. The guy there said that i should add 1tsp/gal of salt but I DO NOT trust any of the information given out at that store because 1st i had 4 parrot fish and i bought a new home for them (75Gal.) ... well the guy never told me about cycling the tank first so sure enough, they ALL died :mad: :mad2 !!! and 2nd he said i could add the puffer to an uncycled tank because they r hardy...puh...rigggghhht. So im just checking with everyone does 1tsp/gal salt be fine? And a salinity of 1.008-1.010?? and so now how can i cycle the tank with nothing in it?? lol dumb question but...do you think the puffer will get lonely all by himself? THANKS!
 
How big are the GSPs? I wouldn't even recommend putting a GSP in a 20 gallon. 30 gallon minimum, due to waste and water issues.

But in the event you DO decide to get one, I would suggest getting a refractometer, or at LEAST a hydrometer. The SG when its around 4 inches should be near full marine or totally marine. The SG when its less than one inch should be light brackish, 1.003-1.006. Then you should be able to figure out the SG he'll need from there.
 
A 20 is not a permanent home for a GSP, a 30 minimum is needed.

If you add a puffer to an uncycled tank it will follow in the path of the parrot fish.

One tsp per gallon on marine mix per gallon is unlikely to even register on the hydrometer you must have to check specific gravity if you plan on keeping BW fish. But if that is what the store uses where you will get you fish, you should match that to be sure. Take your hydrometer with you to test their water.

After you have had the fish a week without problems, you can raise the specific gravity no more than 0.002 per week to protect the bacteria.

Hunter predator puffers puffers do not get lonely, especially in minimum sized tanks. They kill tankmates instead.
 
Before you go with the GSP you should know that they get up to 6 inches long and require full marine as adults and at least a 30 gallon tank, unlike the 3 inch/ brackish/ figure-8. If you have questions on the GSP's or Figure-8 I would highly recommend the Puffer Forum at http://puffer.proboards2.com/index.cgi .

I have a figure-8 and he is great and I hope to get a 20 gallon soon and add another.
 
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