How are you removing the water? Most people use a siphon with a gravel vaccuum, you plunge it into the gravel and the siphon sucks out all the "gunk" into the water flow to your bucket, and the gravel falls back down all clean and sorted out. Your tank shouldn't be all dirty with crap floating around in there after a water change.. maybe just a bit but not bad. If your gravel is as dirty as it sounds though, you're going to have to do some pretty heft gravel siphoning. You might be overfeeding quite a bit, too, if there's that much decaying matter in the substrate.
You are correct in not wanting to clean/scrub.. that's where the bacteria lives. If you do want to clean something, don't clean too many things in the same week.. do your glass one week, then maybe the next week a decoration, etc.
Do not remove the fish for water changes, they should enjoy them if they are being done properly.
Salinity is good.. don't raise/lower it more than .002 a week, or you can kill the bacteria, but you took it nice and slow.
Those tabs, I don't know what they are but probably bunk. Most products that you have to add on a scheduled basis to a normal tank are just trying to get you to spend the $$ on something because they've convinced you you need it.
Seeing as you are in Hong Kong, its going to be more difficult to help you find products that we can find in the US or UK.. but I think there are some members here from China that maybe could help. The big things you need though are very clean water (and if those 4 GSP's have to stay in there for any length of time, you'll probalby want to do daily water changes, not weekly).. and make sure that water is dechlorinated if they treat their water with chlorine/cholromines (I'm sure they do, Hong Kong is a big city) and match the temperature and salinity.
For deworming, there is an article in our library that can explain that to you, but I've found if you can get your hands on it, Geltek Ultra Cure PX is the best deworming medication.. it works really well and fish seem to love the flavor (most others must taste horrible). This stuff is a gel you just drip onto their food, quick, easy and it works.
A sick puffer. Can someone help?
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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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: A sick puffer. Can someone help?
The bacteria tabs can't work - it's physically impossible. It has to be wet.
Since you're having a mini-cycle, you shouldn't raise the salinity at all, even if it's been a week since the last time - wait for the tank to stabilize.
I siphon my tanks until I have gotten most or all of the goo out of the gravel. That usually means a big water change. 50% is the recommended minimum change for puffers, and it must be every week.
Since you're having a mini-cycle, you shouldn't raise the salinity at all, even if it's been a week since the last time - wait for the tank to stabilize.
I siphon my tanks until I have gotten most or all of the goo out of the gravel. That usually means a big water change. 50% is the recommended minimum change for puffers, and it must be every week.
"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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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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Re: A sick puffer. Can someone help?
I agree--stop using those "bacteria" tabs.
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!"
Re: A sick puffer. Can someone help?
The gravel is 3 cm at it's deepest. I washed it thoroughly when I started the tank. It looks just like a fine sediment of brown dust on the surface...easily kicked up when the gravel is agitated.
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kilofey
- Fahaka Puffer
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2 Dwarf puffers, but I had an 11" fahaka that I miss soo much!
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Re: A sick puffer. Can someone help?
first off, do you have a gravel vac for siphoning your tank at all? one that looks something like this http://tropicalfishkeepingguide.info/im ... vacuum.gif if not you will definatly need one asap... and its an absolute must. do you siphon your tank at all or do you just remove the water with a container like a cup or a bucket? there is no way to keep them alive if you dont clean up that junk on the bottom of the tank. it will build up and your cycle will go hay wire and they will die. what are your paramaters right now? a current water test will help everyone out so they will know a little better how to help you and what to reccomend.
just to give you and idea of how important it is to use a gravel vac.... i can gaurantee you, there is not a single person on TPF that would let their gravel accumulate a sediment so thick that it can be stirred up with slight water adgitation... we dont let that happen because its not healthy. PLS get a gravel vac.
just to give you and idea of how important it is to use a gravel vac.... i can gaurantee you, there is not a single person on TPF that would let their gravel accumulate a sediment so thick that it can be stirred up with slight water adgitation... we dont let that happen because its not healthy. PLS get a gravel vac.
"everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Re: A sick puffer. Can someone help?
If by water test you mean the salinity, pH, ammonia, and temperature parameters I put on my first post, then, well, they're there.
I will buy a gravel vacuum. I use a handheld battery powered water siphon to siphon the water and filter the sediment right now, but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick for the fine particles. I am sorry that no-one on this bb would let their sediment build up so much, but I am new at raising puffers and was turning to this bb for help. Thanks again for all your advice.
I will buy a gravel vacuum. I use a handheld battery powered water siphon to siphon the water and filter the sediment right now, but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick for the fine particles. I am sorry that no-one on this bb would let their sediment build up so much, but I am new at raising puffers and was turning to this bb for help. Thanks again for all your advice.
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CarmenH
- Fahaka Puffer
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Zephyr, ???Tetraodon nigroviridis??? - Location (country): Ontario, Canada
Re: A sick puffer. Can someone help?
I'm sure that wasn't meant to insult you, it was just meant to stress how incredibly important this is. Once you get one and see what is removed from your tank, you will understand 
Carmen
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, Giant mutant Tetraodon Nigroviridis???
Odie, Tetraodon biocellatus RIP
Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, Giant mutant Tetraodon Nigroviridis???
Odie, Tetraodon biocellatus RIP
Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP