The Puffer Forum

55 gallon brackish, 81 degree temp, Sand bottom, Salinity 6, Gravity 1.004. PH 7.6, PH high 8.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20 2 GSP previously now 1. Fed snails, clams, shrimp, mussels. Water changes every 5 days to try and get my nitrate down unsuccessfully. Use prime with water changes. Instant Marine at water changes to keep at current level. Aquarium set up 3 year ago freshwater, turned over brackish 2 months ago.

Well today my GSP Fatty McGigs was found dead on the bottom. He was funky for about 3 weeks but always a bit moody and shy normally with showing a black belly frequently but then would turn white again. I've had him for 6 months. I did have him in another tank 2 months ago (30 gal) with the same GSP he has been with in this current tank but moved them over because they were getting big 2 months ago. My question is now that he has died should I do something immediatly to clean the water in case he had some sort of disease obviously since he died. I know my nitrate is a bit high but I cant seem to get that down so I have been doing water changes every 5 days. I dont notice any problem at the moment with the other GSP as hes acting normal no ick or anything and eating. Thanks for your help. Its a huge bummer when the die.

I'm very sorry
I would do a very large water change and monitor the other fish.
Have you been raising the salinity by .02 a week? How big is the remaining puffer?

I have been afraid to do anything different because I cant seem to get a handle on the nitrate. Its goes back to 20 after 2 days after the water change. The other GSP is 4 inches long. How big of a water change 50%? Thanks!

What test kit are you using for nitrate?

Wow, yeah at 4" he should be at high end brackish at least. Have you considered making his tank marine? It's highly suggested as it is much easier to maintain high water quality.

im sorry for your loss. big water change and get that salinity up! mine are 2 inches and 1 3/4 inches and they are in 1.008 and rising every week!

I'm using the API liquid test-tube I will start to raise the salinity I know they need to be there. I did a 75% water change today and really sucked out the area where I found him dead. I raised the salinity a little today and I know not to raise it drastically. Do you think he died because of the salinity? Thank you for your help. It was pretty distressing since I tried to keep him alive after saving him from walmart. He did well for 6 months with me. I hope it wasn't anything I did.

He could have just been sick. But, they really should have been at least at 1.015 salinity at that size, but ideally marine would be the easiest to upkeep, and since at this size they ideally need to be at 1.018 at least, upping it that few more steps to marine is worth it to maintain water quality.

So I will raise the salinity per week to get them there. Any chance by raising the salinity it could help lower my nitrate? I just can't figure out why I can't get it to 0 or close. I do weekly water changes so it's not like there any waste in the water. I upped the salinity to close to 1.006 today.

Fish constantly excrete ammonia/waste products mostly through their gills, and some from their pooper. The groups of bacteria will break down that ammonia to nitrite, then that to nitrate. With two almost adult GSP's, the bioload will be pretty massive, poopoo may be visible, but most of their waste is invisible.

Saltwater filtration is just more efficient.

If it were me, considering that the puffer is already 4", I would just redo the tank as salt water, the puffer can be drip acclimated within a few hours. This is an option over the .02 a week that is suggested to keep the bacteria from dying off. But, it would be $$. And the puffer would need to be removed to a temporary container during set up.

with in a few hours means more like 8-10 hours, took me almost 9

It doesn't have to be that long, I've done it in 2-3 hours, no signs of stress during or after. This may be considered too quickly, but 9 hours may not be necessary.
*Edit: Balki was in 1.009 sg when I did drip to 1.020. I actually don't remember the exact time, but it was definitely under 5 hours. I just closely monitored him for signs of stress.

Doesn't this kill the biofilter when it's done quickly? Interesting.

You introduce the saltwater bio filtration with the liverock.
Normally it's done slowly to maintain the bio filter through the adjustment, but this is with smaller gsp's who are ok with lower salinity. And at marine salinity, the liverock still needs to be added to introduce the saltwater bio filtration.
You can still do it that way, .02 a week, but I just suggested this since your puffer is already at the size that requires high end brackish.

Sorry but since I'm fairly new to all this what do you mean by the live rock? Thank you