So I'm going to get a puffer fish...

Squeezing gunk into my tank filter, getting more plants (and of course actually giving them light) getting rocks from my pond, etc. But the next sale from the LFS that I trust is in October, so I could try any cycling method I please.
 
...so I could try any cycling method I please.

What are you trying to cycle? The tank? It appears to be cycled already, but it can only handle the bioload of what you have in it right now.

When you say you could try any cycling method you please, you can't really do a fishless cycle now because you already have fish.. I'm not sure exactly what you're talking about, could you explain please?

You seem to be trying to listen to everyone and do this right as of now, and that is definately the way to do it.
 
Too many cooks...
I guess I might as well just bring up the bacteria level by adding a guppy to the tank every 1 or 2 days. Even if I added the bacteria from the pond, the tank would still go through a cycle. I have enough time, and I think the sale will start in mid October. I just want to see how I can bring the bacteria up with out stressing the puffer. After all, I would take out everything after the fish comes. I have added 2 juvenile ghost shrimp in there (1 cm in length) that the gobies try to eat every now and then, but the shrimp will leave them alone.













BAD NEWS:
I think about an hour or a few minutes ago, one of the gobies died. I don't know how, because I tested for nitrates and ammonia and they're fine. I think the other one was harassing it too much. ;_;
 
I forget, what kind? Were they 2 males? If you do the gupppy thing, you'll have to catch them all before you add the puffer.
 
I forget, what kind? Were they 2 males? If you do the guppy thing, you'll have to catch them all before you add the puffer.
Ok, I have a bunch of gambusia in my pond but I can still get guppies. Will gambusia work?
 
Added more anacharis and yesterday I added a gambusia and filled up the tank and moved it.
 
Will upload pics later.
I currently have 3 gambusia, 1 ghost shrimp, and a bumblebee goby in there that I sparingly feed. How many gambusia do I need to equal the bio-load of a puffer? I need help.
 
AquariaCentral.com