Thinking my BlueDot needs some help

darkslide820

darkslide820

Member
Hey all.
 
Not sure what to do here. My favorite fish, BlueDot Puffer (about 2-3 inches long, 20g hex tank) hasn't looked too great the last week or so. 6 days ago, I was worried about him because he was breathing a little heavy and looked pale. So I did a water measurement, and the results were as follows:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Hydrometer: 1.025
Nitrate: 20 (used to be 100, when the test bottle was blood red)
PH: 7.8
 
Seeing that everything was pretty good, I was confused. Obviously the nitrate could be better, but it was way better than it used to be, and the puffer thrived through that mess. I figured the pH could use a little improvement, so I put in a small amount of PH UP from API. I don't think it's the water quality that's doing anything to him, because the inverts in the tank (Chocolate Chip Starfish been in there as long as him, and the hermits 2 months longer) are fine and going everywhere.
 
Other than that I've been feeding him as I normally would, but he's been hesitant to eat or even come near me as he used to do.
 
He's also taken a lot longer to wake up the last couple days than he used to. He took so long to wake up today that the Starfish actually made his way over to him and put an arm on top of him to wake him up. His current state is he's been swimming ocassionally but spends most of the time hiding under a rock (nothing too close to the ground, kinda like standing under an awning) or actually sitting on top of the rock, at which time he breathes the most noticeably.
 
I tried thowing in a half of a frozen pea in case he's constipated, but he didn't go for it.
 
He's been in my tank for 4 months now and looked good the whole time until now. I don't know what to do. I don't see any spots on him like parasites or anything, but I put in some ich/parasite medicine anyway just in case.
 
Talked it over with my friend a little, and he brought up a few points:
1) Using the PH Up may have done something, as I should have tried to raise pH with crushed coral rather than chemicals.
2) He's been eating snails in my tank, maybe one of those was sick?
 
Along the lines of the PH Up, I was thinking that maybe my course of using Nitrate reducer in addition to water changes was not a good way to reduce nitrate?
 
Any help would be appreciated.
 
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkslide820 http:///forum/thread/380020/thinking-my-bluedot-needs-some-help#post_3305782
Hey all.
 
Not sure what to do here. My favorite fish, BlueDot Puffer (about 2-3 inches long, 20g hex tank) hasn't looked too great the last week or so. 6 days ago, I was worried about him because he was breathing a little heavy and looked pale. So I did a water measurement, and the results were as follows:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Hydrometer: 1.025
Nitrate: 20 (used to be 100, when the test bottle was blood red)
PH: 7.8
 
Seeing that everything was pretty good, I was confused. Obviously the nitrate could be better, but it was way better than it used to be, and the puffer thrived through that mess. I figured the pH could use a little improvement, so I put in a small amount of PH UP from API. I don't think it's the water quality that's doing anything to him, because the inverts in the tank (Chocolate Chip Starfish been in there as long as him, and the hermits 2 months longer) are fine and going everywhere.
 
Other than that I've been feeding him as I normally would, but he's been hesitant to eat or even come near me as he used to do.
 
He's also taken a lot longer to wake up the last couple days than he used to. He took so long to wake up today that the Starfish actually made his way over to him and put an arm on top of him to wake him up. His current state is he's been swimming ocassionally but spends most of the time hiding under a rock (nothing too close to the ground, kinda like standing under an awning) or actually sitting on top of the rock, at which time he breathes the most noticeably.
 
I tried thowing in a half of a frozen pea in case he's constipated, but he didn't go for it.
 
He's been in my tank for 4 months now and looked good the whole time until now. I don't know what to do. I don't see any spots on him like parasites or anything, but I put in some ich/parasite medicine anyway just in case.
 
Talked it over with my friend a little, and he brought up a few points:
1) Using the PH Up may have done something, as I should have tried to raise pH with crushed coral rather than chemicals.
2) He's been eating snails in my tank, maybe one of those was sick?
 
Along the lines of the PH Up, I was thinking that maybe my course of using Nitrate reducer in addition to water changes was not a good way to reduce nitrate?
 
Any help would be appreciated.
 

 
 
Do you run a skimmer? The nitrate reducer sucks oxygen up, it has something to do with extra CO2 in the tank but basically it's the same problem, I don't know tech stuff. In a hex tank you already have little surface area. Can you point a power head at the surface and get it good an turbulent, water changes will help too.

To raise and stabilize PH add a TINY amount of alk buffer to your RO top off water.
 
darkslide820

darkslide820

Member
No, I don't have any skimmers, just a filter.
No powerheads in that tank, the angles of the hex make it so awkward to have anything that's not jutting out a quarter through the tank.
When I would add ph UP I did a small amount at a time, so I did that right, but I was doing it into the tank, as opposed to the top off water than wasn't in there yet. Crap.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkslide820 http:///forum/thread/380020/thinking-my-bluedot-needs-some-help#post_3305802
No, I don't have any skimmers, just a filter.
No powerheads in that tank, the angles of the hex make it so awkward to have anything that's not jutting out a quarter through the tank.
When I would add ph UP I did a small amount at a time, so I did that right, but I was doing it into the tank, as opposed to the top off water than wasn't in there yet. Crap.

