gavin423

Ok, so yet again, I'm bugging everyone on this forum with my questions, lol. I've been getting help on switching my 29 gallon freshwater to a GSP tank. I've been doing some extra reading on old posts and I'm getting more and more confused. So maybe someone can clear things up for me -- thanks in advance!

1) I found a lady on local craigslist that has a GSP her kid brought home and she didn't want him to have it. She wants it gone like NOW. They have it in a 10 gallon freshwater. I won't have the money to go get some salt and a hydrometer until next week but if I want the little guy, it has to be tomorrow.
I figure if she has it in FW now one week won't hurt. My question is, when you add the salt water mixture do you have to remove the fish and decor? I don't have a spare tank to the put the GPS into while I am doing the tank.


2) The GPS I am getting is a baby - still pretty small. Would it be okay to put the tank at a brackish (1.005 or so) setup for a year or so? I read that with the full marine it was easier and more cost effective to get a protein skimmer and LR and such -- something which I probably wont' have the money for for a little while.

Thanks again, you guys are always soo helpful!
Tiffany

agabr123

1. one week in FW isn't optimal as i'm sure you know, but IMO won't cause any long term problems, at least not any more than she's already caused by keeping the GSP in freshwater for however long she's had him.

2. should definitely be fine for a year, but i'd work on at least slowly raising the salinity over that year. how big is the GSP?

pink should be able to five you some more specific info, but hopefully that will get you through tomorrow

good luck!

gavin423

I'm not sure how big he is. The lady just said he's a baby - they just got him in the last week.

I'm sure this won't help (it's just my luck, lol) but I have a small 1.5 lb box of Instant Ocean salt. It was purchased probably five or six years ago for something my sister had (forget what). Would this be something that I could put a little bit of salt in NOW and then next week just take over with the marine salt? I'm not even sure if it is the same thing or not. I looked and couldn't find an expiration date (might sound silly but I didn't know if it could expire or not).

Thanks for the quick help!

agabr123

is this it?
http://www.instantocean.com/sites/in...d=1294&cid=964

gavin423

Yeah that's it. The packaging is slightly different but I imagine it would be from 5-6 years ago, lol. It's a little 5 gallon box.

agabr123

that should be fine for now, unless it expires which i honestly don't know if it does or not

gavin423

Ok, SOOOO sorry to bug you honestly but you are on, lol. If you're busy I understand. I dont' have a hydrometer yet. Is there a way I can estimate how much to put in? the box says 5 gallons. I have a 29 gallon tank. So would i use the whole box? I'm lost.

Also, since I would be using what I already have, do I just put it in the tank (before i bring the puff home) or do I still need to mix it in a bucket then dump it in the tank?

Thanks again, so much! You're being so helpfuL!

Tiffany

agabr123

lol, don't worry you're not bugging me

umm, are there any other instructions on the box? i dont know if this applies if there aren't any fish/live rock/etc but generally with salt water you want to mix in all the salt before hand in a bucket and let it sit for 24 hours, you never want to add salt directly to the tank. i couldnt tell you why though, i dont keep SW tanks

you're welcome!

gavin423

Ok, it says that while it CAN be put in immediately, they recommend letting it sit over a period of 24 hours first. But as far as mixing it goes, it says to use a hydrometer which is part of what I can't get my hands on until next week! Argh! This is so my luck. I couldn't have seen the ad for the fish one week later, lol.

Well, thanks for your help. Perhaps someone who keeps SW tanks will take pity on me and give me some advice!

Thanks again, AGABR123!

shih-tzu mom

Gavin423; i would guesstimate for now lol I have heard some people do that and start small ,less is better.i would use a 5-gallon bucket and add and let sit for 24-hours and remember how much you added so you can do it again for your w/c/ Hope this helps.do not add salt in water top ups. I am sure Pink will be along soon to further help you as i have dwarf's and f-8s and she has gsp's so will better help you bella

pinkfloydpuffer

I don't see much harm in keeping the GSP in FW one week longer. Instant Ocean is marine salt, by the way . It's one of the brands I've used in the past. Wait until you get the hydrometer to add the salt. Then when you have it, add salt slowly. Try doing your weekly waterchanges of about 25%, and add water at the SG you'll eventually want (so 1.005 in your case). That will move it up slowly enough for the bacteria to have time to catch up.

gavin423

Okay, thanks soo much, Pink! Last question -- today, I promise! When I do the water changes with the salt, do I need to remove the puffer from the tank before I dump in the salt water? if so, will he be okay for the half hour or so in a bucket? I don't have a spare tank to put him in.

pinkfloydpuffer

No need to remove him. Just treat it as a normal waterchange. The saltwater should be premixed before you put it in so that the salt crystals won't irritate his gills. If it's premixed, just pour it in with no worries.

gavin423

Thanks soo much!! You've been very helpful, as usual, Pink!

pinkfloydpuffer

No problem