arg.... I'm retesting the tank now after the w/c. Its already come up higher than zero for nitrite and its still got a few more minutes to go. LFS said I should have more than enough bacteria in my filter by now. What gives?
Nitrite is .25
Ammonia is 0
Nitrate is 5
Would another water change fix it?
Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
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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mrgreen
- Fahaka Puffer
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- Contact:
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Another water change would be good. Do you use an ammonia-detoxifying dechlorinator? That will help if any more ammonia builds up in the next 24hrs.
Re-check the salinity. Perhaps you did your math wrong or mixed wrong and killed the bacteria?
Re-check the salinity. Perhaps you did your math wrong or mixed wrong and killed the bacteria?
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
-
mrgreen
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:17 pm
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Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
I have checked it pretty religiously and it was 1.008 after my last change today. I use NovAqua+ I just looked at the bottle and didn't see that written. Just checked again - SG is 1.008.LilGreenPuffer wrote:Another water change would be good. Do you use an ammonia-detoxifying dechlorinator? That will help if any more ammonia builds up in the next 24hrs.
Re-check the salinity. Perhaps you did your math wrong or mixed wrong and killed the bacteria?
I had asked about new filter media at the lfs and he said he didn't think that would help, even though I've bought some for that same reason before from him. Well, to recycle.
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
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EscVelocity
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:13 am
- My Puffers: None yet. Soon to be 1M and 2f dwarf puffers.
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Awe, sorry to hear about your lil guy. 
Maybe you should dismantle your filter and clean it out with tank water. Could be something rotting in there and leaching an overwhelming amount of ammonia?
Maybe you should dismantle your filter and clean it out with tank water. Could be something rotting in there and leaching an overwhelming amount of ammonia?
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mrgreen
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 983
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- Contact:
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Yeah that was my next thought. 
Thanks
I just did yet another water change.
Thanks I just did yet another water change.
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
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mrgreen
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:17 pm
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2 figure 8s: Escalator & Elevator - Location (country): United States
- Location: Michigan, USA
- Contact:
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Oh my god.... My filter is GROWING stuff! I rinsed most of this out in tank water. I'll recheck the levels tomorrow. After two water changes today and a small one for the rinsing, its hard to believe it won't be better.
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
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Jivenjune
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:30 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: (2) GSPs in a 60 gallon.
- Location (country): California.
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
That is just creepy.mrgreen wrote:Oh my god.... My filter is GROWING stuff! I rinsed most of this out in tank water. I'll recheck the levels tomorrow. After two water changes today and a small one for the rinsing, its hard to believe it won't be better.
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Frankly, it looks normal to me. My filter has a pretty heavy algae buildup on the output. Sometimes I pull it off and feed it to the otos.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
-
mrgreen
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:17 pm
- Gender: Female
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2 figure 8s: Escalator & Elevator - Location (country): United States
- Location: Michigan, USA
- Contact:
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Well it shouldn't surprise me, I guess. The whole tank has quite a bit- especially after a month at 86!LilGreenPuffer wrote:Frankly, it looks normal to me. My filter has a pretty heavy algae buildup on the output. Sometimes I pull it off and feed it to the otos.
I'm going to recheck levels later today. Got get going now.
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
-
mrgreen
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 983
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:17 pm
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- My Puffers: 1 dwarf puffer: Squirt
2 figure 8s: Escalator & Elevator - Location (country): United States
- Location: Michigan, USA
- Contact:
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
So I've let it sit until tonight and crossed my fingers. Here are the numbers:
PH 7.6
Amm. 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Temp 80
SG 1.007
MUCH better than at first and better than last time I tested. Woot!
PH 7.6
Amm. 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Temp 80
SG 1.007
MUCH better than at first and better than last time I tested. Woot!
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
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Lil' Swimz$
- Mbu Puffer
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- Location: Wisconsin
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Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Good! Sorry to hear about 9ball. I enthuasize by dropping them in freezing ice water.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
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mrgreen
- Fahaka Puffer
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- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:17 pm
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- Contact:
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Oh god! That's got to be horrible. A huge shock and your heart stops. I guess its quick, though, at least.Lil' Swimz$ wrote:Good! Sorry to hear about 9ball. I enthuasize by dropping them in freezing ice water.
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
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pufferpuggirl
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Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
I think I'd rather know they go to sleep and then die. Seems kinder to me.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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qtrhorse89
- Figure 8 Puffer
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Hikaru- Figure Eight Puffer - Location: North Carolina
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Sorry to hear about your puffer mrgreen, glad the tank parameter are looking better though.
"Okay. You! Out of the Gene Pool!"- Don't know who said it but I enjoy using it
I'm learning that puffer fish are like pringles. There is no such thing as only wanting one.
Tanks:
38 gallon: 1 Figure 8 puffer, 1 Dragon Goby, 1 Knight Goby, 3 Black Mollies
30 gallon: 1 Blue Acara, 1 Bristlenose Pleco
120 gallon: Ratchet the Fahaka Puffer
I'm learning that puffer fish are like pringles. There is no such thing as only wanting one.
Tanks:
38 gallon: 1 Figure 8 puffer, 1 Dragon Goby, 1 Knight Goby, 3 Black Mollies
30 gallon: 1 Blue Acara, 1 Bristlenose Pleco
120 gallon: Ratchet the Fahaka Puffer
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Myaj
- Tech Team
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- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Bubba, turgidus
Paris, lined burrfish - Location: SE Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: Oh NO!! I thought he was dead but he isn't ACK
Gross looking stuff in a filter is pretty normal.
For future reference, a simple way to put a fish to sleep if you don't have many other options is to put them in a bowl of their tank water, and put it in the freezer. Leave it there overnight to freeze solid. This way they cool down gradually and just basically their system shuts down (remember, they are cold blooded animals, not warm blooded, so their bodies don't fight the cold, they just slow down/shut off). That is probably the least traumatic way to do it, if you don't have an overdose of sedation available.
Dropping them in the freezing water probably works faster, but I guess I just think gradually is a little less stressful for everyone involved, plus the freezer is a dark, quiet place.
For future reference, a simple way to put a fish to sleep if you don't have many other options is to put them in a bowl of their tank water, and put it in the freezer. Leave it there overnight to freeze solid. This way they cool down gradually and just basically their system shuts down (remember, they are cold blooded animals, not warm blooded, so their bodies don't fight the cold, they just slow down/shut off). That is probably the least traumatic way to do it, if you don't have an overdose of sedation available.
Dropping them in the freezing water probably works faster, but I guess I just think gradually is a little less stressful for everyone involved, plus the freezer is a dark, quiet place.
