What am I doing wrong?

[BubblePUffer]

try put 1 or 2 cheap fish in the tank, see that will survive or not.. long time ago, I got frirend that any fish put into the tank just die in a day or 2. He is a Doctor for Animal, then he decided to check his tank out and find out there is some kind of bacteria in the tank causing all the death even after he clean everything inside the tank... then he bleach everything from the tank to clean it out properly, after that all the fish that he put into the tank seem to find after that...

[andy]

To answer a few questions.

ChesapeakeSwellfish, the filter I am using is "built" into the tank therefore I can't give you a name. The tank that I am using is a 60 litre Biorb. The flow for the filter is generated by a Tetratec APS150. I don't think I have a problem with dissolved oxygen levels, but is there a way that I can check them?

x0rtrunks, I allowed the bag to float in the aquarium for about 20 minutes. During this period of time I twice added a small amount of my tank water to the bag. I then poured the water from the bag and the puffer into the tank. I was worried about using a net in case the puffer would inflate with air.

I don't think the journey from the LFS was excessively stressful. The bag containing the puffer was wrapped in a brown paper bag which I then placed into a cool bag in an attempt to maintain temperature. My partner then held the cool bag on her lap and compensated for bumps or excessive cornering forces.

The LFS didn't fill the remainder of the bag with oxygen, they just tied it. Should they have added oxygen?

[RTR]

Oxygen gas addition is not needed for most fish purchases unless the fish to quite large in relation to the bag or the trip is longer than an hour.

[Woland]

In my opinion you've done everything by the book.
The journey these wild-caught fishes does before ending up in the care of responsible Aquarists is terribly stressful and potentially lethal.
Weak and overly stressed puffers may be doomed.

[Hilly]

I dont know how effective a Biorbs filter sponge is going to cope with the waste produced by a puffer.

[andy]

Hilly, I did wonder about the filter. I have read the articles that suggest over filtration for puffers is beneficial. I thought that given the fact that the Biorb can cope with several fish, if I limit my tank to only one puffer and am regimental with my cleaning routine I would be OK. What is it about the filter that concerns you?

I had considered fitting another filter should the one fitted not be adequate. A canister filter that I can position outside of the tank would be preferable. Can you suggest a make and model for my 60 litre tank?

[Hilly]

Over filtration is recommended for puffers.

It's true the bi-orb can house several fish and if you see promotional pictures they are filled with guppies and tetras which dont get too big and arent messy eaters like a puffer.

The filter is essentially an undergravel, with the original gravel being the bio media for the bacteria.

The Biorb cartridge is the same one used in the 30litre version so I would imagine the pump isnt too much different so you've got twice the water with the same pump and filter media, I have a feeling it might struggle with the waste produced.

The problem with fitting an internal or external filter is the shape of bi-orb and getting the fittings to work for you inside the tank. I personally would like a bit more filtration than what the standard filter offers and i'm sure someone has got it to work its just a matter of finding out how.

[The Fisherman]

i keep my F8 in a 10 gal tank, with a fairly small filter (was my first puffer tank, didnt know at the time it was too small) , and a UG filter. the tank has been doing fine for nearly a year, although my F8 hasnt grown much in the last 6 months or so, so i plan on upgrading to a 20 long with much higher filtration.


yeah, sounds like you did everything correctly, i think it was just a bad batch of overly stressed puffers. i was lucky enough to find a F8 in great condition, although i am begining to wonder if he has parasites, because he hasnt grown more then 3/4" in the last year.

i hope you wont give up on puffers!

[andy]

Hilly, thanks for your response. I have already made modifications to my tank so the thought of fitting an external filter doesn't put me off....I already have an idea!

All along I have tried to carry out as much research as possible to ensure that I have a good tank setup. If this means that I need to fit an external filter than I will do this. I would much rather do this now before I have a puffer rather than later when it is more difficult.

I have had a look on the Internet and have shortlisted the following filters:-

TetraTec EX600
Hydor Prime 10
Eheim Ecco 2232
Fluval 104

Are these filters better suited? Can you or anybody else recommend one over another?

If I introduce an additional filter will I have to re-cycle my tank or will the new filter eventually cycle?

[Hilly]

Cool a modded biorb, what other mods have you made so far?

Fluval and Eheim are both good brands and have had good personal experience with both. If you go for a Fluval go for the 05 model its slightly improved over its predecessor. I cant speak for the other 2 as I have never used them.

You wouldnt have to recycle your tank as the bacteria would steadily build up on your new filter.

At then end of the day if you did add this external it could only improve the quality of your water. I hear what johns saying about UG and I still have them running fine; its the surface area at the bottom of the biorb that gives me a bit of concern on it providing good filtration for your puffer.

It sounds like you had already given this external a lot of thought already and if you can i'd go for it, you could start a craze of pimp my biorb, (no neon lights though)

if you sort it post some pics of your biorb pimping.

[andy]

Hilly, so far I have added a 100W heater rather than the standard 50W provided and replaced the standard air pump with a larger unit that has a higher flow rate.

I have also routed all the electrical cables and airline down the centre of the stand and covered them with a custom made stainless steel cover. This significantly improves the visual impact and it looks stunning. I am very happy with it at the moment, apart from the fact that I haven't got any puffers!

I will seriously consider fitting the external filter and I will post some pictures once finished.

I note that you have a F8 do you have any experience with South American Puffers? Do you think a single SAP would be a good idea in my tank? The only reason why I ask is that I am having difficulty finding puffers and need to keep my options open.

Thanks again for your help.

[Hilly]

I've not got a F8 mate, thats just my ranking, i've got a t.abei, plan on getting some more as one puffer just doesnt seem enough, this place is a real bad influence on my wallet. F8's are one of my favourites and hopefully ill keep one, some day. SAP's are nice too but you will probably have to do some dentistry on them as their teeth grow real quick. Have you read the SAP article in the library. Also check out http://www.pufferlist.com to see what others you could keep in your tank.

Like the mods, I do like bi-orbs they do look nice, almost tempted to get a biorb for my office now and do a bit of modding on it myself.

[YBeNormal]

Like the mods, I do like bi-orbs they do look nice, almost tempted to get a biorb for my office now and do a bit of modding on it myself.

Uh, where did you get the idea that mods like bi-orbs? I think most of us would kindly but sternly steer folks away from these novelty tanks--at least *I* would!

[Phaedrus]

I think he meant he likes the modifications, not that mods like the biorb.

[YBeNormal]

Ah, maybe so... Then I'd suggest that many of the mods would fully support the mods!