The Puffer Forum

its a 30 gallon filter, and no i had it tested about a week before so i didnt think there would be a need to

But you need your own test kit, preferably a liquid API test that contains tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. Please invest in a master kit..you should really check your water at least once a week.

And a hydrometer too. How do you mix BW for water changes without one?

hazima wrote:its a 30 gallon filter, and no i had it tested about a week before so i didnt think there would be a need to

That filter is about half of the size that you need for your puffers and I wonder if your water parameters are off. Just because they've been "fine" doesn't mean they haven't taken a turn for the worse so I would pick up a test kit or at least have it tested again. How often and how much water have you been changing out at water change time? I would definitely add another AC30 filter sooner than later and then a background and some more decor when you can.

Good luck with The Killer Lime.

API master test kit at walmart for under $20.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Freshwater-Ma ... ts/3635493

k i used your advice and ran out and bought my own "kit"
for my nitrate it read 0.0 so thats fine
my ammonia was slightly elevated tho .5-1ppm
i gotta hydrometer when i first go the tank, but it didn't go low enough so i add salt until the needle is slightly elevated (i ussualy just use the same point every time.)
im saving enough money to buy a refractometer...and now i gotta save to buy another filter lol. i guess tuition can wait lol

oops meant nitrate

No way your pH would be 0, that's battery acid! Test again.

sorry, i meant nitrite lol
i forgot the ph kit -_- ill have to get one tomorrow and report back lol

something happened in the tank that caused some sort of cycle or it wasnt cycled to begin with. you should not be showing any ammonia(not even .01 if you had a kit that went that low). nitrites should be 0 and nitrates should be very low <10. i would do a water change ASAP. make sure you follow every direction in the test kits to the T though. if the bottle says to shake the bottle for 30 seconds, shake it for 30 seconds, 1 minute shake for 1 minute. if you dont follow them correctly then theres a good chance the results will be thrown off

jus85411 wrote:...make sure you follow every direction in the test kits to the T though. if the bottle says to shake the bottle for 30 seconds, shake it for 30 seconds, 1 minute shake for 1 minute. if you dont follow them correctly then theres a good chance the results will be thrown off

I have actually tested this on the API kit and if you don't shake the nitrate #2 solutuion bottle as described, it will give you a 0 reading.

I think you are showing ammonia because you don't have enough filtration. I would say to cut down on feeding and start doing daily water changes to keep the levels down until your new AC30 filter gets up to speed.

Good luck.

Even F-8s can remove chunks of F-8 tankmates. I have not had issues w/GSPs, but after my first GSPs, I never co-house any of them. And as for Fahakas, well, have you ever seen a largish puffer that looked as if it lost a machete fight? Or an adult female Fahaka with pectorals left as 1/4 to 1/2" stubs and caudal only a bit longer, plus many body lesions? She survived, but never really recovered and died about a year later

Never, ever,underestimate a puffer's bite strength.

KK I got all my new stuff that i need before class today;
Water testing kits
Another AC30 filter
Hydrometer that reads low levels
Background

Ill test everything when i get home and post my results.

^
Very cool.

Isn't it funny how much it cost to keep a fish that only cost a few dollars?

haha yea, i spent about 60 dollars on the total order...almost cried lol

its the set up cost that blows my mind, once its up and running well its cheap.

hazima wrote:haha yea, i spent about 60 dollars on the total order...almost cried lol

But, you will be a good puffer daddy! Welcome to puffer parenthood!

xrayjeeper83 wrote:...once its up and running well its cheap.

That was my exact thought after I posted.