 
 
You need power heads and a skimmer. A skimmer pulls out stuff you can’t even test for. Saltwater is very heavy and low in oxygen, so the power heads are very important, especially with a deep hex tank.
 
Alkalinity buffer not PH buffer
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Have you considered the fact that your tank is way too small for the puffer

 
The fish itself may have reached it's limit :(
 
darkslide820

darkslide820

Member
Well he's not a porcupine puffer or anything that gets huge, I heard from multiple stores (not chains either) that I saw him in before I got him that he stays around this size, 2-3 inches. You would still say that 20g is too small for him?
 
I've thought of the size thing in considering moving him to my new 55g tank (which I really want to) except that there's a cleaner shrimp in there and I'm pretty sure he'd go after the shrimp. Also, I don't think that moving him from one tank to another would be the best thing for him right now if he's stressed already.
 
At the moment he is swimming around, btw. Still breathing a tad heavier than usual, not by much though.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkslide820 http:///forum/thread/380020/thinking-my-bluedot-needs-some-help#post_3305810
Well he's not a porcupine puffer or anything that gets huge, I heard from multiple stores (not chains either) that I saw him in before I got him that he stays around this size, 2-3 inches. You would still say that 20g is too small for him?
 
I've thought of the size thing in considering moving him to my new 55g tank (which I really want to) except that there's a cleaner shrimp in there and I'm pretty sure he'd go after the shrimp. Also, I don't think that moving him from one tank to another would be the best thing for him right now if he's stressed already.
 
At the moment he is swimming around, btw. Still breathing a tad heavier than usual, not by much though.

 
What kind of skmmer or power heads are in the 55g?
 
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Some quick stats...look at the first line.....and the max size.....I think moving it would be the bet thing for it.....put the cleaner shrimp in the 20G
 




QUICK STATS







Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons







Care Level: Moderate







Temperament: Semi-aggressive







Reef Compatible: No







Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025







Max. Sizehttp://javascript:popupWindow(: 5"







Color Formhttp://javascript:popupWindow(: Black, Tan, White







Diethttp://javascript:popupWindow(: Omnivore







Compatibilityhttp://javascript:popupWindow(: View Chart







Originhttp://javascript:popupWindow(: Hawaii, Vanuatu







Familyhttp://javascript:popupWindow(: Tetraodontidae



 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
SOME more
 
The Blue Spotted Puffer may also be called the Blue Dot Toby or Blue Dot Sharp-nosed Puffer. Members of the Canthigaster genus are called Sharp-nosed Puffers or Tobies. It lacks pelvic fins, but has learned to use the pectoral fins to move about the aquarium.
A 50 gallon or larger, fish-only aquarium is suitable. It may be aggressive at times, nipping the fins of tank mates, leaving a circular hole as its mark. Its teeth are actually a fused beak-like structure. It will eat invertebrates found in a reef tank. It becomes alarmed when in a net, therefore, use a container to transfer it.
The diet of the Blue Spotted Puffer needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

 
EEEWW mean little bugger huh. It is only about 3 inches right now, but if there is a skimmer and good set up on the 55g that's where I would put it, and like you said Meowzer..trasfer the shrimp to the hex tank..he still needs a power head in the hex tank.
 
The water current is the life of the ocean, and your saltwater fish tank
 
darkslide820

darkslide820

Member
The 55g doesn't have any protein skimmers either, but it has a bubbler and a powerhead which may actually be too powerful, as it gives the fish a ride even on the other side of the tank.
 
I'm heading out now, I'll be checking back later for any more ideas, thoughts, or advice. Thanks for now.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

 
A saltwater tank should not have a bubbler, you need a power head in the hex tank. That's all I've got for advice to give you. The power head should have been on your list of what to get before a fish.
 
Most needed in order:

  • Books on Saltwater Aquariums

  • Tank and Stand

  • Saltwater

  • SG refractometer or hydrometer

  • Power head

  • Live rock
    Substrate
    Lights
    Thermometer
    Marine Test kits
    Skimmer
 
Fish and all critters are LAST, once the new enviroment is ready for them.
 
darkslide820

darkslide820

Member
So unfortunately I haven't been able to find a reasonably sized powerhead for the tank this weekend but puffer is still swimming around. Still breathing noticeably. He hasn't been eating, but his belly has swelled up. What does that mean?
 
levinjac

levinjac

Active Member
It could have a parasite I dunno ive heard of tangs getting pinched bellies and puffers blow them self up when scared or stressed
 
darkslide820

darkslide820

Member
So I tossed around the merits of moving him (possible miraculous recovery) vs. not moving him (last-straw-stress-to-make-him-kick-the-bucket), but when I came home from work today my family showed me that my decision was made for me. He died while I was at work. His belly was still bloated, but aside from that he looked just as he did in his best times: beautiful colors and spots, blue eyes.
 
I guess now that there's no more fish in there, I should just move the starfish, the hermits, and the one snail to the 55g upstairs, and use this tank as the quarantine tank. It's sad now for me to sit here in the basement and not have him swimming around in the corner of the room, as he had been doing yesterday even.
 
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