The Puffer Forum

So, I'm spazzing right now because my brackish puffer tank is now very cloudy when it was just clear two days ago, and I wondering what I did wrong (if anything), if it's bad for my puffs, and if I can get rid of it.

So you get the whole background, here's the whole story:
I recently inherited a 4 year old 10 gal planted tank and all of its contents. Having to get rid of my tiny, old planted tank to take in the new one, I did the normal thing and combined the few contents of my old tank and my new one. Even though this new tank of mine already has established biomass and technically cycled a long time ago, I decided to do the safer thing and let the whole setup sit for a good few weeks before deciding to introduce my puffers.
I originally wasn't going to introduce my puffers for another week or so, until after I got my C02 set up, and the water properly salted. But, it ended up all happening on the same day 2 days ago (May 21). I walk into the pet shop to get my CO2 setup and a lid, and I notice that the juvie F8 puffers I was going to get in another week were looking a bit...distressed. The owner had put them in with 5 or 6 green spotted puffers, who were now munching away on a deceased, diseased tankmate. Needles to say, I didn't want my fish sitting there for another week getting chewed on and diseased. (If you're wondering why I didn't just wait and get them elsewhere, F8's and other puffers are really hard to find in RI, and this was the only place that stocks them.)
So, I got my 2 F8's right then and there, and ran home to quickly prepare my tank. In a rush, I did a 20% water change, set up the CO2 system, installed a new heater, and salted and tested my water.While I was at it, I also put in some pH neutral regulator to combat any possible pH changes caused by the CO2, as well as some extra chlorine/chloramine remover just in case. After a bit, I veeerrry slowly intro'd my puffers. And all was good. Puffs love the new home and are acting just fine.

The problem now is my water. Its quite a bit cloudier now than it was when I put my puffs in. The salinity is only at 1.005 sg, and I used a microcrystal salt that dissolves instantly, so I have a feeling the salinity isn't the problem.
Additionally, the pH is low (6.5ish), and I'm beginning to wonder if my CO2 setup is the cause of my issues.
In case of the temp being the cause, I turned off my heater. I also dosed my fishies with prime just incase.

So, if you've read through all of this, God bless, and please help! I don't know what is going on here to make my tank so cloudy!

Okashiko wrote:So, I'm spazzing right now because my brackish puffer tank is now very cloudy when it was just clear two days ago, and I wondering what I did wrong (if anything), if it's bad for my puffs, and if I can get rid of it.

So you get the whole background, here's the whole story:
I recently inherited a 4 year old 10 gal planted tank and all of its contents. Having to get rid of my tiny, old planted tank to take in the new one, I did the normal thing and combined the few contents of my old tank and my new one. Even though this new tank of mine already has established biomass and technically cycled a long time ago, I decided to do the safer thing and let the whole setup sit for a good few weeks before deciding to introduce my puffers.
I originally wasn't going to introduce my puffers for another week or so, until after I got my C02 set up, and the water properly salted. But, it ended up all happening on the same day 2 days ago (May 21). I walk into the pet shop to get my CO2 setup and a lid, and I notice that the juvie F8 puffers I was going to get in another week were looking a bit...distressed. The owner had put them in with 5 or 6 green spotted puffers, who were now munching away on a deceased, diseased tankmate. Needles to say, I didn't want my fish sitting there for another week getting chewed on and diseased. (If you're wondering why I didn't just wait and get them elsewhere, F8's and other puffers are really hard to find in RI, and this was the only place that stocks them.)
So, I got my 2 F8's right then and there, and ran home to quickly prepare my tank. In a rush, I did a 20% water change, set up the CO2 system, installed a new heater, and salted and tested my water.While I was at it, I also put in some pH neutral regulator to combat any possible pH changes caused by the CO2, as well as some extra chlorine/chloramine remover just in case. After a bit, I veeerrry slowly intro'd my puffers. And all was good. Puffs love the new home and are acting just fine.

The problem now is my water. Its quite a bit cloudier now than it was when I put my puffs in. The salinity is only at 1.005 sg, and I used a microcrystal salt that dissolves instantly, so I have a feeling the salinity isn't the problem.
Additionally, the pH is low (6.5ish), and I'm beginning to wonder if my CO2 setup is the cause of my issues.
In case of the temp being the cause, I turned off my heater. I also dosed my fishies with prime just incase.

So, if you've read through all of this, God bless, and please help! I don't know what is going on here to make my tank so cloudy!

Could you get water parameters for us? Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. if you don't have a test kit at home take a water sample to the local fish store and have them test it. Make sure they give you numbers not, "it's fine" and don't let them sell you stuff to correct the problem, this can cause more harm than good. I have this feeling that you may have accidentally killed your biomedia when you raised your SG. Did you use Marine salt or Aquarium salt? If you used Aquarium salt, the water is not brackish, only Marine salt can make water brackish. If you did use Marine salt you brought your SG up too fast. The bacteria in your biomedia can only handle increases and decreases of .002 per week. The tests are real important because puffers are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrite and if it's high you need to do some pretty hefty daily water changes. Let us know what you get for results and we'll help you correct the problems.

I agree.
It is due to the explosive growth of bacteria, usually in a newly setup tank. It occurs because the bacterial population of the tank is not in balance with the level of waste nutrients. This will usually sort itself out as the tank matures - it should disappear more quickly if partial water changes (say 20%) are performed. Also, avoid overfeeding (very important in a new tank), to help reduce the waste levels. Remove any uneaten food, decaying plant matter, etc. Note that the bacterial bloom will not cause any harm to the fish.

Thank you both for responding!
Dadof4 Yes, I did use marine salt in my tank. (i knew about the salt...)
I couldn't get to my LFS today, so I'm going to PetSmart tomorrow to get a master test kit (look like I can only get test strips on my current budget), and I'll report back with the results as soon as I can.
Yunachin I do hope the bacteria don't hurt my fish!

By the way, should I pick up some Seachem Sability or something to help the tank cycle again while I'm at it?

No, it should be fine on it's own.

Okashiko, I have one question for you:
I only ask this because I've done it......
Did you put the salt in a bucket then add water? If you did that could be why your water is cloudy also. You must put the water first then add salt. For some reason it won't disolve if you do salt first then water. Crazy, yes, but it's true. Hope this helps.

I *finally* was able to get my tests done:
temp: 74 deg. F (23.3 C)
ph: 7
ammonia: 0 ppm
nitrite: 0 mg/l
nitrate: 5 mg/l

After a water change and some Prime, the cloudiness went away, but now I'm worried about that nitrate (should I be at that level?).

At this point in time, what should I do? Just leave it alone and do water changes a few times a week? I picked up some real, refrigerated BioSpira just in case, and I've also got Prime at my disposal.
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oh and edmlfc1: Nope! I added about 2 tsp of marine salt straight to the tank after I put the water in.

Your water is perfect. Nitrates are harmful if they get over 20, 5 is excellent.