Labored Breathing

[Pufferpunk]

He's very sick & won't act better, until the spots are gone. I would only add the Melafix after every water change. You'll be doing 80% every other day, while vacuuming the substrate for free-swimming parasites.

[signnet]

Hi everyone, almost a week now. I put Malafix (1 tsp per 10 gal) in every day. I change the water 70% every other day, and when I change the water I put 27 tablespoons of marine salt in the tank (of course I wait until it is dissolved). As of yesterday, he is eating his snails again, back to being yellow. Tummy isn't completely white yet. But he is coming back to the winow of the tank to greet me again. Thank you Pufferpunk and everyone for saving my little guy. He is doing much better. Still see a smidgin of white dots on tail and tummy, but otherwise no other ich. I vaccuum everytime I clean the water. I have also been cleaning the media, wasn't sure if I had to, but did it anyway.

[sevenyearnight]

Yay!

[signnet]

Malafix says to put in tank for full seven days. As for the water changes.......the article pufferpunk sent me said to change every other day for a month. That's a lot......do I eally do that??????

Since I have been adding Marine Salt is that "brackish"??

[Pufferpunk]

You have to continue treating for ich for 2 weeks after the last spot is gone. The Melafix is to heal the damage done by the parasities to the skin/eyes/gills, so you could stop using that about a week after the last spot. I'd only add it on the day you do the WC.

[Pufferpunk]

Great job getting him better!!! You have to continue treating for ich for 2 weeks after the last spot is gone. The Melafix is to heal the damage done by the parasities to the skin/eyes/gills, so you could stop using that about a week after the last spot. I'd only add it on the day you do the WC.

[signnet]

Hi everyone,

What a long haul it has been but well worth it. My puffer, "PufferPunk" is doing wonderful and is in a "Full" saltwater tank.!!! It's been a job. I wanted to tell everyone what a wonderful wealth of information you all have been! I couldn't have done it without you. My tank looks beautiful and the GSP is loving it.

On another note, in a SW Tank, why do I keep getting brown algea on the sand? Every two weeks I am cleaning the tank on the glass and sand from this algea. Is this just the nature of the beast in SW Tanks?

What other types of fish can I put with a puffer??? This is a 45 gallon tank.

[xrayjeeper83]

So happy the hear all is well

Is it algae or diatoms?

[sevenyearnight]

Diatoms are algae. But it sounds like diatoms none the less. Welcome back!
It's part of the new set up. Over time it will pass.

[sevenyearnight]

What are you using for a water source? Diatoms need silica in order to form their shells.

[xrayjeeper83]

oh I think algae as a plant, and since diatoms have shells I dont think of that as a plant.
But learn something new everyday

[sevenyearnight]

Brown diatoms are a unicelullar algae/phytoplankton, their cell wall is made of silica.

[xrayjeeper83]

oooohhhhhhh

[signnet]

Ok, first thanks again for helping keep my little one alive. Secondly, my water source is tab water. I use the Prime. I read up on what you called it and it says, if I understand it, it's a tuype of Algae. It says to not give it a lot of light or purchase a protein skimmer or leave it alone and it will eventually balance out. Am I right?

P.S. Nobody said what other saltwater fish can be with a puffer.

[Pufferpunk]

Your fish has a really cool name!