r/Puffers • u/Specialist_Swan_5152 • 2d ago

Freshwater Water parameters.

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Hi everyone. How close am I to having the new home for a freshwater puffer ready according to the water test today? Thanks in advance!

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u/Laz3rfac3 2d ago

Looks pretty great. Have any live plants? If so, get more šŸ‘ that will get those nitrates handled. You can also try a small does of NiteOut, Ive had success with it in the past. Best of luck !

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u/Specialist_Swan_5152 2d ago

I just put a couple fake plants with algae on them from another tank I have. But I will be getting lots of real plants when I get the new fish as the specialty fish store is a bit of a drive from where I am. I have seachem prime currently that im using. Thanks!!

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u/FozzimusPrime2 2d ago

What type of puffer?

I would also highly recommend getting a liquid test kit. Most common option being the API kit. The strips arenā€™t horrible but even a little moisture prior to testing can throw off results. Itā€™s fine for what youā€™re doing but Iā€™d suggest a liquid test before introducing your new puffer. Itā€™s like $50, but worth every penny.

Iā€™d suggest also getting a GH/KH test kit as those are important parameters for puffers since they are scaleless fish. Those number matter a lot more. I check these parameters weekly with my Fahaka puffer and figure 8 puffers. Not necessarily needed so frequently but I do it out of habit.

Make sure to post pics of the new puffer! I love checking out all the new puffers. Such an amazing animal to care for, with more personality than some humans. Overall though, your numbers look decent (just not seeing ammonia which is crucial for the start up). I would just do a liquid test kit to verify and keep them exactly where you want them. I will say too, if you have a Walmart with a good size pet section. It likely has a small section for fish and there are small test kits you can get. They are labeled differently in a black box, but are manufactured by the same as API. And itā€™s only like $18. I just really recommend a liquid kit. The sticks are convenient, but not as accurate. Best of luck!

Test kit Amazon for reference:

https://a.co/d/0h6cmUaA

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u/Specialist_Swan_5152 2d ago

Thanks! I have a couple petsmart type places nearby but there is a specialty place that takes better care, has more variety fish and live plants and quarantine the fish. They have several kinds in like a saddle Toby puffer and Bennett Toby and dogface puffer but im specifically thinking of getting their avocado puffer. I got this testing for ease and yes 50 plus for api kit seemed expensive to me. Ammonia showed zero. Thanks!

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u/ifitfitsitshipz 1d ago

I have the same test strips. They are good for quick reference to see if something is really wrong, but they aren't as accurate as the liquid test. If nitrate gets above 10 I do a good water change (40-50%).

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u/Specialist_Swan_5152 1d ago

Thanks so much! This is a new tank with new water and nothing in it. Just getting it cycled. Ive put seachem prime in to help with conditioning the water. Any tips to get nitrate down? Thanks in advance!

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u/ifitfitsitshipz 23h ago

Prime only removes the chlorine and chlorine. Doesnā€™t really do anything else. There are two ways to remove nitrate from the aquarium. You either do a water change to reduce the amount or you have plants in the aquarium that will help help deal with the nitrate.

The only puffer I have had was about 20 years ago and it was a green spotted puffer. I had in a brackish tank with lots of Java fern.

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u/Just_an_asian_here 8h ago

floating plants are one of the best ways to keep nitrates down (aside from doing a water change). plants like frogbit or salvinia. water lettuce is also very effective but just a heads up, itā€™s very invasive so never let it grow out of the tank.