MedicBiker

I've posted this in the betta forum and the cloudy water forum, but I am still looking for answers, please help.

I had a Betta acting unusual last week. I wasn't sure if he was going to survive the weekend (tank is in my office at work). Before I left for the weekend, I did a 25% WC with treated water, vacuumed half the gravel, and changed the combo filter/carbon pad (about 3 wks old). I also have one of the floss pads in the filter that I did not clean or change. When I walked in this morning (three days later, the water was cloudy. My first thought was that Clyde was dead and decomposing. I looked for him, but could not find him. After further inspection, he was in one of the caves, huddled against the side of the cave, alive.

I have all zeroes for my ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? If the cloudy water is from a bacterial bloom, wouldn't I see SOMETHING on ammonia, Ites or Ates?? This water chemistry thing really has me baffled. One of my co-workers keeps telling me that I "mess with that fish tank too much, just leave it alone". Easy for someone with a 55 gal + established tank to say, but I am starting to steer in that direction. I just can't figure these chemistries out. Please help....

Dino

How long has this been set up?

MedicBiker

Just about a month. I had used "Eco-Start" (LFS recommended) for 4 days, had an ammonia level of about 1, then it decreased gradually (I only had the ammonia tester at the time). Betta went in after about 10 days. 3 head/taillights went in a week later. I got the nitrate and nitrite testers early last week. I had readings indicating that it was all cycled early last week. My ammonia and nitrites were 0, nitrates were 5. The betta started acting up (flaring constantly for ~36 hrs) on Wednesday, then got pale and reclusive on Friday after I did my weekly 25% WC (this was the first time I vacuumed half the gravel). I stirred up alot of junk with the vac, so after about 5 hrs, I changed the the filter cartridge with integrated carbon pouch. I left the other thing in the filter (looks like a thready funnel-cake pad).

Sorry if this is , but I wanted to give the experts anything that might be pertinent.

Thanks for the help!

Dino

It is hard to give too much info when concerning a problem.
Any detail may be the key to the solution.

You might want to decrease the amount of feeding.
Generally, new folks tend to overfeed.

Do another change Thursday.

MedicBiker

Will do both. Thanks for the help.

Is it common for all three readings to be 0 once the tank has cycled, or should I be shooting for SOME nitrAtes?

susitna-flower

I still say the cycle isn't finished. Your baby is stressing, and you need to do 25% water changes every day till you read 0 for ammonia, nitrites, and 5+ on nitrates....

When you added new test kits to what you had for ammonia, are they all API?

This really will give the best reliable information. The API Master test kit is available at www.drsfostersmith.com

With the cloudy water, I would say you are just starting INTO the cycle. WATER CHANGES, every day while it is going on will hopefully save your betta.....Good Luck

MedicBiker

All the kits are API - I essentially bought the MTK but didn't get the high range pH or the nifty test tube holder.

I will feed less, and start doing daily 25% WCs until I get to 0, 0, 5+. Hopefully the damage hasn't already been done. I have a tough time believing that my tank could be worse than the palm-sized teacup Clyde used to live in.

Thanks again.

COBettaCouple

What are you treating the tap water with? I would recommend Prime. Just get an empty dropper bottle (travel section of walmart/target/etc.) to measure out 1 drop per gallon. Stress Coat or Fish Protector would help his stress levels some too.

MedicBiker

I am using Tetra AquaSafe. I bought a big bottle of it when I bought the tank because I read here that I would be doing a lot of WCs. This morning's 25% WC has perked Clyde up considerably. He is back to swimming all around the tank, much to the chagrin of the Head/Taillights, who are back to huddling together in the opposite side of the tank from where Clyde frequents. Clyde is still not 100%, but is definitly happy about the new water. My chemistries are still puzzling, as all three major readings were still 0 before the WC. I am thinking that I probably vacuumed the gravel a little too soon. I guess all I can do is keep doing WCs and wait it out.