The Puffer Forum

Hi, I have two Figure 8s in a 60l BiOrb (yes, they ARE being moved to a 90l tank once I know I don't need to worry!!).

Parameters are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10, ph 7.6.

I have had the tank about 3 weeks, I used "Stability" for 7 days before adding the puffers, then monitored the water and did daily water changes. Yesterday I noticed that one of the puffers was hugging the heater and being a bit lethargic so I checked all the water parameters and the nitrite was high. I did a 50% water change and used "Prime" to neutralise the nitrite. On second reading all parameters were as they should be.

Still, the puffer seemed odd, a bit bloated and tending to hide in the floating plants, only zooming around when I went anywhere near (the outside of the tank, not literally near IN the tank!). I read some posts and thought it sounded like he/she needed to pooh, so today I got epsom salts and dosed the tank. That was around 9.30, it is now 3.30 and I see no real change.

SO, will it take longer for the salts to work if that is what the problem is? OR, does it sound like something else?

The other puffer seems fine by the way. I feed live bloodworm and prawns once a day (two days worms and one prawn) and the puffer still ate last night, which I hope is a good sign!

They are in freshwater at the moment, as that is what they were in at the shop, and when they move to the big tank I will make it brackish. Is there a benefit of moving them to a bigger tank, or should I clear this up first??

OR, am I worrying unduly??

Thanks a million.

A few more questions…

•How long has the aquarium been set up?
•How did you cycle it?
•When did you add the Puffers?
•What is the temperature of your tank?
•How often do you change the water?
•Have you made any changes in the tank recently? (Added anything, etc.)

Tank has been set up a little over 3 weeks. I used "Stability" for a week then added the 2 puffers. Temperature is 81; I do a partial water change every other day. Nope, haven't added anything.

He does seem better after the epsom salts, but I am still keeping a lose eye on him. I am moving them to a 90l tank today as they seem a bit "tank bound"!

IME Stability does nothing for cycling a tank. You are currently cycling it with the f8s, which is the reason for the high titer reading.
*Shakes fist at marketing BS*

Discontinue epsom, monitor readings and continue to use prime to decrease the chance of damage to the fish while the tank cycles.

But he says:

Parameters are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10

Although I agree that Stability can't possible cycle a tank, the parameters seem fine to me.

Sability is an interesting product, it won't provide an instant cycle like Bio Spira but it does hurry things along quite nicely.

It seems to be ok at the moment - I think I was worrying unduly! I have moved them to a biiger tank which I will slowly make brackish. Thanks for the help.

PP, you probably just missed this part - Those parameters are -after- she did maintenance, adding prime and doing a water change.
If she was having a nitrIte spike, thats indicative of a cycle right?

lisa2210 wrote: Parameters are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10, ph 7.6.

I have had the tank about 3 weeks, I used "Stability" for 7 days before adding the puffers, then monitored the water and did daily water changes. Yesterday I noticed that one of the puffers was hugging the heater and being a bit lethargic so I checked all the water parameters and the nitrite was high. I did a 50% water change and used "Prime" to neutralise the nitrite. On second reading all parameters were as they should be.

Duh... opps! Gotta stop that skimming...