The Puffer Forum

Thanks for the information and replies this really is an excellent forum. Sounds as though I am doing everything that I ought to. I will be asking for further help once I start adding marine salt. Thanks again.

Andy

After the unfortunate deaths of two F8s and all the support you gave me, I have spent the last three months redesigning my tank stand and have installed an external canister filter and recycled. Three weeks ago I finally bought another F8 and I am now the proud owner of a very healthy F8 called &quo...

Hilly, so far I have added a 100W heater rather than the standard 50W provided and replaced the standard air pump with a larger unit that has a higher flow rate. I have also routed all the electrical cables and airline down the centre of the stand and covered them with a custom made stainless steel ...

Hilly, thanks for your response. I have already made modifications to my tank so the thought of fitting an external filter doesn't put me off....I already have an idea! All along I have tried to carry out as much research as possible to ensure that I have a good tank setup. If this means that I need...

Hilly, I did wonder about the filter. I have read the articles that suggest over filtration for puffers is beneficial. I thought that given the fact that the Biorb can cope with several fish, if I limit my tank to only one puffer and am regimental with my cleaning routine I would be OK. What is it a...

To answer a few questions. ChesapeakeSwellfish, the filter I am using is "built" into the tank therefore I can't give you a name. The tank that I am using is a 60 litre Biorb. The flow for the filter is generated by a Tetratec APS150. I don't think I have a problem with dissolved oxygen le...

Peregrine, thanks for your detailed response. I carried out a fishless cycle by spiking Ammonia levels to 4ppm. This took 30 drops of Ammonia solution. Once Ammonia levels started to drop I re-added Ammonia solution but half the dosage hence 15 drops. I maintained this dosage on a daily basis and wa...

The Ammonia that I am using is household Ammonia which I purchased from my local DIY store Homebase. I have checked the ingredients and all that is listed is "Ammonia solution 9.5%". When I researched fishless cycling I was aware that some household Ammonia products can contain other addit...

Pufferpunk, I appreciate that measuring parameters will not cause stress. I tried to leave the F8 alone and not disturb it unnecessarily hence the reason why I didn't take measurements on Sunday. I guess after my first puffers death I have become paranoid!

Thanks Fisherman, I do care for my fish and have tried to do as much research before purchasing the F8 to avoid the problems I have been having! Although I agree that it could be put down to a dodgy batch at the LFS, I am concerned that I have now had two on separate occasions from the same batch an...

Peregrine, thanks for your response. To answer your questions:- I measured the parameters on Saturday afternoon at 4.30pm before introducing the F8. Ammonia and Nitrite were 0ppm and Nitrate 10ppm. I didn't measure the parameters on Sunday for fear of causing stress, but measured on Monday at about ...

After my last post "guilt ridden, first death" I went back to the same LFS on Saturday and bought another F8. Unfortunately this little fella also passed away on Monday. I was really devastated as I thought that given all the positive feedback you had given me, plus the fact that the puffe...

Thanks again for all the help. I have some further questions:- 1) I have had difficulty finding LFS that stock F8's. I had to wait 3 months before I purchased my doomed specimen. Some LFS's have said that they are seasonal. Is this correct? Is there a good or bad time to obtain them? 2) Given the fa...

Thank you all for your kind words of support I didnn't think I had done anything wrong, but it is nice to have this confirmed by experts. x0rtrunks you ask whether I poured the water from the LFS into the tank, I did do this. Could this have caused the problem? I have a few further questions. 1) Whe...

After months of research, planning and preparation I finally bought my first f8 puffer on Saturday morning. Unfortunately he passed away on Sunday evening and I am now guilt ridden and unsure whether his death was caused by something I did or didn't do or whether it was just a case of bad luck. I wi...