The Puffer Forum

\Oh then he is going in the right direction. Sorry that I got in here alitle late. Yeah a SG measurement needs to be done. But dropping the SG to fast could cause problems also. So slowly dropping it should be done. Right, I understand that. I asked PP would the 20% daily be okay even with the salt...

He really should be in the 125 to avoid stunting and other problems. However, in most 125s the front to back of the aquarium is only 18 inches, and this isn't enough turn around rate. Anyway, salt doesn't make them itch, but it could have been burning/irritating his skin, and therefore was scratchi...

First, I am curious. Why was your fahaka in a 29 gallon? Also, why is it in the 65 gallon now, instead of a bigger tank? I would assume the scratching your fish was doing at first was because of the salt you were adding. Your fahaka is going to need really clean water to get better of course. You s...

You said that you added the water and filter pad in before you put in the fahaka, how long was the time between? If it was more then a few days you got to feed the bacteria by putting in fish food. There were 12 african cichlids in the water about 5 minutes prior to me putting the puffer in. The sa...

Did you wait the 30 seconds (minimum) before putting liquid two in, after liquid one, and shake the bottles. Nitrates will not register in the tubes unless the directions are followed. Plenty of people thought theirs were at 0, and weren't. Also, what's the expiration date on the test kit? I am not...

The NitrAte test results aren't purple, or blue, that's the nitrite ones. Nitrate is the one with two liquids, and when you test for it, you must first shake the holy crap out of the bottles, then put liquid 1 in. Then you have to wait 30 seconds (NO LESS, AT ALL) and then put liquid 2 in, or else ...

The level of salt has been consistent. When I say 1-3, I guess I was implying the range of what people typically put in when they have a sick fish. Also I don't know how it was implied my tank wasn't cycled to begin with. It was. As far as low nitrates, the color "light blue" and the colo...

If the ONLY ingredient is garlic, then yes. I'd use some water, too. If there's garlic juice in that can, then use that. The reason folks questioned whether your tank was cycled or not, is because an established system shows nitrate. It comes from the breakdown of ammonia/nitrite. Yup, I know. A lo...

What was his favorite food before he stopped eating? Soak that food for a couple of hours in crushed garlic cloves & try feeding him again. After you get him eating, keep using the garlic soak & add the Jungle Parasite Clear to the soak. Interesting. Will minced garlic in a can work? Should...

Not brackish at all. They come from African rivers (not estuaries) and lakes. Start reducing the salt gradually. Doing it too quickly will kill your beneficial bacteria. I'm not sure how to tell you how slowly to do this, exactly, since you're not measuring specific gravity or salinity. Someone els...

J-P wrote:1/2 daily ....

No, not daily. I did the 1/2 change I felt was necessary yesterday. Misunderstanding.

I don't know if a tank can "uncycle" on its own. It may have mini cycles but that is normal. The infection itself looks bacterial in nature, but don't take my word for it. It could be fungal. You'll have to be patient and let one of the higher ups chime in. A 50% water change would due go...

The nitrates are probably low because of the lack of food being put in the tank, since he doesn't eat any of it, thus the difficulty in medicating the food. Also I was under the impression fahaka puffers were brackish. no... what kind of salt were you adding and how much? Instant Ocean brand. Amoun...

how long had the 65 gal been set up before the transfer? How was the tank cycled (step by step)? The 65 gallon was 100% happily established before he was put in. I had a setup of african cichlids in there before him. Here's a few shots of what it looked like a day before he was put into it http://i...

Agreed, probably the tank isn't cycled the water column itself has very little beneficial bacteria in it, you need to move over decor or filter pads. Also you need to treat the food and not the water because fw fish don't drink water. Use jungle fizzy tabs a quarter of the tab and soak for at least...