The Puffer Forum

ok I dont have exact #s I have the test strips sorry I will be buying a better test kit
PH 7.2-7.8
Ammonia .25 -.5
Nitrite .5-1.0
Nitrates80
What that poo I just did a water change 20% and it got worse I used Tetra water conditioner and Tetra easy balance and it went up - He isnt actin normal - this morning he was fine and eating and the levels where not that high so I did a water change and now its that and he doesnt really want to eat but all he does is swim back and forth and up and down and I just put in some java fern on saturday and I sware he is darker - I'll get a pic - oh and he is in fw still in 10 gal still waiting on 30 gal to set up but he is not even a inch

You're not doing large enough WC but hard to tell w/o proper test kits. Ammonia & nitrite must remain 0 at all times. Any amount of either is very toxic.

so what should I do a larger wc - how much

and what would make it go up when i did do the wc shouldnt have went down at least some not up

I'm not sure you should be using easybalance. It's a water change substitute additive, and I don't know what effects it might have other than neutralizing nitrates. Try doing a 50% or so water change, vacuuming the substrate very well.

I wouldn't trust those test strips much. Did you test right be fore the WC & right after? Unless your tap water contains ammonie & nitrite, WC can do nothing but good for you puffer. As much as 80% 2x/day or whatever necessary to keep those toxic levels down.

I dont trust the strips - I will be getting a test kit soon if I didnt live an hour away from the closes store with them I would get them tonight but I did test my tap water after I put water conditioner in it and it shows a low amount of nitrates so whats up with that - but i think he was constipated b/c now he is pottying and it is like a knot and then a string and then a knot and he seems to be acting better but I am going to do another wc just to make sure - thanks for all the help I just hope he will be ok - he looks fine other than being a lil darker

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=4454
Shipping usually takes only a couple of days. Look in the Gen Disc forum for info about DFS discount.

Pufferpunk wrote:http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=4454
Shipping usually takes only a couple of days. Look in the Gen Disc forum for info about DFS discount.

Ok so I am going to order that now anything else u suggest I get for puffer care

You can get buckets of salt for cheap & no extra charge for weight. Do you have a good hydrometer/refractometer? How about decor?

I would test the tap water. I know my tap water ammonia is always .50-1.0. I know that sounds bad but it has always been that way. Usually after about 12-24 hours the amm. in my tank goes back to 0. If I test my water right after a water change it always shows amm. readings because of my tap.

I checked the tap last night and it does have a lil nitrate and ammonia but very lil - i did a wc and he still is acting wierd - he wont eat but he is not skinny he looks healthy other than not paying me any attention and not interested in the food

Check the feeding articles in our Library.

well just thought I would let yall know that Pooty didnt make it -