To start:
Ammonia : 0
Nitrites : 0
Nitrates : 10
pH : 7.8
SG : 0.012
Temp: 78F
Tank Size: 29 Gal
Auqa Clear 50 HOB Filtration
Feeding: Frozen Brine Shrimp / Blood Worms / Marine Mixture of Muscles,shrimp, and others...
Cleaning: About 30% Weekly
Basically the last month the tank has gotten a green cloudy, and Brown Algae is horrible in this tank. So I cut back on feeding to every other day and shut the lights off earlier. Then I tried API's Algae Destroyer (One Week Ago). Wow, it took the green cloud out fast! But left me with a white cloud... Oh, No. So a 70% Water change, with Gravel-Vac and new filter element later and I noticed Puffer wasn't hungry the next morning, or the next three mornings. By the third day his belly had began turning a greyish brownish. I tested the water: Ammonia: .25ppm (all other parameters as they are now) The tank is still partially cloudy but I can see through it better after a cleaning again today. and the ammonia seems to be back to 0ppm.
I went to the store, came back, and found Puffer hanging in between the tank wall, and the heater power cord. My presence scared him out of there. So I've Put him in a Fry breeding net to keep him from hurting himself.
I think the Algae Destroyer might have killed some bacteria? A member on Aquarium Advise concurred this might be the case, and suggested not feeding him for a few days, but he was the only member to help me, so I quickly remembered about my membership here! I can understand the less than ideal tank conditions stressing him, I just don't know what to do from here. He still seems active, just a bit more laying around than normal.
GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Last edited by thetmaxx on Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looking Sickly.
What was the sg at after you did the 70% water change? The fast change in sg may be causing this. did you change the biomax in the aquaclear?
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looking Sickly.
Ahh, Forgot to mention that... It's hard for me to get this timeline strait because it feels like so many critical things happened in a short time. I think Puffer's first day of not eating was the morning of the water change, the water change was performed that evening, and I did run out of salt and could only get the SG to 1.010 so it would have been about a .002 drop.
In the AuqaClear I had the Filter Foam, AC, and BioMax. The AC is no longer active, but is still in there. I usually give the Foam Pad a good rinse every 4-5 weeks. This time I changed it, but left the AC and the BioMax. I was planning on Changing the BioMax in a week or so, to keep from getting rid of all the bacteria. Admittedly, This tank had been running for about 8-9mo. and That's the first maintenance I've done for the AquaClear. BioMax helps with Ammonia Right? Should I go on about my plans and still change the BioMax since it seems the tank has balanced back out?
In the AuqaClear I had the Filter Foam, AC, and BioMax. The AC is no longer active, but is still in there. I usually give the Foam Pad a good rinse every 4-5 weeks. This time I changed it, but left the AC and the BioMax. I was planning on Changing the BioMax in a week or so, to keep from getting rid of all the bacteria. Admittedly, This tank had been running for about 8-9mo. and That's the first maintenance I've done for the AquaClear. BioMax helps with Ammonia Right? Should I go on about my plans and still change the BioMax since it seems the tank has balanced back out?
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looking Sickly.
OK, this morning, I turned on the light, and he is floating on the surface, very lifeless!! I Moved around a little, and I think it was more accident, but ate about 3 brine shrimp, I was watching him, and he reached out of the water, took a breath and then floated there just like he was dead. I blew on him a little, and he drifted to the edge of the net and hit it like a dead fish floating. Then he let out his breath, and swam in a circle and did it again! Does this mean anything?
I fear he will be dead by the time I get home from work. I can't believe I will loose him after a year! I can't check this until after work, about 9 hrs from now.
Thanks.
I fear he will be dead by the time I get home from work. I can't believe I will loose him after a year! I can't check this until after work, about 9 hrs from now.
Thanks.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Have you been testing the parameters daily? What are they now? I never change out my BioMax.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Yes I have been testing this entire week. The ammonia stayed at .25 (slight greenish in the API Liquid test kit) for about 2-3 days, and is now a yellow (zero ppm)
I Just got home, and checked:
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 15ppm
pH: 7.8
Puffer did make it, but looks sicker than ever. He's not controlling himself well, he comes up and gasps for air then holds his breath for a second, and lets it out. I noticed his skin doesn't look good, it's got like green patches (darker than his normal patterns) of almost like mold, and very small short (2mm) white stringy things coming off him. (I've never gotten this close of a look as he usually hides, maybe it's normal?) Anyways I'm wondering if meds are in order or what?
Tank still looks pretty cloudy, but aren't my parameters good? How could it still be cloudy after these water changes? Or not still be, but to not be improving in clarity...
