Porcupine Puffer with White Film over Eyes

[Laf-Reef]

Answers to the five questions:
1 pH=7.9 - 8.0, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20 salinity 1.025
2 120gal (48x24x24) with 30 gallon sump with a porcupine puffer and a sailfin tang
3 feeding krill and frozen raw shrimp, water changes 10 gallons per week, no additives
4 no changes
5 tank has been set-up for 5+ years - I've had the porc puffer for 4+ years and the sailfin for 3+ years

OK here's the deal. I was away for vacation and work and slacked on the water changes for about a month. On July 23rd the puffer was VERY pale and a way film covered his eyes. I tested the water and all parameters were as listed above except the nitrates were at 160. i immediately began doing 10 gallon water changes every 2 hours and by July 25 the nitrates were down to 20. Within a couple days the puffer's color returned however the waxy film on the eyse remains. Additonally the puffer has not eaten in 8 days......

The sailfin tang has not shown any negative signs thru all of this.

What should i do? Will the waxy film go away with time?

Thanks!

[energizerfish]

In a fully cycled tank, nitrates should not be at 0. When were the measurements taken that your nitrates showed 0?

[Laf-Reef]

that's a typo on my part.... Nitrates are 20

[sevenyearnight]

In a fully cycled tank, nitrates should not be at 0. When were the measurements taken that your nitrates showed 0?

This isn't true. My planted tanks have 0 nitrates, I have to dose KNO3. My marine tanks also have 0 nitrate. The sw bacteria is more efficient.
Also, they said their tank had been up for 5+ years, that's more than enough time to cycle and they expressed concern over high nitrates to begin with.

I can only suggest keeping up on water changes, I hope your puffer feels better. You could try some melafix, but the fresh water may help enough.

[Laf-Reef]

Thanks sevenyearnight - I'll continue with the water changes.

Has anyone else been through this with a porc?
Will the waxy film go away with good water and time?
Any suggestion on enticing the puffer to eat? Before this issue he would attack food instantly. Never a problem with eating.

Thanks

[chuckfriedrice]

I looked it up on the web but not 1 answer was the same !

[sevenyearnight]

I know they tend to not want to eat when they aren't feeling well, so hopefully with time he'll want to eat again.
I'm sorry I'm not more help, I've not personally had anything like this happen.

[Pufferpunk]

Without a very well functioning refugium & carbon dosing, it is virtually impossible to have 0 nitrate in a SW tank, especially holding such a large-massed, waste-producing fish as a puffer. You are on the right track though with the system you have set up for him. I just think water changes are in order. You can also try SW Melafix to heal the eye.

[RTR]

Will either of the fish take nori or any of the other dried seaweeds? Or take prawn/ghost shrimp which have been fed well with such foods? And/or do you vitamin-soak thawed foods before feeding? I worry about vitamins with any eye problems. Non of the above should do any harm and could help.

I do agree that it is not easy to get 0 nitrate with messy eaters and large fish in SW (or FW) but it can be done. I wish I had already been well along in testing plenum tanks when I had the T. mbu. Anything would have helped.

[sevenyearnight]

I'm not sure how available liquid fish vitamins are to you locally, but here is link to one online. I really like this brand, it seems to stimulate their appetites, not sure if it's just my perception or if it actually does this. You can add it to the water and soak his food in it.
http://www.bigalspets.com/Boyd-Vita-Che ... =salesrank

How is he doing btw?

[Laf-Reef]

Well he just ate for the first time in 10 days. He ate krill from feeding tongs. I had to just about stick them in his mouth but he definitely ate. I'm siked to see him eat! I wasn't counting but I'd guess he ate 6 or 8 krill.

[Pufferpunk]

It's great he'seating but krill is like puffer-crack. Very hard to get them to eat anything else & it causes lockjaw if fed long-term.

[Pufferpunk]

It's great he's eating but krill is like puffer-crack. Very hard to get them to eat anything else & it causes lockjaw if fed long-term.

[Laf-Reef]

I usually use krill as a supplement a few times a week. I tried it to see if he'd it eat and he did. Better than nothing.... I'm going to try a clam on a half shell later tonight.....

[chuckfriedrice]

Try a ghost shrimp and see if it eats that ! Theres always crayfish or crabs!