The Puffer Forum

50% WC/week, is for a healthy, established system, not one that is toxic. Conditioned (Prime) tap water is fine.

I appreciate all the help PufferMe! is offering but there is some misinformation there. Safestart is the product you're looking for. Stability is not LIVE bacteria. You could change as much water as you need to after 48 hours of adding it, this will not affect the cycling process AT ALL. Nitrifying (not nulifying) bacteria lives on surfaces, not in the water. BW fish belong with aragonite sand substrate, not gravel. Nitrifying bacteria needs to be fed ALL the time, not just when ammonia appears.

Okay, you do probably know more than me, so I concede, but I'm not talking about using gravel, just putting some in a mesh bag, as substrate will have lots of live bacteria. I won't argue the effects of SafeStart over Stability, both are good. But absolutely, 50% is the amount for weekly water changes. For now, if you are cycling, you need to do daily water changes of 50% if you are seeing ammonia and nitrite levels of any kind. I wish you the best of luck!

Are the pest snails that often infest pet store tanks ok to put in mine for food?

Snails are good. Most don't recommend the "cone" shaped, Malaysian trumpet snails, because they have that trap door that makes it difficult for the gsp to eat, but I've seen them do it. You can also crush the MTS snails a bit and throw them in. I don't know if anyone would disagree with that? The ramshorn or pond snails are better.

Gwen

The problem with mts is the shell hardness, it can break puffers beaks

Will look out for some this weekend and is a heater recommended? If so, to what temperature range?

Temperatures for snail breeders are not too important, so long as extremes are avoided.

Oh no, sorry, I meant for my puffer

78-80 degrees.

Dear puffer experts,

I bought a siphon to make WC's a breeze (which I've been doing every day ). I got a heater and now my water is about 79 degrees F. I maintain the salinity at about 1.005... And I was able to get the Ammonia and Nitrate kit but they didn't have one for Nitrites I have been using the Prime (it is my new best friend). Although the bottle doesn't really clarify if you can use it everyday..

My puffer seems more stressed than ever right now; his normally dark spots are super grey today! But then sometimes he changes colors like a chameleon.

Ok, just thought I would give you guys the scoop:)

What are the tests you have got coming out at? How much water are you changing daily

Just tested

Ammonia: 0 ppm

Nitrates: 5 ppm

Don't have the Nitrite kit yet

If there is no ammonia and very few nitrates, would the nitrites be high anyway?

Changing out 50% every day (so roughly 10 gallons)

If you are mid cycle nitrites will be through the roof, continue with your 50% change, if he perks up quickly do another appr 8 hours after. Basically change out as much water as often as you can. Could you get a Lfs to test your water?

Ok, I will take a sample of water to them tomorrow. They use the API liquid test. He doesn't perk up but his colors will become bright then extremely dull sometimes. He is always fatiqued, however. I will get that nitrite kit asap, though.

Nitrite reading was .3

They had the nitrite kit today, so I got it. I saw a strange whiteish worm in the tank last night? I don't know if it was some kind of debris that got in the tank or if it was really a tiny worm, but I fished it out any how. I'm worried this was a parasite of some sort.. I know my tank isn't cycled, but are these symptoms the same for infection/disease/parasite?

Write me back:)