puffer help!

[patola_l]

Hey i have 2 figure 8 puffers in my tank, just noticed my Nitrates were quite high... around 60-70ppm...which is way too high for them. I cant make a water change till tomorrow morning however, will they be okay over night?? I need help asap. thanks everyone.

 

[Esoteric Backbone]

Why can't you do a water change now?

 

[Mr. Limpet]

How long have they been that way? Are the rest of your water parameters OK?

Hard to say, I don't see how they'd jump up like that in a short time period , so I can't image why another night would hurt.

 

[patola_l]

Our streets water has been shut off while the city repairs some pipes. It not back on till tomorrow morning.

 

[Esoteric Backbone]

That's not good timing.

 

[patola_l]

I literally just got them today. Around 9 hrs ago....ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.

 

[Esoteric Backbone]

How long has your tank been established?

 

[patola_l]

Just over a month.

 

[patola_l]

They look fine this morning. Ding a large 75% water change now. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

Good to hear. Puffers are really cool and we've really gotten attached to our GSP's in a weeks time .

I'd suggest you try and figure out the jump in no3 though, in case it happens again. Over feeding is one possible cause I can think of.

 

[patola_l]

They are really cute. I have another pair of them in a different tank, only when i got these ones, they were just babies. I cant figure out the nitrate problem either, becuase i haven't even fed them till today. I did recently get a new API kot, perhaps my old ones nitrate test was no good.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

They are really cute. I have another pair of them in a different tank, only when i got these ones, they were just babies. I cant figure out the nitrate problem either, becuase i haven't even fed them till today. I did recently get a new API kot, perhaps my old ones nitrate test was no good.

Could be. Check the lot# on the bottles (ie 0810=Aug. 2010) and I've heard it's valid 3-5 years after that date.

Did the PWC get the no2 down? I rescued a fish that was in no2 @ 160+ppm and it was fine, but <40ppm is max IMO.

 

[patola_l]

yeah i did an 60%-70% WC a couple hours ago, testing nitrate now with the new test kit, and if need be, ill do another PWC...for puffers, i prefer to keep nitrate below 20ppm as best i can

 

[patola_l]

they are at about 30 ppm now... im going to do another PWC to get them below 20ppm...im sure the puffers will be fine, but since they are scaleless, i think they do better when nitrates are <20ppm

 

[Mr. Limpet]

they are at about 30 ppm now... im going to do another PWC to get them below 20ppm...im sure the puffers will be fine, but since they are scaleless, i think they do better when nitrates are <20ppm

My BW plants keep it between 5-10ppm, but 20ppm is a good goal to shoot for. Not sure if F8's have issues with 40ppm, but GSP don't from my research.

 

[patola_l]

i dont think they do...however after reading on puffer forum, many swear by keeping there nitrates below 20ppm