GSP sick advise please

[Mzkrista]

Hello 1st off thanks in advance. I'll give you my parameters 1st...
2 Green Spotted puffers
50 gallon tank cycled 2 years ago with freshwater, tetras and glo fish
Sand bottom
14 Salinity
1.010 Gravity
Instant Marine to make water Brackish
General hardness 120
Carbonate hardness 120
PH 7.0
Nitrite (NO2) 0
Nitrate (NO3) 40
Ammonia 0
Hopefully thats all the parameters you need. Now my issue, I had my 2 GSP in a 30 gallon tank for 4 months in brackish water and sand bottom with water changes every 2 or 3 weeks. They have done very well and have really grown so I wanted to move them over to my other tank 50 gallon since they are so much bigger and I know that they need the space. The 50 gallon tank was cycled 2 years ago and had tetras and glo fish in it up to the day I wanted to move over the GSP's. I emptied the fresh water from the 50 gallon tank and added 1/2 of the water from the brachish tank and moved over the sand from the smaller tank to the larger one and added all the decor from there current one to the new one. I added fresh water with instant marine mixed good to the tank with the brachish water to the top I added aquasafe plus also to cut the chlorine in the water. (I used the current filter with the bacteria from the tetras ) and didnt change the filter. Waited 1/2 day and then added the GSP's to the new tank. The 1st day they were ok and the 2nd day I noticed the larger one sitting on the bottom hiding the entire day not eating with a black body. Worried I check the water again and everything the same as above. I thought it was just stress from the move. Now 3 days later today he is still not eating and still black and hiding. The other one is eating and white belly green body normal. I added some Nutrafin cycle to the water thinking maybe the Nitrate was a bit high and stressed out the fish since it says it cuts Nitrite (BTW he is a bit scared all the time and very shy normally) I forgot to add that I removed from the 50 gallon tank gravel and added the current sand from the puffers old tank. I hope I didnt remove all the good bacteria on the bottom of the tank. Since I added the nutrafin cycle the water is a bit cloudy so I'm hoping that will clear up if not should I do a 10% water change? So can you tell me what I have done wrong or give me some advise to help me please? I dont want the puffer to die. Gonna check the water again tomorrow. Hopefully its cleared up and the puffer will improve. Any advise is appreciated!

[jjj5311]

Biological filters can only handle a salinity change of .02 sg at a time, sounds to me like the rapid introduction of the brackish water might have killed off the biological filter be sure to test again soon. (the beneficial bacteria in the filter)

Someone with more experience will chime in with more info

[sevenyearnight]

Hopefully I've read your post correctly and these are your test results after you added the cycle. Those number would indicate that the tank is cycled, but the nitrate is too high. I have nothing to back this up, but I know cycle has had test results from people who have used it, and it's a theory that it only adds nitrate to the water to create an illusion of a cycled tank. So, if your tank was already cycled, then it would just raise the nitrates past the safe range. Again just a theory, but cycle is basically an unethical product as it doesn't appear to do what it claims.

Do a large water change immediately, 50% or more, and do another tomorrow. That should get your nitrates to 10 ppm in theory.

[sevenyearnight]

My guess is that the high nitrates and whatever they put in cycle is bothering your puffers, along with the stress of moving, they are very sensitive, moody. I suggest Prime by Seachem over your current conditioner, it's more effective and more encompassing.
Getting the nitrates and that nutrafin cycle out of the water should help them feel better.

[Srkoe]

The first thing that came to mind was the biological filter was basically killed off with the salinity change. Maybe adding some Dr. tims "one and only" might help get the bio-filter kicked off again. I'm sorry about your puffs. I agree with Seven...get some Prime...do some water changes...

