The Puffer Forum

Hi. I just set up my first brackish tank and bought two figure eight puffers. I have had them for a week. My tank is still cycling, and I don't think this has been very kind to the fish. The pH is 7.8, temp is 79(F), and the ammonia is fluctuating up and down, mostly either 1.0ppm-2.0ppm. I have been doing partial water changes almost every day and even added some amm-cuel to take away the toxicity of the ammonia. However, yesterday I noticed a rather large bump on the head of one of my puffer fish. It is the same color as the fish, but it is making me very nervous. He is still eating normal, but could this be signs of ammonia poisoning?
Help!

-newsongs1043

Can you get us a pic of the fish? It's not likely to be a sign of ammonia poisoning, but if we could have a pic.....
How big are your daily changes?
Pami.

I do 25% water changes in a 10 gallon tank. I'll try to get a picture.

It's not good to do water changes too often.

Raphael wrote:It's not good to do water changes too often.

?????? ??????

Not true. Not true at all... Keep the temp, PH and other major parameters in check between the old and replacement water and change away!

Yep, change well and often!

Eric

Water changes are IMHO & IME, the best single technique available to the fishkeeper. When in doubt, do a partial. If still unsure, do another.

Water parameters of the tank and change water should of course be similar, but to me so long as that is checked, water changes are never bad.

For more details, see the Library on this site. There are multiple articles there on water changes.

The most common fish I have seen w/nematode worms are the F8 puffers. A pic is necessary to be sure. Also, 2 F8s in a 10g is 1 too many puffers, especially in an uncycled tank. I'd take back the lumpy one.

Add Bio-Spira to instantly cycle your tank. Do not let the shop sell you anything else--you'll be waisting your $$$ & harming the cycle further.

ybenormal wrote:

Raphael wrote:It's not good to do water changes too often.

?????? ??????

Not true. Not true at all... Keep the temp, PH and other major parameters in check between the old and replacement water and change away!

I mean by not more than once every two or so days, otherwise it disturbs the fish, the water quality changes too often for them.

I have done 80% water changes 2x/day, to keep a crashed tank from killing my fish. Discus keepers do 100-200% daily water changes.

Pufferpunk wrote:I have done 80% water changes 2x/day, to keep a crashed tank from killing my fish.

Same here.

Raphael,

Your statement is correct if the person performing the water change is being careless or not properly checking to make sure that temperature, PH and other parameters are balanced. When done properly, you simply cannot do too many water changes. More and more often is the recommendation.