The Puffer Forum

Possibly a stupid qiestion but but since i have introdeced my stars and stripes (big daddy/mamma) i have had a rise in nitrates i think its down to feeding habits

so i am put the question out there what are your feeding habbits that you have going with your puffers please

he is eating everything i give him and the same with his tank mates i am feeding daily a prawn or two cockels along with brine shrimp cube or bloodworm

so some advice or tips could i be leaving the lights on to long aswell around ten hours a day as i have been doing it by hand i have got a timer today so i suppose i am asking what is a sensible lghting routine also

fish only set up

thanks jas

It's not a stupid question at all. Your nitrates will go up as your bio-load increased with the addition of your new puffer. Watch that the nitrates don't go over 20ppm. Only way to get rid of nitrates is to do a water change.

Also, do you have a protein skimmer?

Totally natural, I agree. More waste breaking down means more ammonia going in means more nitrates as the end result. If you don't have a skimmer, invest in one. They remove waste before it even breaks down into ammonia. They're expensive, but you save tons of $$$ over time, since you'll be doing less water changes, and therefore buying less salt. (If you knew that, just ignore me. )

Buy more live rock.

Live rock eliminates nitrates?

Live rock, if you put in enough of it, will give you darn near the most toxin-free water you'll ever have.

So, more than the usual 1-1.5lbs/gallon?