[bertie 83]

I agree the bacteria were probably killed off. If you have the filter from the smaller tank run that in the 50g too. Or add the media to the 50g filter. And water changes as advised above. Weekly waterchanges of 50% are a must for puffertanks going forward

[sevenyearnight]

I would agree with that, but readings of ammonia and nitrite at 0, and nitrate at 40 aren't readings of a tank that's lost its bacteria.
It would have at least ammonia registering. I'd double check the parameters again, but 0 ammonia and nitrite, and 40 nitrate would indicate the tank has sufficient bacteria.
But, puffers are very sensitive, and 40 nitrate would be enough to make them feel crappy. They often don't handle being moved very well either, and will sometimes turn dark and hide, and refuse to eat. I suggest getting the nitrate under 20 ASAP, and monitor your parameters. Also, give them quiet time to adjust to their new home.
If your ammonia and nitrite do start to register on the test, then do daily water changes until they stay at 0 on their own.

[Pufferpunk]

Just to let you know--Cycle is nothing more than a bottle of dead bacteria, so in essence, you have added MORE waste (nitrate) to your system. In your case, I'd be doing 50% daily WC & see if that gets your nitrate down & your puffer feeling chipper again.

[Mzkrista]

Hi
Thanks for your advise I appreciate it! Last night I did a 50 % water change and checked my water again today the parameters are still the same so I'll do another 50 % today. I have good news though. The puffer Fatty McGigs (my son named him) that was sitting on the bottom and all black and hiding was swimming around happy and with a complete white belly and bright green. I was so happy. I put a little neck clam and some tiny snails in the tank and he came to investigate but didnt eat. He saw me looking at him and then hid (nothing new since he's a scaredy cat) Later on I saw him in the back of the tank giving me the evil eye with some black on him but white on the bottom. The top of his head is all bright green. The other one is normal and ate. I dont know whats the deal with him, some kind of stress of some sort. I did notice on the corner of his mouth on the right side its a little pink. Its so hard to get a close look at him since he's so elusive and plus he hates my guts. I wish I could get a picture to send to you. Think he's coming around but not sure. I cant believe that they sell cycle if its not worth it what a rip! I hate getting ripped off. BTW my water is not cloudy anymore. Anymore advise for me? Thanks so much!

[Srkoe]

Just to let you know--Cycle is nothing more than a bottle of dead bacteria, so in essence, you have added MORE waste (nitrate) to your system. In your case, I'd be doing 50% daily WC & see if that gets your nitrate down & your puffer feeling chipper again.

I thought Dr.Tims was the "good" stuff. The article that is stickyed in General Discussion says Dr. Tims is the same thing as Bio Spira...I'm so confused now. The reason I'm concerned is because my mom got a faulty Nano Cube and JBJ is sending her a new one. We will be moving everything over from the faulty one but I was concerned about loss of some of the Beneficial bacteria that the glass and such is holding. She ordered some Dr. tims to help replenish what is lost. Sorry to hijack, I'm just a bit confused and concerned now.

[Pufferpunk]

Neither will fair well at a SG of 1.010.

[Srkoe]

Okay, re-read and saw she added "cycle" to her aquarium...that's where that came from. I read this thread so late last night and wad half way asleep.

I'm happy to hear your puffs are doing better. I would keep doing small Water changes to get those nitrates down. Maybe his mouth got damaged during the move and that's why he isn't eating. Good to hear he has got his color back.

[sevenyearnight]

That's good news! Sounds like Fatty McGee is one of those moody puffers. Keep an eye on his mouth, hopefully with water changes that won't get infected. What are your nitrates now after the water changes? What kind of test are you using?
Just keep up with the daily water changes until the nitrates are down, then you can go back to weekly 50%.

[Mzkrista]

Fatty Mc Gigs is a moody guy or girl for sure. After the 2 water changes in 2 days he is again today after being black this morning back to white belly bright green body swimming around up and down and back and forth with a evil eye and hide every now and then when he sees me. To test my water I'm using API 5 in 1 aquarium test strips it tests ph, NO2, NO3, KH, GH. And to test my ammonia I'm using API ammonia test kit (dropper in test tube ) it tests NH3/NH4. My levels are like yesterday but the NO3 looks a little lighter in color but closer to the 40, maybe on its way to 20. Gonna test tonight My back is hurting from all these water changes! Thank you! Wanted to ask a question not pertaining to my tank but can fiqure 8's and GSP be kept in the same tank?

[Srkoe]

You should invest in all the liquid API tests...you can buy the whole kit. Strips are far from accurate.