The Puffer Forum

Well, the saltier water may help. You might want to use a name you recognize. Anything being sprayed or painted around the house?

Nope, not a thing. Should I stick with running just the one filter for now? I think I'll go and buy some salt that I actually KNOW is marine salt. What about having bubblers in the tank? Should I be trying to have the water more oxegynated? They honestly seem to be happiest and most active when I am doing water changes.

What about Pimafix and Malafix? Should I be trying any of that? Should I pull the carbon out of the filter? Hmmm, I just want them well again, I can't stand losing my puffers!

Carbon Isn't necessary for your tank. Melafix is helpful for stress but isn't really called for here.

It wouldn't hurt to keep both filters on the tank.

Okay, so I don't need any carbon in my filters at all? Always thought I needed that in there.

Absolutely! Over-filtration is a must! Carbon is for removing unwanted chemicals, like meds. Pretty much useless for anything else.

Okay, just so I've got this all straight: I'll put BOTH filters on; remove the carbon from them; purchase salt that I know for a fact is marine salt; increase the SG by .002 to gradually reach 1.020; keep the light cycle at 12 on 12 off; stick with the weekly cleaning and the every other day 25% water changes; not bother with malafix; and stick with everything else. Any idea on how long a big spottie like these can go without eating? They've been way too long without a good meal. I've got a crayfish in here that's going to be a meal for me if they don't get at it! Thanks to everybody for their help -- if anybody thinks of anything else I should be doing or changing, please let me know.

Hmm, okay, one full day after my last post and I've taken the carbon off my filters, I've set the second filter back up, I've confirmed that I'm using marine salt, I've confirmed that my water is good, and my guys are still huffing and puffing and not eating. I'm really at a loss. And then this afternoon my biggest guy, Titan, goes almost like an albino fish, he went so pale it was scary. I did yet another 50% water change and he seems better now, I can at least see his black spots where before they were almost invisible. Man. Any thoughts at all? Anyone?

I'm at a loss... Are you sure nothing has been happening in your home lately?

Honestly, not a thing -- we haven't painted, we haven't sprayed anything, we keep our windows open throughout the day for fresh air, we don't smoke in the house... the only thing different that I can think of is that I brought an air purifier into my living room and it sits about four feet away from the tank. Other than that, nothing at all. What are you thinking when you ask this? Can something in the air affect the fish? I mean, I know several months ago when I lived in a condo we had to had our place sprayed for ants and I had to literally wrap my tanks, unplug my filters etc. -- but that was for fumigating -- I've had nothing like that in this house.

Are you spraying anything near the tank? Perfume, glass cleaner, air freshener spray?

Have anything on your hands when you put them in the water, lotion or anything at all?

No to all the above, if I spray freshener in the room it's way away from them, I'm always cautious about that. Hands are always washed before they go in the tank. And now today, Titan, who was almost pure white yesterday is completely black, I mean completely and totally black. I'm thinking I'm losing them and there's not a thing I can do.

Well crap -- I had to put Titan out of his misery just now -- he kept getting stuck to the filters and it was just heart wrenching. Man.

This is so sad... I'm sory we can't help more.