NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
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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chloemarie
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:19 pm
- Location (country): United States
Re: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
One more thing. What type of snails or shrimp of whatever should i get my puffers to trim down their teeth?
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Myaj
- Tech Team
- Posts: 4587
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:27 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Bubba, turgidus
Paris, lined burrfish - Location: SE Wisconsin
- Contact:
Re: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
Ramshorn or common pond snails.
Do not use any of the snails with really hard shells, like Malaysian Trumpet Snails ( the ice cream cone shaped ones ) or nerite snails, they can actually break teeth on them. There's an article in the library with some pictures I believe..
Do not use any of the snails with really hard shells, like Malaysian Trumpet Snails ( the ice cream cone shaped ones ) or nerite snails, they can actually break teeth on them. There's an article in the library with some pictures I believe..
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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: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
What did you use to fix your ammonia?
As for tooth-trimming, you can get any kind of snail. (A couple of people have reported that their puffers cracked their teeth on Malaysian trumpet snails, AKA MTSs, but I have also heard of many puffers doing fine with them, especially larger ones.) Ramshorns are prolific breeders and would do great in a snail jail. Shrimp - ghost shrimp and red cherry shrimp are great. Red cherries are expensive to start with, but they breed very quickly and save you money in the long run.
Whatever you choose, NEVER forget to quarantine live food for at least a week!
Edit - Oops, Myaj beat me to it!
As for tooth-trimming, you can get any kind of snail. (A couple of people have reported that their puffers cracked their teeth on Malaysian trumpet snails, AKA MTSs, but I have also heard of many puffers doing fine with them, especially larger ones.) Ramshorns are prolific breeders and would do great in a snail jail. Shrimp - ghost shrimp and red cherry shrimp are great. Red cherries are expensive to start with, but they breed very quickly and save you money in the long run.
Whatever you choose, NEVER forget to quarantine live food for at least a week!
Edit - Oops, Myaj beat me to it!
"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!
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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: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
Hmmm... I've used the newer formula of BioSpira that does not need refrigeration, and it immediately cycled my tank. I monitored the water parameters for about two weeks and nothing ever built up aside from traces of nitrates. Drs. Foster and Smith sent it to me without those little white (heat or cold?) packets they use to ship Dr. Tim's One and Only in. I don't know how they preserve it, but BioSpira seems to of gotten it right.Pufferpunk wrote:A small amount of gravel would only seed the cycle not complete it so quickly. Safestart seems to be hit or mis but is supposed to be the Dr Tim's recipe but since Dr Tim quit Marrineland they changed it up a bit & made it so it doesn't need refrigerating (not sure how that works though). I'm not saying your British stuff doesn't work (seems to) but we won't find it around here.
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pufferpuggirl
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 3979
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:04 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffs & Stuff:
1 x M Abei
1 x M Turgidus
1 x T Palembangensis
1 x M Baileyii
1 x T Schoutedeni
1 x T Leiurus
1 x T Miurus
Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
We used to have a good one over here called 'Bactinettes' made in Germany by Soll, and they were refrigerated. I used them a few times and they would immediately cycle the tank. The LFS that I deal with the most used to carry them but then the supplier (or possibly the manufacturer) wanted to raise the price from £5.99 to £9.99 for one treatment, and that's when the LFS stopped stocking it (unfortunately). I've not seen anything of it since then, but would love to see it come back again.
I've used another product, which happens to also be made in Germany (JBL products), and although it's not refrigerated (but does have a use-by date), it does seem to work, but just how I have no idea.
I've used another product, which happens to also be made in Germany (JBL products), and although it's not refrigerated (but does have a use-by date), it does seem to work, but just how I have no idea.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
Re: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
They've obviously come up with a new formula, none of them seem to need refrigeration any more.
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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: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
Dr. Tim's still does, and I think (?) Bio-Spira does too.
"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!
-
eieio
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1033
- Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:34 am
- My Puffers: *
The Congo Puffer:
"olivia"
and.......
The DP:
"cream puff"
RIP cream puff :-( - Location (country): U.S.A.
- Location: Prescott, Arizona
Re: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
the FAQ in Dr Tim's website says that it doesn't need refrigeration
"I plan ahead. That way, I don't have to do anything right now!"
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chloemarie
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:19 pm
- Location (country): United States
Re: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
Thanks for all your help. I haven't been online in a very long time... but everything is going great with my fish and their tank. No problems at all.
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32975
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: NEW OWNER! I NEED HELP FAST!
Ammonia-removing products are only a temporary fix. It does not address the initial cause of the ammonia: dead/rotting food or a fish or an uncycled tank.
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!"