Are these levels ok?

[Zoodiver]

First off there is NO NEED for name calling. Let's have a little maturity here people.

Nobody is arguing that the fish can't sit in "toxic water" - the main point is defining "toxic". I've seen puffers and many other fish due JUST FINE sitting through cylcing a tank. As I posted before, you need to let the fish tell you how they are doing. As they are being described, the fish are just fine. There has never been a post stating the fish are showing any ill effects at all. (If there is one, please show me.)

The idea that this tank will NEVER cycle is just inccorect information. It will, and the water quality readings are showing that it's starting to. It's showing ammonia being broken down into nitrite and then nitrate. Levels went from zeros up to tens. That's beginer fish keepeing.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Don't you agree that there is only so much nitrifying bacteria a tank can hold & if the tank is overstocked, there will be no way for that tank to stabilize?

Also, just because a fish got through a cycling tank "JUST FINE", doesn't mean there isn't permanent damage, shortening it's lifespan (concerning puffers, that can mean into it's late teens)?

 

[Zoodiver]

To a point yes, there is a limit to how much bacteria can grow. There is plenty of surface area with the amount of substrate in this tank to support a few puffers. It just needs time to colonize.

 

[Pufferpunk]

It's been cycling for 2 months! IMO, that tank can only support 1 GSP & that's only until it is 2" & then it needs to be upgraded.

 

[borgey]

That tank without a doubt is not capable of holding that bio load. To the OP just get that 46 gallon setup ASAP!!!! If I was in that position I would without a doubt be doing 50% WCs twice daily. With the levels you posted and them being in the tank FOR TWO MONTHS already it's just not going to cycle. Not to mention that Puffers are extra sensitive to poor water quality. There are a lot of people who know what they are talking about and you've got a lot of good advice, now it's just time to take it and run with it I guess. Ideal situation would be to find someone who has a 100+ gallon tank to take them so they will not kill each other from aggression and be able to swim. I know that's not what you want to hear tho but GOOD LUCK!!!!! Don't let this discourage you either by the way.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Sorry to say, her dorm will not let her set up anything larger than 10g.

 

[Zoodiver]

It hasn't really been cycling for two months. With water changes and any kind of filter cleaning, it's a set back on something like this.

 

[geronimo69]

Guys/Gals... I have a Ceylon Puffer in a 55 gallon with the salt sitting at 1.022, almost Marine. I HAD 2, but the second, smaller one died. No reason. The only thing I can think of is my nitrates got too high (like 4o-60 ppm). I now never let the tank get higher than 10 ppm. 50% water change a week. I've also done 2 - 80% changes in one day. No ill effects.

i've had a filter with media sit out for a few weeks, added it to a new 10 gal and didn't even get a cycle (I test twice a day). The bacteria is a lot more tolerant than people think.

The point to me going on about this is to back Pufferpunk. She's right. Ammonia/Nitrites/high nitrates are very detrimental to puffers. A tank should easily be cycled after 2 months. I would suggest bigger tank and more filtration. Keep up on HEAVY water changes. The bacteria in the filters will not be harmed from water changes at all. 0 chance.

End of the day, it sounds like the bio-load of those puffers is too much for the current filtration to handle.

 

[borgey]

I can understand that cleaning the filter would set back a cycle but that's about it. You can't honestly say a tiny 10 gallon tank is capable of holding the bio load from 3 GSPs....... Just my $.02

 

[borgey]

Sorry to say, her dorm will not let her set up anything larger than 10g.

That's too bad. Because basically that 10 gallon is a death sentence for those poor fish. They will either die out of aggression or Nitrite/Ammonia, either way this can VERY EASILY be avoided.