LOL, that Petco guy's an idiot! Yes, keep doing 50% WC every day, until your ammonia/nitrite is remains 0. You'll add back a tbsp pf Epsom salt after the WC, unless your puffer takes a BIG poo. Did you get your own test kits?
don't worry about adding any marine salt right now.
Labored Breathing
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.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- 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
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DPs
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burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Labored Breathing
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!"
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allycat
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 3:38 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 x DP's in planted 20-hi
Divine, F
Cujo, M
2 x Irrubesco in divided 15-long
Rogue, F
Probation, M (lorteti??)
1 x 2.5 in GSP in 10G 1.020
Merck, ?
Also kept: 29 G FW juvie loach community, soon to be 55G!)
10G Misgurnus tank
2.5G snail breeder - Location (country): USA-Indiana
Re: Labored Breathing
signnet, you're doing really great! We all just want your puff to pull through. I'm pretty sure xray just meant that pet store worker didn't know what he was talking about, which is a tragically common occurrence in this hobby. Not your fault!
Peace,
Ally
Peace,
Ally
ask: is this suffering necessary or unnecessary?
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xrayjeeper83
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 4167
- Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 9:31 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka named Bloat
Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon - Location (country): USA
- Location: Orange Park, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
signnet that was nothing against you, you are smart enough to listen to us and not them. Unfortunately most employees at LFS(be it chain or mom/pop stores) are out to make a buck not help the fish, so they usually give bad advice
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
Ok, this is the third time I am trying to get this to come through. The comment(s) did not upset me, I was making a funny, lol. I cannot tell you how thankful I am to all of you for all you hae don to help my little one. Additionally, a HUGE THANK YOU to PUFFERPUNK for all your help and how you stuck by me throught the early morning hours and today, you are AMAZING!!!
I have the hydrometer, fun to use. A Liquid Nitrate testing Kit annd a seperate Liquid Ammonia test kit. I purchased the Marine Salt and also the Aragonite Sand. Can I use the sad now in the small tank after I change the water or is that a bad move? Got the epsom salt and aready put some in. Will put more in after the water change.
I purchase an AC 110. Cannot use it on this tank, too big. Will use it on the new one. Purchased an AC for a 5-20 gallon, but that will not work because the filter on the tank is built in and there is nowhere to put this one so I will use the 110 and the one for a 5-20 gal on the new tank.
I searched 2 pet stores for a Powerhead. All they had were ones for 50-100 gallon. No small ones. Any suggestions? When do I ue the Marine Salt purchased to mix water?
I also got thermometer to closely watch tan temp while this is going on. Temp right now is 78 degrees. Did I miss anything?
I have the hydrometer, fun to use. A Liquid Nitrate testing Kit annd a seperate Liquid Ammonia test kit. I purchased the Marine Salt and also the Aragonite Sand. Can I use the sad now in the small tank after I change the water or is that a bad move? Got the epsom salt and aready put some in. Will put more in after the water change.
I purchase an AC 110. Cannot use it on this tank, too big. Will use it on the new one. Purchased an AC for a 5-20 gallon, but that will not work because the filter on the tank is built in and there is nowhere to put this one so I will use the 110 and the one for a 5-20 gal on the new tank.
I searched 2 pet stores for a Powerhead. All they had were ones for 50-100 gallon. No small ones. Any suggestions? When do I ue the Marine Salt purchased to mix water?
I also got thermometer to closely watch tan temp while this is going on. Temp right now is 78 degrees. Did I miss anything?
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
OMG I put some Argonite Sand in and the water is all cloudy? Is this going to kill my Puffer?
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xrayjeeper83
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 4167
- Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 9:31 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka named Bloat
Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon - Location (country): USA
- Location: Orange Park, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
put some floss in your filter and it should clear up in a few days. It wont hurt your puffer
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
What's floss, is that the white stuff?
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- 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: Labored Breathing
I wouldn't bother with the sand right now, your most important task at hand is to get the parameters good & keep them that way, until you upgrade to the 45g.
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!"
-
signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
I have the lid open, I have the original filter system and just added the Aqua Clear for 5-20 gallon tanks to help. I cannot close the lid because the new AC Filter doesn't fit any spot on the tan so I have to leave the lid open. In the AC Filter I have a bag of Charcoal and the sponge. Should I take the charcoal out and just put in floss....I don't think I have floss.
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- 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: Labored Breathing
Yeah, you don't need the charcoal. Isn't there Biomax there too?
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!"
-
signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
The peramiters were still so high on the ammonia that I decided to take all of the rocks out and cean whatever was under them. Since I had done that, and I had the bag of argonite sand, I waited for a bit and started to put the sand in the tank, just enough to cover the bottom, then OMG it got really cloudy!!!! Is it supposed to do that, I didn't even get the whole bag in. Anyway, I decided that I needed to clear it up a little quicker so even though the 5-20 Aqua Clear doesn't fit, I clipped it to the front where the lid is and I have it running. It's clearing up a lot quicker. Both of the Puffers are swimming around and the one with the problem is playing (I assume) in the bubbles. When you say Biomax, is that the white rocks? Should I put that in? Or just leave the sponge in and take the charcoal out?
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- 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: Labored Breathing
Yep, it's usually a good idea to rinse that stuff really well. You have a few cloudy days ahead of you, I'm afraid. Filter floss/pillow stuffing can be bought cheap, at a sewing supply store.
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!"
-
signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
What about the Biomax, do I put that in? Ammonia down to .5 now. So use the sponge and the BioMax and don't add anymore sand?
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
It didn't say anything on the bag about rinsing the sand. Boy that stinks!
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signnet
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 2 GSP's
1 Orange Saddleback Fucca - Location (country): USA
- Location: Coral Springs, FL
Re: Labored Breathing
Right now there are two filters running on this little 10 gallon tank with 2 airstones. WOW!