I Just got home, and checked:
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 15ppm
pH: 7.8
Puffer did make it, but looks sicker than ever. He's not controlling himself well, he comes up and gasps for air then holds his breath for a second, and lets it out. I noticed his skin doesn't look good, it's got like green patches (darker than his normal patterns) of almost like mold, and very small short (2mm) white stringy things coming off him. (I've never gotten this close of a look as he usually hides, maybe it's normal?) Anyways I'm wondering if meds are in order or what?
Tank still looks pretty cloudy, but aren't my parameters good? How could it still be cloudy after these water changes? Or not still be, but to not be improving in clarity...
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Pufferpunk
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T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
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suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Is he in QT or is that his main tank?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Main Tank. I'm very low budget, and have a lack of funds for a QT Tank in addition to my 55G FW and this 29G BW.
I've just got him in the net for safety. But I don't think it's going good. he's lying on the bottom lifeless. Not breathing. If I disturb the net, he flips his fins a bit, then falls back to the bottom. I wish I knew why I am screwing up on Puffers, my last Fig. 8 died after 1.5 yrs.
Thank you for your help.
I've just got him in the net for safety. But I don't think it's going good. he's lying on the bottom lifeless. Not breathing. If I disturb the net, he flips his fins a bit, then falls back to the bottom. I wish I knew why I am screwing up on Puffers, my last Fig. 8 died after 1.5 yrs.
Thank you for your help.
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Pufferpunk
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T miurus
A modestus
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C valentini
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C papuan
C lorteti
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suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Something's definately going on. Does he perk up after a water change?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Looking back I would say over the last four weeks, he has not been perking up after water changes, more of a lying around a lot, and hiding in his little cave. And I'm not even sure he has been too perky about food in the last 2 weeks. Life gets away, and so busy, I recently had to start a new job after being fired, all kinds of things going on with family and such, by the time I noticed an abnormality it is too late.
I'm Off to bed now, I gave his net one final poke, and I believe he has passed. I'm very upset about the loss of my puffer fish. There is something in me that is bound and determined to get puffer keeping right, and try again, but something in me that wants to quit the hobby all together.
Never the less, I would like to know what has gone wrong so next time I wont have problems like this. I felt like I learned a lot when caring for my Fig. 8 puffer, and I've learned more with the GSP, but not enough.
Am I right to believe the water has turned cloudy due to a lack of cleanliness in the tank? But for me anyways, I think 30% PWC weekly, and monthly rinsing of the filter media, as well as I've monitored the water's parameters since always, and they've always been like they are now. I move the decor and clean under it. I just want to locate me error.
Thanks for the help!
I'm Off to bed now, I gave his net one final poke, and I believe he has passed. I'm very upset about the loss of my puffer fish. There is something in me that is bound and determined to get puffer keeping right, and try again, but something in me that wants to quit the hobby all together.
Never the less, I would like to know what has gone wrong so next time I wont have problems like this. I felt like I learned a lot when caring for my Fig. 8 puffer, and I've learned more with the GSP, but not enough.
Am I right to believe the water has turned cloudy due to a lack of cleanliness in the tank? But for me anyways, I think 30% PWC weekly, and monthly rinsing of the filter media, as well as I've monitored the water's parameters since always, and they've always been like they are now. I move the decor and clean under it. I just want to locate me error.
Thanks for the help!
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32979
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
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T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
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Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
White cloudyness is a bacterial bloom in a tank trying to cycle.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Don't change your biomax, if you think it's dirty, just rinse is in aquarium water, don't do it in tapwater, as tapwater contains chloramines and that could kill a lot of the nitrifying bacteria. I would suggest replacing the foam and the AC. Get the sg back to his usual level, and don't do extreme water changes; 25% every day, maybe every other day should suffice.
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Corvus
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Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Sorry for your loss. Such bacterial blooms (cloudy water) may use up most of the oxygen in a tank and puffers are very oxygen demanding fishes. I would start aertion with an airstone or strong water surface movement in such a case.
Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks.
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32979
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
I've never replaced the foam either. I think 1 is >20 years old.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: GSP stopped eating a week ago... Looks Like He's Dying.
Wow! I thought I might have been neglecting the tank!Pufferpunk wrote:I've never replaced the foam either. I think 1 is >20 years old.
Well, right now I'm going to keep on with the water changes and try to get this cloudiness sorted. I'll still have to think about if I should try a puffer again. Since my 55G FW tank has gotten cloudy as well, I think it's something to do with my practices. I'm going to have to be very careful and see if I can find my flaws.
It seems after changing the water, it clears up, but within 2 days it's cloudy again after 50-70% PWC's