Nilocg Betta Dropsy

I'm posting this out of guilt.
I have a betta alone in a heavily planted low tech 5 gallon. I used 0.5ml of NilocG three nights ago. This coincided with a downturn in my healthy betta. He started hanging out at the bottom, then at the top perched high so he was close to getting air. Color very pale - not eating.
The night after that I did a 50% water change. He was still eating at this time but he was not himself in my perception in a way my adult daughter (fish person) and my husband couldn't see.
I guess generally I want to hear that it sounds unrelated. Specifically, what would happen if NilocG was used inappropriately?
Nitrite zero, ammonia zero. I have a uv sterilizer and purigen in a very sponge-stuffed otb so it wouldn't cause too much turbulence. There's a growing amount of green spotty algae on the acrylic sides of the tank that I haven't been able to remove but that doesn't trouble me too much. Tons of hitchhiker bladder snails and mts and one intentional mystery snail.
Does this sound like fert poisoning? He's dying. He's also 3 years old. I don't think he's suffering. I plan to let him draw less and less breath until he passes peacefully.

 

Hey. Couple questions?
What are your nitrate levels? And you say he’s alone but then you say there’s tons of snails. One mystery snail is too much for a five gallon full grown. They are poo machines.
Can you post a picture of your betta?
Are you interested in trying to save him or do you just want to let him die?
I’m sorry I can’t tell you the Nilocg wasn’t the culprit. Especially when you say it was used inappropriately. But we will try to help with the betta if it’s not too late. Let us know. We’re here for you.

 

The Nilocg (Thrive?) wasn't misused, the dosage is 2 mL per 10 gallons, so you underdosed. Even if you overdosed, which I do frequently, there is nothing in Thrive or any other fertilizer for that matter that will sicken/kill fish.

 

The Nilocg (Thrive?) wasn't misused, the dosage is 2 mL per 10 gallons, so you underdosed. Even if you overdosed, which I do frequently, there is nothing in Thrive or any other fertilizer for that matter that will sicken/kill fish.

OP didn’t state how inappropriately it was used just that it was. That was all I was commenting on.

 

Sorry I dropped off. I found him expired not long after I posted and I've been very busy with work all weekend.
I tested nitrates just now. He was pulled out of the aquarium pretty soon after he died so I hope the water quality is a true reflection of what it was when I posted this.
Nitrates right at 40ppm.
He was nearly starved to death when he came under my care. His previous owner thought he was, not just dying, but actually dead. He had been in a small unheated aquarium with a otb that forced a current so strong he couldn't get to his food or stay in one place. He was on his side emaciated when I got him. I don't know about fish, but in mammals I would suspect organ, certainly kidney, failure from that trauma caught up with him and caused his death. He did recover from the starvation and weakness and he had a happy year in his lush little home.
When I referred to using the fertilizer inappropriately what I meant is what would it look like IF I had. I don't think I did. However I did not do water changes weekly because his parameters were perfect. I had not tested anything but nitrite and ammonia for at least a month though.
Mystery snail and uninvited friends - I thought if the parameters were good and the tank was cycled and stable that there was no reason to worry about the bladder snails and mts. Am I wrong? The mystery snail was also a hitchhiker of sorts (came hidden in a bucket of substrate that came with a 40 gallon aquarium I bought from someone) and he's now with his 9 other mystery snail buddies in the 40 gallon with my cichlid. I don't want them - but I didn't think they did any harm. So what do I do?
I loved my little betta. I brought him back from such a sad state that I formed a deep attachment and I think he liked me too. He showed zero fear of me and swam right up to my hand if I was doing anything in his tank. I hate to think my negligence could have contributed to his death but I also want to get feedback from you all so I know what I could have done better.
Thank you so much.

 

Sorry I dropped off. I found him expired not long after I posted and I've been very busy with work all weekend.
I tested nitrates just now. He was pulled out of the aquarium pretty soon after he died so I hope the water quality is a true reflection of what it was when I posted this.
Nitrates right at 40ppm.
He was nearly starved to death when he came under my care. His previous owner thought he was, not just dying, but actually dead. He had been in a small unheated aquarium with a otb that forced a current so strong he couldn't get to his food or stay in one place. He was on his side emaciated when I got him. I don't know about fish, but in mammals I would suspect organ, certainly kidney, failure from that trauma caught up with him and caused his death. He did recover from the starvation and weakness and he had a happy year in his lush little home.
When I referred to using the fertilizer inappropriately what I meant is what would it look like IF I had. I don't think I did. However I did not do water changes weekly because his parameters were perfect. I had not tested anything but nitrite and ammonia for at least a month though.
Mystery snail and uninvited friends - I thought if the parameters were good and the tank was cycled and stable that there was no reason to worry about the bladder snails and mts. Am I wrong? The mystery snail was also a hitchhiker of sorts (came hidden in a bucket of substrate that came with a 40 gallon aquarium I bought from someone) and he's now with his 9 other mystery snail buddies in the 40 gallon with my cichlid. I don't want them - but I didn't think they did any harm. So what do I do?
I loved my little betta. I brought him back from such a sad state that I formed a deep attachment and I think he liked me too. He showed zero fear of me and swam right up to my hand if I was doing anything in his tank. I hate to think my negligence could have contributed to his death but I also want to get feedback from you all so I know what I could have done better.
Thank you so much.

I’m sorry you he passed away. But look what you did for him. You gave him the environment he needed to live happily. I don’t think you hurt him with the nilocg. I think it was just time. You’re a good betta mom. Thank you for saving this one and loving him so well.

 

So sorry to hear, what a story
I didn't mean to imply that you misused, just tried to confirm that you didn't. 1 full dose of Thrive adds 7 ppm nitrate - was 30-40 ppm normal for you?

 

I’m sorry you he passed away. But look what you did for him. You gave him the environment he needed to live happily. I don’t think you hurt him with the nilocg. I think it was just time. You’re a good betta mom. Thank you for saving this one and loving him so well.

Thank you. With nitrates I thought if it was in the safe zone that it was ok, but my reading was higher than I normally get. Do you think it was the fertilizer? I also use it in my one cichlid 40g. Let me know if high nitrate can indicate fertilizer is building up. I will put it back in my water testing routine. I was relying on 0 ammonia and nitrite as my only indicator of a problem and regular nitrate readings only for cycling.
Thank you for your help!

 

I thought of a couple more questions. I use purigen. Do you think that could hide water problems if all I test for is nitrite and ammonia?
Also, my cichlid now lives with 10 quarter sized bladder snails. His tank is also a low tech planted and I use purigen in the also. How do I know if the snails are a problem? What would I do with them?