The Puffer Forum

Does anyone add trace elements to their freshwater puffer tanks? If so, what do you use? I've been thinking about using the Kent Trace product.

I have never added trace anything to any of my freshwater tanks. Clean water, a variety of quality food and vitamin supplements are plenty IMHO.

Trace elememts in FW tanks are usually only used in planted tanks. Is your tank brightly lighted, heavily planted, and CO2 supplemented? If so you need traces. If not, you don't.

Trace elememts in FW tanks are usually only used in planted tanks.

Maybe that's why I've never used trace elements in my FW tanks. I buy the really slow growing plastic and silk plants!

LOL! Those definitely do not need traces...

FW fish don't drink, so will not get traces from the water, what would be the point of adding such? FW fish get their reguired minerals/vitamins/etc. from their food or not at all.

Ive heard of using the Kent Trace product ( i beleive you are refering to the salt water PH buffer powder?) in a brackish tank, but never in a FW tank, unless you had some really weird fish, i dont think there would be any need to add trace elements, IMRHO ( in my really humble opinion,)( did i just come up with a original slang term? lol)

I have moderate planting and its only Hornwort, Java Fern, and Java Moss. I'm currently at about 2.2 WPG with a light kit from AH supply but no CO2 yet. The puffs are given live Blackworms, Ghost Shrimp, and snails. I use freeze dried Bloodworms as a staple food as they don't care much for Krill or other freeze dried foods even when soaked in garlic juice. I was looking at Kent Freshwater Essential. Here is the link http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/pro ... ry_id=2771

Vitamins were mentioned, what kind do you recommend?

Basically I just want my puffs to be as happy and healthy as possible without wasting money on junk that won't help me get there. Currently I have 3DPs and 2SAPs.

Thanks for the help.

I personally wouldn't bother with that additive. I soak my foods in Vita-Chem, Zoe, and Selcon(SW only)

I soak any FD food in viatmins prior to feeding. I soak some frozen food in vitamins, but not as often as I should (I really need to keep vitamins both upstairs and down stairs, or keep a freezer downstairs which herself would dobtless love - get the fishfood out of the people freezer).