i can't get my levels under control.
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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AshleyR
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:34 pm
- Location (country): Long Island New York, USA
i can't get my levels under control.
Hello everyone, I have a 30 gallon puffer tank with three tiny "leopard" puffers. Originally I purchased two since it was buy one get one. Two days later one passed away. He didn't seem to adapt correctly from The time I brought him home. He wouldnt eat and just layed at the bottom lathargic. The remaining puffer seemed very sad and kept swimming in circles around his friend when I found him. I went back to buy another and now have three. After doing some research and talking to the LPS I've come to think they are green spotted puffers. I have had them now for about a month and my levels have been out of control. Originally I was doing daily water changes and adding prime but the guy at the lsp told me to leave it be for a few days. After checking it again and continuing my water changes they are still crazy. As of now my levels are reading 7.6 ph .05 ammonia 5.nitrite and 160 nitrate. I just did a 10 gallon water change. Everyone is eating and swimming around but seem stressed. One is even completely black. I don't know what else to possible do. Help!
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Pufferpunk
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Re: i can't get my levels under control.
![[welcome]](./images/smilies/welcome.gif "welcome")
I assume your LFS guy didn't ask if those 3 puffers were going into a cycled tank?
You've got lots of reading to do!
library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
library/water-filtration/fishless-cycling/
library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/
library/water-filtration/aquariummicrobespart1/
library/water-filtration/aquariummicrobespart2/
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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AshleyR
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:34 pm
- Location (country): Long Island New York, USA
Re: i can't get my levels under control.
The tank was cycled for about a month prior to adding the fish. Everything was good until the second week I had the fish in then it went haywire.
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sgtmyers88
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Re: i can't get my levels under control.
Time to do a 90% water change and add this to your filter. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32416 Also continue to use Prime.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
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eieio
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Re: i can't get my levels under control.
cycled how?AshleyR wrote:The tank was cycled for about a month prior to adding the fish. Everything was good until the second week I had the fish in then it went haywire.
at this point, levels are toxic.
do major (50%) frequent water changes with Prime de-chlorinator.
what kind of test kit are you using?
"I plan ahead. That way, I don't have to do anything right now!"
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AshleyR
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:34 pm
- Location (country): Long Island New York, USA
Re: i can't get my levels under control.
I added that to the tank. Hopefully all goes well. I cycled it with filter pads from another aquarium in my house Fishless cycle.
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AshleyR
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:34 pm
- Location (country): Long Island New York, USA
Re: i can't get my levels under control.
I am using an api freshwater tube test kit. I even brought a sample up to pet warehouse last night to have them check it and his reading were the same as mine.
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bertie 83
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Re: i can't get my levels under control.
If you add media from another tank it needs to be fed to keep the bacteria present. Add safestart to your filter, do regular waterchanges with prime, big waterchanges. Finally you will need a much larger tank if you are going to keep all three.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly