I heard something in another post. When I add live rock does the tank need an air pump or filter, or anything I should do differently. I currently have gravel, was thinking of getting a finer marine gravel or something else. Any suggestions.

Dont add live rock to your tank till the salinity, temperature and pH are correct. Otherwise, all the live stuff on it will die. You have to treat it just like you would your fish.

In marine tanks, most people use crushed coral gravel or sand as it helps to buffer the pH. You want the pH to stay at around 8.2-8.4. The coral helps but you also need to add a good commercial buffer. I like Kent superbuffer.

It is an established tank and the Ph is 8. I was hoping the coral would boost it up enough. I would put the old gravel in a nylon or cheese cloth and keep it in the tank after putting in coral. What is the best way to take out a puffer out of tank. I hear that they can't get air into them or they could die. I was thinking of putting a ery clean margarine container that I use to put in my betta when I change his water, and try to scoop him in there with the help of a small net. What do you think. I will have to put something on top because he would probably jump out, I know he would. After adding coral I would make sure salinity is right, what should that be for live rock???

The salinity should be anywhere between 1.020-1.025. I keep mine on the upper side of that because the ocean is about 26. As for taking the puffer out, you definitely want to keep him underwater the whole time. I have seen them ingest air and die slowly and its terrible. You can use the container, or even get a large plastic fish bag from your LFS and scoop him up in that.

These http://images.go0gle.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...ficial%26sa%3DN
are what we used at the store to scoop fish up in. Theyre great because the fish stays underwater the whole time, and since its transparent, they cant see it coming after them like they would with a net.

Was this gravel in a fresh water or salt system???

the gravel is in the puffer tank right now

Is this puffer tank a brackish, freshwater, or SW tank????

in between brackish and sw. Green spotted puffer will be fully sw soon

Hi love goldfish
Do you have a undergravel filter in with the spotted ? is that why your chatting about bagging up the gravel ?

No, but just can't take all gravel out and change it to something different. It would disturb the cycle of the tank.

love goldfish....if you are replacing it with LR...you can take all the gravel out....
What is the SG or salinity of the tank right now????
Fresh water bacteria won't survive the change to SW.... as a general rule...that is what the LR is for....

salinity is at 1.016 right now.

Hi love goldfish
as i'm sure you know, what you are doing is harder then just starting up a marine tank and by bringing up the salinity you are slowly killing off some (more fresh water) bacteria and new is growing (more salt water) so you are disturbing you cycle continuously so myself i would say that you want that old substrate out asap, but its your tank and your call

So are you are saying to take gravel out and add live rock right away. I understand what you are saying. That is why I am asking questions, to learn what is best for the tank and my puffer. She is so cute, I think thae most adorable fish Ii have had, but sure is skittish when anyone is around her tank.

crushed coral should help with Ph. I will replace that first and then next week hopefully I will be able to get some live rock. Is there special lighting i should consider for the live rock.

Hi love goldfish
You can't add live rock until water is full marine, think of live rock as a coral or a marine fish it needs specific water conditions.
Replacing the gravel with the coral is a good idea and as your gravel is not being used as a bio filter it should not cause to much trouble, but of course i would keep a careful eye on water prams when doing it.
Green spotted puffers are very cute and myself i belive puffers have the most personalities of all fish,
Do you hand feed her ?

no she is very skittish and starts jumping almost out of the tank when i open the lid to put the bloodworms in, but i still think she is the cutest thing ever. Don't worry about me adding live rock until it is fully SW, I just checked out how much 10 lbs of live rock would be, I could not believe it, 10.00/lb=$100.00. So I will save up for it and by that time it will be SW.

Its not cheap over there either then
When tank is more settled work on hand feeding her, puffers are very clever and she will soon get used to it, does she have any hiding spaces maybe she feels vulnerable that causes skittish behaviour !!

she has 1 large and 2 smaller silk plants, a decoration and the coral looking ornament for air pump. So lots of places to hide.

Here is a pic of her tank

What brand of salt-mix are you using????

instant ocean but was thinking of switching to a finer and more easily dissolvable salt.

Ok.... Just wondering what you were using for salt.... IO is ok.... I am using Kent and Oceanic..... Keep us informed!!!!

Getting the crushed coral today and putting it in the tank today since I am moving her anyway. Had to move her upstairs last weekend since new rug went in the frontroom and did not want to move her back since she gets so stressed and thought I should get the coral in while she is not in the tank so I don't have to stress her out again.

Are you still going to get LR????

Yes I am, just not yet, still is not full SW and have to save up for it since it is not cheap. Will post pics when I do, hopefully by end of summer.

What is your salinity now???

It is 1.016 right now. Was wondering can I increase it again, it has been awhile since I upped it to the present salinity. It is a green spotted puffer and they are supposed to be full SW by the time she is full grown but I was wondering if I can get it to full SW before that or would I be putting her health in jeapordy trying to do this???

You need to take your time....A little more would not hurt it...upto 1.017 slowly..... See how she does with that.....