Help With Dwarf Puffers In Their Tank

[famous]

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Tank size: 40L
pH:7.2
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate: never above 10ppm
tank temp:25c

Fish Symptoms: got home on sunday to a slightly cloudy tank. decided to do a water change. as soon as i took the water out the fish started gasping so immediately i put an air pump in. added dechlorinated tank water and left it over night. woke up in the morning to see everything in the tank covered in a white stringy almost gel like substance and the fish were still gasping. i did another 40% water change and removed as much stringy stuff as possible. i also took the sponges out of the filter and they also had white stringy stuff on and felt a little sticky. the fish were still gasping for the rest of the night. the next morning the stringy stuff re appeared. i have since moved them into a different 40l tank (hoping i could leave the problem in the tank) and this morning they were gasping again

Volume and Frequency of water changes: about 30% weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: added 40g of salt to see if it will cure problem

Tank inhabitants: 4 dwarf puffers and 4 ottos

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): only 1 java fern from Malaysia (bought via ebay) was washed before it went in. added on friday last week

Exposure to chemicals: none


would appreciate any help or advice on what to do.

 

[jennybugs]

DPs won't tolerate aquarium salt or any other kind of salt as they are true freshwater puffs to my knowledge and experience. This could be why they are gasping.
4 DPs in a 40L is 2 puffs too many as well. 5 gallons per puffer are the best stocking levels. What's the filtration? Weekly 50% water changes are best for any puffer tank and overfiltering is a must.

ETA: I'm not sure what the stringy stuff is I'm afraid. Someone can hopefully add to that.

 

[famous]

they can tolerate some salt in very small amounts such as what i have added. it will only be in there a few days.

with regards to the stocking. the puffers are still young and not at all aggressive towards each other and have lots of hiding places and things to break their lines of sight. i have another tank ready to move them into when they get a bit more aggressive. it has a fluval 2+ filter so it is over filtered. i feed them every other day on bloodworm, mysis and lots of other different things. i also try and give them live food at least twice a week.

 

[WILDER]

How long has the tank been set up?

Give the substrate a good hoover.
Water changes and increase aeration.

Your tanks slightly on the overstocked side.
What test kit are you using.

 

[famous]

been set up just under 6 months but the filter was moved from a tank which had been running a year so the filter is 1 year mature.

i have an air pump running and have been doing daily water changes for the last 4 days. i am using api liquid kit

 

[WILDER]

How are things today.