changing to brackish w/ puffer

[finsandfangs]

i have recently bought 3 green spotted puffers. i have read that they should be in brackish water at 2 to 3 inches. they were in fesh water when i bought them and i have bought some stuff to convert them to brackish ( africana chilid conditioner, african rift lake chilid salt, and crushed hawaiian puka shell substrate)
my ph is close to 7 i know that i need to raise it to atleast 8
my main question is what do i do first .........ph? salt? raise the hardness?

p.s. i know my tank is not big enough to house these fish for life. when the big tank swap happens through the house all fish will be happy

[bluedempsey]

i would start with the salt

[mpgleisten]

do some research on brackish biotopes where those puffers are from, i am sure you could find some info about pH. it is possible to have high salt concentration in your water while having low pH. definitely add salt first and see if you need to adjust pH.

[Stella]

You need to use a marine salt supplement. That will raise your pH and hardness as well.

Laura

[finsandfangs]

do some research on brackish biotopes where those puffers are from, i am sure you could find some info about pH. it is possible to have high salt concentration in your water while having low pH. definitely add salt first and see if you need to adjust pH.
i looked it up and it said ph 8 to 8 1/2

[finsandfangs]

You need to use a marine salt supplement. That will raise your pH and hardness as well.

Laura
thanks i will try that

[mbierzyc]

I used marine salt with my green spotted puffer. He was already 2.5" when I bought him, and over time I gradually increased the salinity of the water. It is now full marine and I have a few peices of live rock in the tank with him.

[MaJiKTeRRoR]

How long have you had him and how long did you ween him off the brackish to full salt?

[Miles]

The reccomendation is .002 increase of salinity every few weeks. This allows nitrifying bacteria from the old salinity to die off, and new nitrifying bacteria to take it's place. It's a slow and tedious process, but the safest method.

Use marine salt, no others.

[DucatiRave21]

yes i agree. it took over a month to switch mine. i just wanted to be safe. maybe every week just be sure to start adding proper lighting. will help!

[MaJiKTeRRoR]

Awesome.

[damia713]

Was the switch successful.

I love puffers. I had two Green Spotted Puffers and I absolutly loved them but they got sick and I lost them both. Planning to try again in the future. :rip