The Puffer Forum

That actually looks like a bite mark. Best treatment is pristine water conditions, got to figure out why you are having a spike. One guess could be the tank size, 2 gsp's in a 40 is a litle tight and may be overwhelming your biofilter. With a SW tank you really want to use live rock and sand with a sump system, canister filters can become a nitrate factory and just don't do a very good job overall in SW. Try adding some cured LR and see if that makes a difference down the road with water quality but for now some water changes are in order.

I would also think that using a dechlorinator is something you definitely should do each and every time. Even though it does eventually evaporate off, I don't think it does it quick enough before possibly damaging your fish. I use Prime every time I add water to the tank. It's a must for me.

Looks like its time for a new set-up. I will dust off the 90 gal and I have a 15 gal I can use for a sump. If that's too small - I could use the 40gal they're in now. That would give 120gal of water circulating through the system. I've never set up a sump so I will be googling that. I remember when 40 was big enough...they just grow up so fast.
I checked on Olivia this morning (also at 3am) and she was acting normal - sleeping standing vertical on her tail wedged in a plant. She saw me - gave me her happy colors - then wend dark again and back to sleep. If it is just a bite, I will be happy. Better than velvet. Ill do another water change today.

pufferpuggirl wrote:I would also think that using a dechlorinator is something you definitely should do each and every time. Even though it does eventually evaporate off, I don't think it does it quick enough before possibly damaging your fish. I use Prime every time I add water to the tank. It's a must for me.

We always use a dechlorinator when doing water changes on any tank with our business but with salt water tanks the salt does kill the chlorine.
I agree with what Dad said doesn't look like velvet, get that water pristine, work on that upgrade and keep any eye it on it. Good luck with them, looks like a beautiful pair.

If you're not chemically dechlorinating your water, you need to call your water dept right away and make certain they are not adding chloramine. It can be just as bad, (it's a chemical combination of chlorine and ammonia) and letting water sit and aerate for 24 hrs or so won't eliminate it.

Dechlorinater also remove cloramines, which do not gas off: library/water-filtration/youchlorinechloramines/

Several water changes are necessary ASAP but even better yet, those puffers need to be upgraded NOW. Your bacteria may just not be able to keep up with their bioload at this point. I wouldn't worry about that spot. I see those kinds of things come & go, no matter how long I treat with Melafix.

Thanks guys. The water quality is now good. My priority is to get the new setup going. Olivia has normal behavior and coloration (except for the goldish tint that her tankmate doesnt have) but still has that dang spot. It hasnt grown or moved. I'll just wait it out.
The link for dechlorination was pretty good. I used to use Stress Coat when the puffers were young and still in FW but as I increased their salinity the Stress Coat made my skimmer go nuts. I'll have to find a different dechlorinator.
I appreciate all the help and advice. Even though I don't get the chance to log on very often, this forum has always been so friendly and supportive. I appreciate you all. I believe I'll make a donation

We'd really appreciate that!