Since I've had them they have been kept in FW, and I just recently bought instantocean marine salt and a hydrometer to change to BW, and I've read that the algae eater would be able to survive BW conditions. My first question is, how would I go about converting the water with the fish already in the tank? I don't have a separate tank in which I can place them while I add salt to their main tank, so my only real option is to add salt to their existing tank without removing them. What would be the safest way to do this? I've read mixing the salt in water in a separate container until it dissolves and then slowly adding the water into the tank, but I wanted to be sure that this was a safe method.
I have one more question, one of the GSPs has had a dark belly for several days now, and was resting at the bottom of the tank acting very sluggish. I tested the water for ammonia and it had none, but I did a 50% water change immediately to be sure. Shortly after, the puffer started acting less sluggish and swimming around the tank once more which I thought was a good sign. However his tummy remained dark. What I have noticed however, is that when I shut off the tank light for the night, and I check back on him 15 or so minutes later, is that his belly clears right up, to a milky white! This only seems to happen in the dark after the tank light has been turned off for a while. My question is could it be the tank light that is causing him to stress? And if so, are there any other tank light setups that anyone might be able to recommend that perhaps are for more sensitive fish? The light I'm currently using is the light bulb that came with the tank package, it doesn't seem to say anything about wattage on the bulb. Any ideas?
Thank you! Your help would be greatly appreciated!
