shih-tzu mom

Hi; All, i am stting up a brackish tank for a puffer and he is green spotted. He is being kept in f/w-at the LFS. Now my question is when i cycle the tank [haven't started yet] can i bring the salt up slowly after all is done and i get him home lol i believe it is suppose to be brought up .002 per week slowly until reaching .1005-from what i have read. Someone please correct me if i am wrong thanks in advance p.s. he is only small less then 1-inch. bella

sirdarksol

I can't remember the exact salinity you're looking for, but your'e right that you want it to go up a tiny bit every week once the puffer is in the tank. This will acclimate it to its proper salinity.

pinkfloydpuffer

These guys are actually very adaptable when it comes to salinity. Since he's so small you can get away with him in 1.005, but as he ages, 1.015 and up seems to have a great positive effect on their immune system. So, bring him up slowly, and just keep an eye on him. You should be able to tell whether he is thriving in the salinity or not, and adjust accordingly.

shih-tzu mom

ok, Pink-what i have been reading suggests that but i din't no whether to start the salt right away-aka-cycle with it or not so i will bring up the salt when i get him home and i will start to cycle f/w way-Pink if you remember Puffy was the same kind of fish-which i didn't know that he needed [brackish] and i want to get it right for this little one. thanks Sirdarsol-and Pink much appreciated bella

pinkfloydpuffer

Have you started the cycle yet? If not, personally I'd cycle it at up to 1.005 SG and just drip acclimate him when you get him. You can see instant improvement when they go from FW to BW

shih-tzu mom

Sorry- everyone another question-they say sand is the best substrate for a puffer and if so how much?? it has been suggested that and inch or two but he will go into a 20-gallon when i bring him home for awhile and about how much sand and is driftwood good for them?and also live plants ,i plan on some after i cycle the tank and i decided to go with java-fern after a lot of research, as they seem to be the easiest lol [i killed a catus ]once lol. and maybe a couple of other diff' plants once i know what kind.thanks to all in advance bella

shih-tzu mom

Pink- no i haven't started to cycle yet but i don't know how to do it with the cycling lol i would imagine that would be the better way to go lol if i could get some help lol and on the drip method i am still a little scared but now i know how to [burp a puffer] it not so scary lol bella

pinkfloydpuffer

Don't use driftwood in brackish. It deteriorates quicker and will foul up your water.
Sand is good, it doesn't really matter how much. Java moss and fern are the only ones I've been able to keep in my brackish tank, and even they aren't quite happy. My tank's at 1.009 SG and the plants are really struggling. Or maybe it's cause of the cyanobacteria. I'm not sure. But, just be aware that the plants may not work, or may work for only a certain amount of time.

shih-tzu mom

ok, Pink so how do i cycle brackish just add the salt[marine salt] at the .002 every week as i am cycling ?? and i won't add the driftwood thanks Pink bella

pinkfloydpuffer

You can just start the cycle at the SG you want. Changing the SG during the cycle will likely slow it down quite a bit.

shih-tzu mom

So-Pink it's not true then-you can use artifcial plants or will they get hurt lol ?? and i had java fern for my betta's and they done well but it was not salt lol maybe that's the difference,but on one site they said that artifcial was no good and another they said it was okay lol very conflicking on some sites.The only one that makes sence is our own site lolSorry for all the questions but i really want to get it right for this baby bella

shih-tzu mom

Pink- that's ok if it slows the cycle down lol as i want it to be right for this little one and i am in no hurry. Just more time for questions and research lol and do you know a good site besides our own that has good info ?? bella

shih-tzu mom

One more question-on the drip method exactly how to lol bella

pinkfloydpuffer

Well, it won't be better or worse depending on what SG you start at, as only the final SG matters. So starting at the right SG will just save you time.
A great source for puffer info is The Puffer Forum
To drip acclimate, get an airline hose, make a siphon, and tie a knot around it so that there are only a few drops per second going into the bucket where the fish is (below the main tank)

shih-tzu mom

Ok. Pink and thank you very much for all the info and good advice and i will take it and run with it. and thank you Sirdarksol for your advice and will take it also And Pink- i will diff; get pic's for your magazine lol as soon as i get him home bella