The Puffer Forum

I measure my salinity directly with a meter, but it (8.5 ppt) corresponds to a SG of ~1.005. I have a hard time with java fern - which is supposed to be the most salinity tolerant of those three in low salinity. If there's some plant leaf decay, that could contribute to the nitrates.

Has the better fish resumed his feeding? If both fish are affected, I suspect something in the water. You are using marine salt and not "aquarium salt"?

There is no way to keep nitrAtes at 0 in a FW tank. anything <20 is fine.

Both stu's tank and mine are brackish - SG ~ 1.005; mine is reading 0 nitrates, using the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals FW/SW test kit. I haven't checked this kits' results by any other method, but I have the same test kit at work and gotten higher nitrates in hatchery tanks. The next increment from 0 on the color chart is 5 ppm and I've never been close to that color in my tank.

Better fish is not eating much and not as lively as usual.

I think they have something in common that is wrong with them. And I don't think the nitrates are the problem - my comments about minimizing them were about my practice. How often do you change the water and how much do you change? Maybe there is something unknown in the water that is not being tested for/measured.

When you change your water, do you perform a good gravel vacuum? Its a long shot, but do you know if your dissolved oxygen is ok? A properly operating filter usually aerates enough for adequate/excess D.O.

How exactally did you cycle the tank? Have the water tested at your LFS.

parasites from live food? any signs of disease such as ich spots? Did you use any soap to clean your vacuum or whatever you used to remove water? Sometimes test kits can be wrong too. Did you test your tap water?

Any improvements, Stu?

Hoping that "no news is good news"...