Sump for Brackish F8  5/7/07
Hello Again,
<Hi, Pufferpunk/Jeni here today.>
For about a week I have had my 2" Figure Eight Puffer in her new 15 gallon home.  Don't fret, this tank was cycled with guppies before I put her into it for about 3 weeks.  
<Good thing, cycling 1st but why should the guppies suffer?  It's very easy to fishless cycle.  Do a search on that at WWM.>
Here are the parameters:
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=10
Temp=77-80 F
pH=8.0
SG=1.005
As I watch her, I don't really knew the gender, just guessing, I don't like the look of the heater and filter.  I was wondering if I could put a 5 gallon sump under the tank.  I have heard of these used alot in marine tanks just never in a brackish.  I figured I would just check with you because you have helped me so much in the past.
<A sump can never hurt.  The larger, the better!  ~PP>
Thanks

FW water quality, puffer 8/9/05
Bob,
<Erik>
Update and 2 quick questions for you... My tank appears to be cycled. Ammonia and nitrites are zero. Nitrates are between 20 and 40 PPM. I did
a 50% water change yesterday to bring these down a bit. My tap water is not as loaded with Nitrates as I'd originally thought. Your comment made
me rethink my original tests so I did a control and tested straight tap water, only 5 PPM nitrates.
<Ahh>
But I did notice one strange anomaly, and I double checked it several times to be sure, my tap water does appear to
have ammonia in it! I did a control with distilled water, and of course it registered zero, the tank is registering just above zero, but less
than .25 PPM, way less. The test tube appears pure yellow until I put a control of distilled water next to it. You can then tell it has a very
slight green tint to it which indicates some level of ammonia. Am I correct in assuming that a control test of distilled water will always look a little purer than tank water?
<Generally>
There will always be trace amounts of ammonia in the tank because of waste that hasn't been converted by the bacteria yet correct?
<Umm, no... not detectable amounts in a completely cycled system>
Any way, I retested twice and yes, my tap water appears to contain between 1 and 2 PPM of ammonia!
<Trouble>
I'm going to try a different test kit, I find it hard to believe that the city would allow
such high levels. I don't drink tap water anyway but I worry about the fish and my cat. He'll get bottled water until I find out what's going on.
<A good idea>
Anyway, my important question is this... Is it normal for a Cholonodon patoca (Milk Spotted Puffer)
<Mis-spelled... Chelonodon: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=6610&genusname=Chelonodon&speciesname=patoca>
to spend quite a bit of time resting on the bottom?
<Yes>
When he moves, he's moving and healthy looking, but he rests quite a bit. I've seen you tell other puffer owners that they do this,
but there is very little info out there about my little guy. As passive as he is, I'd expect the Milk Spotted Puffers to be more popular.
Haven't seen him even threaten to fin nip his tank mates to date. I know this will change with age but he's pretty friendly right now, even
shares his food with the sharks! Salinity is about 1.008 and I am gradually bringing that up so as not to
hurt the other fish. Water temp is about 80 degrees F and the pH is about 7.6-7.8.
Thanks Again,
Erik
<Keep studying... prevention... Bob Fenner>

Protein Skimmer In A Brackish Tank 7/29/04
HI
<Hi there! Scott F. here today!>
I have 375L brackish aquarium with 2 Green Puffers, 4 Figure-Eight Puffers, 3 Monos and two Scats. Specific gravity is 1.016, PH 7.8. I have a questions: Do I need protein skimmer in my aquarium??
<Well, a protein skimmer is a great device that can provide numerous benefits for captive systems. In lower "brackish" specific gravities, skimmer efficiency might be limited. However, since you are indicating that your system is running at 1.016, a skimmer should work>
I'm thinking about WeiPro skimmer: SA-2012, SA-2013 and SA-2014. Which will be better?? Do you think that Atman AT-306 (2000l/h) will be enough for WeiPro SA-2013 skimmer? Please help me.
P.S. Sorry for my English
<Your English is fine! I have no personal experience with the skimmers that you are talking about, but my general rule of thumb is to go with the largest skimmer that you can practically run in your tank-and that you can afford! Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>