Puffer
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The way he explained it was that since they live in brackish water the salinity varies (i guess because of tides?) anywho his solution to replicate this was during my water changes this week I will add 1 tbsp of salt and next week I add a half tbsp then another week I add say 2 tbsp...but to me it would seem to make more sence to gradually increase the salt, instead of the fluctuations.
a table spoon of salt per gallon is still not enough... a table spoon per gallon would still not be enough 
around 1/4 cup per gallon should get you to around 1.011sg. but each brand of salt will differ, as will the 1/4 cup. you still need to check with a hydrometer as the 1/4 cup will only get you in the ballpark.
you need a hydrometer if your keeping fish that need salt. you wouldnt keep tropicals without a heater would you? if you have a hydrometer you know where you stand when it comes to salt content. having to guess the salt content is one more thing to cause grief to brackish aquarist's. its hard enough with the lack of reliable and conflicting info.
salt absorbs moisture from the air, so your table spoon of salt one week will be as is, but next week it could have absorbes x amount of water, throwing your levels off. it gets worse the longer you leave it. hydrometers measure the weight of the water + salt. a liter of fresh water weighs 1.000 Kg, where as Salt water is heavier. sea water is 1.022 Kg+ per liter.
you can raise your tank 0.002sg per week till you hit whatever level of salt you require. dont go any more than 0.002 per week though, as your cause your tank to crash. and puffers dont like that.
fluctuating salt levels is good practice. it mimics the natural environment of the GSP. the SG of brackish ecosystems fluctuates constantly. when the tide comes in, the hight of the tide, amount of freshwater coming down the river ect...
nice puffer BTW. he has a nice white stomach. the sign of a happy GSP. has a full stomach too. its deffo well fed
around 1/4 cup per gallon should get you to around 1.011sg. but each brand of salt will differ, as will the 1/4 cup. you still need to check with a hydrometer as the 1/4 cup will only get you in the ballpark. you need a hydrometer if your keeping fish that need salt. you wouldnt keep tropicals without a heater would you? if you have a hydrometer you know where you stand when it comes to salt content. having to guess the salt content is one more thing to cause grief to brackish aquarist's. its hard enough with the lack of reliable and conflicting info.
salt absorbs moisture from the air, so your table spoon of salt one week will be as is, but next week it could have absorbes x amount of water, throwing your levels off. it gets worse the longer you leave it. hydrometers measure the weight of the water + salt. a liter of fresh water weighs 1.000 Kg, where as Salt water is heavier. sea water is 1.022 Kg+ per liter.
you can raise your tank 0.002sg per week till you hit whatever level of salt you require. dont go any more than 0.002 per week though, as your cause your tank to crash. and puffers dont like that.
fluctuating salt levels is good practice. it mimics the natural environment of the GSP. the SG of brackish ecosystems fluctuates constantly. when the tide comes in, the hight of the tide, amount of freshwater coming down the river ect...
nice puffer BTW. he has a nice white stomach. the sign of a happy GSP. has a full stomach too. its deffo well fed
bromie88;3375923; said:a table spoon of salt per gallon is still not enough... a table spoon per gallon would still not be enough
you need a hydrometer if your keeping fish that need salt. you wouldnt keep tropicals without a heater would you? if you have a hydrometer you know where you stand when it comes to salt content. having to guess the salt content is one more thing to cause grief to brackish aquarist's. its hard enough with the lack of reliable and conflicting info.
salt absorbs moisture from the air, so your table spoon of salt one week will be as is, but next week it could have absorbes x amount of water, throwing your levels off. it gets worse the longer you leave it. hydrometers measure the weight of the water + salt. a liter of fresh water weighs 1.000 Kg, where as Salt water is heavier. sea water is 1.022 Kg+ per liter.
you can raise your tank 0.002sg per week till you hit whatever level of salt you require. dont go any more than 0.002 per week though, as your cause your tank to crash. and puffers dont like that.
fluctuating salt levels is good practice. it mimics the natural environment of the GSP. the SG of brackish ecosystems fluctuates constantly. when the tide comes in, the hight of the tide, amount of freshwater coming down the river ect...
nice puffer BTW. he has a nice white stomach. the sign of a happy GSP. has a full stomach too. its deffo well fed
I actually went to my lfs today to pick up some food and totally forgot about the hydrometer, I will get it though...i'm not so worried about the salt level right now, he has only been in my tank for a week or so and he was in full fresh at the lfs...they can be ok with no to low level salt for a little bit when they are young, then go to med. brackish range then when they are full grown prefer a full marine level. so I will be working up to that.
alyssatheurer;3376210; said:
nice one. thats what i did with my GSP. its an interesting thing to do. following the natural progression of the fishes development.
i wouldnt be worried about the exact salt level at the mo either. theyre good for a while in FW. and your tank isnt full fresh so its all good. id get the cories out though... they deffo dont like salt. the only reason im pushing for the hyrometer is because it gets you into the habit of checking your water, in a small aquarium like yours, water can go bad in as little as a few hours. if you check for the SG, you'll more than likely decide to to do a test, or water change while your there. which is essential when keeping puffers, they have huge bioloads for their size. also keep an eye on your puffer. it will tell you if its unhappy. that lovely creamy white stomach will turn black when somethings up.
Its ridiculous you post that about him, he was perfect and creamy when I left for work today and when I got home he was just laying on the bottom of the tank and the part where the colour meets his belly is starting to turn grey..im heading out in a bit to get the hydrometer so hopefully its just that...what sg do you think it should be at...he is approx. 1.5 inches long
