Need Help Quickly- puffers having a hard time breathing!

[mrgreen]

I just tested my nitrites because of this and they are zero. In fact, I did a 50%+ w/c this afternoon. Salinity is 1.007ish. The PH is 7.4 - top of the kit, anyway. I haven't tested Amm. or trates because I just did a 30% w/c. My temp was 88. I had it up 86-88 and added aquarium salt because at least one of my puffs had ich. That's been several days now. I've also been adding melafix once a day. I've been doing a thorough gravel vaccuming. I've turned the heater off for now and the temp is 80 after the emergency w/c with cold water. The F8s are now breathing less quickly, but still not normally. They were at the surface gasping, before. I added two silver scats earlier today, too. I think maybe if it IS oxygen, then those two addied to the problem? My water has been cloudy for a few days, too. Otherwise, there are two adult guppies and many babies in the nursery net. I changed water conditioners, too, to API recently. I've also been feeding parasite by Jungle fish food in addition to the shrimp, etc. I've had the tank up for two months+ now. Its a 30-long. I cycled it with old filter media AND Tetra Safestart. Usually my tank is GREAT. I have had a brown algea bloom again, too. I'm thinking I should get a bubbler- would that help?

[LilGreenPuffer]

A bubbler should help.

Sorry I don't have a solution, but good luck.

[mrgreen]

I got a relatively inexpensive air pump. (Who knew they were so expensive?!) Now I have to WAIT an hour for the stone to get soaked enough. They are breathing normally now, I think. They were at the surface before gasping.

[Dadof4]

Bringing up the temperature increases metabolism and oxygen demand while also reducing the ability of the water to retain dissolved oxygen. The brown algae bloom could also possibly be diatoms, they can also use oxygen either while alive or during decomposition in the tank depending on the type. You are on the correct track with an air stone.

[mrgreen]

Everyone seems a lot happier now, even the babies. The bubbles will have to take getting used to, I think. Both F8s and the 2 scats have checked them out, but not a lot. Hopefully the puffs will go play in them!

I wanted to ask, too, can I stop with the high temps and aquarium salt for ich? Its been about a week plus the water changes.

[robert_hollis]

The ich article suggests to keep higher temp (80 or more) and salt for longer. I think it's 3 weeks. I kept mine at 82 w/ salt for a month just to be sure when my SAP had ich. The high temp plus added fish and medications probably created an oxygen issue... But that's just a guess on my part.

-Rob

[Pufferpunk]

I almost wiped out my entire discus tank (kept at 86 degrees), by adding Melafix & letting the filter intakes clog up with plant debris, lowering the O2 in the tank. You must be sure to have good water flow (air exchange), when using Melafix at high temps.

[mrgreen]

I've been treating like this for a week maybe. (I'd have to go look up my post.) Aquarium salt, plus 86, plus melafix. Right now its at 80 with the airstone going. I just read your article but I'm confused about how long for brackish tanks. Thanks.

[LilGreenPuffer]

The life cycle of ich is one month; you have to treat at least that long.

[SammyDee]

i would suggest getting a treatment without having to raise your temp. i se the dissolve tablets as directed and they work great. ive also learned on the forom any chemicals realy the puffers are sensitive to. they where gasping bc of not having the bubbler infact is crucial to fish survival especially in community tanks.

[trekenk]

i would suggest getting a treatment without having to raise your temp. i se the dissolve tablets as directed and they work great. ive also learned on the forom any chemicals realy the puffers are sensitive to. they where gasping bc of not having the bubbler infact is crucial to fish survival especially in community tanks.

SammyDee you still have a bit of learning to do on puffers. You might want to take a look at this link located in the learning library here, on the treatment of ick.

library/hospital/fwich/

[SammyDee]

i have treated ick twice in FW with these and work great i ll use till its all healed up and never had a prob since only times this happened is when i moved and the tank was exposed to the elements or ill use the bottled stuff which works in 48hrs without raising the temp. "Ick gaurd 2" for weaker scaleless fish.

[SammyDee]

its really just preference i just prefer to not raise the temp bc of algae blooms and plus u gotta make sure u do more water changes for a month and the water need to be extremely well oxiginated bc of the hgher temp. mainly more work and most ppl dont have the time.

[LilGreenPuffer]

It's more work, but it's a measure that MUST be taken. Ich medicines are not healthy for puffers and other scaleless fish.

[Pufferpunk]

Large (80%) water changes every other day when treating ich, is to remove the free-swimming cycts from the water column & eggs from the substrate. No getting around this!