The Puffer Forum

I believe you should be showing a little bit of nitrates.

Not at the moment, but I just did a house-wide WC and added Prime.
But, usually .. yes I do have minimal amounts of nitrates. I tend to have more nitrites then nitrates. I only have a lot of nitrates after an ammonia spike.

Do you have those 2 mixed up? If you ever show any amount of nitrite, there is a serious problem.

Why on earth are you adding salt to FW tanKs? That is certainly not beneficial for any suckermouth catfish, or anything else from the Amazon Basin, or for the Gourami either. None of the fish you are keeping other than the mollies should have any salt in their water at all. The molies would likely do better in harder, more alkaline water than with just NaCl.

I find it rather hard to believe that your overstocked tanks show zero nitrate. What kind of tests are you using?

You want to be using API liquid test kits cause they are really easy to use. If you are using them don't forget to shake when the directions say and to let the test tube stand for about 5 mins after you add all the chemicals or else you will get skewed results. I know that I didn't wait long enough when I first started running the tests.

Pufferpunk wrote:Do you have those 2 mixed up? If you ever show any amount of nitrite, there is a serious problem.

I probably do. NO2 is the one that is usually 0. NO3 shows a lil, more after an ammonia spike.

RTR wrote:Why on earth are you adding salt to FW tanKs? That is certainly not beneficial for any suckermouth catfish, or anything else from the Amazon Basin, or for the Gourami either. None of the fish you are keeping other than the mollies should have any salt in their water at all. The molies would likely do better in harder, more alkaline water than with just NaCl.

I find it rather hard to believe that your overstocked tanks show zero nitrate. What kind of tests are you using?

I add aquarium salt, not marine salt.
I keep a lil in all my tanks to add electrolytes, improve gill function, reduce stress, facilitate osmoregulation and help with diseases.

puffykid wrote:You want to be using API liquid test kits cause they are really easy to use. If you are using them don't forget to shake when the directions say and to let the test tube stand for about 5 mins after you add all the chemicals or else you will get skewed results. I know that I didn't wait long enough when I first started running the tests.

I use the API master kit actually
Sometimes I do forget to shake it 1st
I always wait 5 min. I had to learn the hard way also.

In my opinion you really have to figure out something to do with all those fish. You're tanks are EXTREMELY overstocked IMO. You should never be showing Nitrite by the way. If not your tank is not cycled and that's a serious issue as PufferPunk said earlier. Please rethink what you are doing here. DO IT FOR YOUR FISHIES!

CyberBob wrote:

RTR wrote:Why on earth are you adding salt to FW tanKs? That is certainly not beneficial for any suckermouth catfish, or anything else from the Amazon Basin, or for the Gourami either. None of the fish you are keeping other than the mollies should have any salt in their water at all. The molies would likely do better in harder, more alkaline water than with just NaCl.

I find it rather hard to believe that your overstocked tanks show zero nitrate. What kind of tests are you using?

I add aquarium salt, not marine salt.
I keep a lil in all my tanks to add electrolytes, improve gill function, reduce stress, facilitate osmoregulation and help with diseases.

It's unnecessary and can be harmful, especially for those catfish - even non-marine salt!

borgey424 wrote:In my opinion you really have to figure out something to do with all those fish. You're tanks are EXTREMELY overstocked IMO. You should never be showing Nitrite by the way. If not your tank is not cycled and that's a serious issue as PufferPunk said earlier. Please rethink what you are doing here. DO IT FOR YOUR FISHIES!

I'm not sure which tank you are referring to. When I use the 1g per 1" method, my math says I'm understocked ... barely. I certainly don't want to have any tank overstocked. But, I would like the tanks to be full and healthy. I don't plan to have a 40g tank for 1 molly.

• I'm gonna add this up and see where I might have gone wrong.
  I'm not trying to challenge anyone by any means.
  I value your advice as long as that's what it is and not just flaming.
  I want all my fish to be happy & healthy above all else.
  So, if you have suggestions, please feel free to let me know.
  I'm also using the full adult size of each fish.

I'm doing this math for myself also, just to be sure:

30g Puffer Tank

• 6 DPs = 6"
  10x1" neons = 10"
  Bristlenose = 4"

That's a total of 20" in a 30g tank, or 18" if I take into consideration:
I've always been told that plecos only count as half by just about every LFS.
I did take into consideration that they are puffers also.
Each DP has 5g. (30g / 6 DPs = 5g each). That's better then the standard rule of 5g for the 1st and 3g for each additional.
So, I can only assume nobody thinks this tank is overstocked?

10g Betta Tank

• Betta = 2"
  3x2" Mollies = 6"
  Bristlenose = 4"
  Mystery Snail, Rams & Trumpets =??

That's a total of 12" of fish in a 10g, or 10" if I consider:
I've always been told that plecos only count as half by just about every LFS.
I have no idea what kind of space I should take into consideration for snails.
But, I know it's miniscule. One source told me that 100 snails = 1" of fish.
Ok, this one might be at it's max. If needed, I could always move the mollies out and that should balance it out.

40g Community Tank

• Angel = 5"
  RedTail Shark = 5"
  Gourami = 5"
  10x1" Neons= 10"
  5x2" Mollies = 10"
  Bristlenose = 4"
  Apple Snail, Rams & Trumpets = ??

That's a total of 39" or 37" if I cut the pleco in half.
I'd say this one is at it's max, but not overstocked.

10g Breeder Tank

• 3x2" Cories = 6"
  Clown Pleco = 3"
  Mystery Snail, Ghost Shrimp, Rams & Trumpets =??

That's a total of 9" or 5" if I take into consideration that:
The cories are closer to 1" and are full grown, but most sites say 1.5" - 2" for cories.
I have 2 small 1" females (albino & emerald) and a 1.5" male (skunk).
The clown Pleco can get to 4" but usually doesn't go past 3". From my experience, it's more like 2.5", unless you have a big bull. Too young to tell.
Again, this doesn't seem overstocked to me. But, it could be at it's max.

But the 1" per gallon rule is bull.

Also, check the individual sizes on those cories, plecos DO NOT count as half the bioload of a same-size fish, and snails are major poopers. Plus, angels like to live in pairs.

I think you need to research each of these species carefully, and find more reliable sources than pet stores.

LilGreenPuffer wrote:But the 1" per gallon rule is bull.

Also, check the individual sizes on those cories, plecos DO NOT count as half the bioload of a same-size fish, and snails are major poopers. Plus, angels like to live in pairs.

I think you need to research each of these species carefully, and find more reliable sources than pet stores.

I don't live by the 1" rule, I just use it as a base. There are always variables with each species.
snails do poop, but i have no idea what kind of ratio i shoud use with snails.
I did double check the cories .. i was a lil bit off. the girls are more like 1.5" and the male is about 2". I was counting the tail before i think hehe
I tried keeping a pair of angels ... but they never stopped fighting. I tried swapping the most aggressive for a different angel and they were always fighting too. In the end, I kept the most docile angel and she has been buddies with the gourami. they usually sleep together. I always research before buying any fish. I also try my best to make sure they make good tank mates. Sometimes, I have to try a couple different species untili find one that works best in that specific tank.

The 1"/g rule is only good for slim, 1-2" fish like neon tetras--nothing else--especially larger-massed/high waste producing fish like puffers. Could you imagine a 10" Oscar in a 10g tank?

NO3 shows a lil, more after an ammonia spike

When is this?

if I cut the pleco in half.

Please don't cut your pleco in half! He might not like it.

I personally would not even pack tetras that tightly it is asking for trouble, in my tetra tank they have triple that space. Why does this 1" rule keep popping up it's long been proved it's rubbish