Platies flashing after ammonia spike!

Hi,
all three of my platies are flashing! I have a 10 gallon planted tank around 6 months old with 3 platies, 3 oto cats, and around 10 platy fry. I cycled it when I first got it, and then added platies. The three I have in the tank began flashing a few days ago. I checked my water parameters and realized that I have around 0.5ppm ammonia along with traces of nitrite, so I did around 4 (25%-50%) water changes over the course of 3 days. During this ammonia spike, my platies began flashing, so I thought it was gill flukes. I transferred the three platies to a 3.5 gallon quarantine tank with some aquarium salt in hopes that it would help. I live in Canada, so we do not have any fish medication at local fish stores that can treat flukes like prazipro, etc. After a few more water changes and days, my ammonia was 0ppm and I believe everything was now balanced. During this time, I researched a little more on flashing and thought that it could have been due to ammonia spike, so I added the fish back into the main tank. They were in the QT for about 4 days or so. However, they began flashing again. I checked my water and it is pretty good. 0ppm ammonia and 0ppm nitrite. I have a little high nitrate, so i just did a 20% water change. Since my water parameters seem to be ok, I am unsure of what is causing the flashing. Along with this, their gills are a little red, which I read can be due to ammonia spikes.
I would appreciate any help!

 

What is your tank PH vs your tap PH?

They could very well be flashing because their gills are irritated. Ammonia and nitrite will cause that.

If you have solved the ammonia/nitrite issue then you are probably gonna be ok. The salt will help the healing. They are probably still flashing because they aren't healed yet.

But be mindful of your PH because swings can also be a little irritating to them.

 

What is your tank PH vs your tap PH?

Both are around 6.8. Im not sure if this is important, but my tank GH is 150, while my tap GH is around 25.

 

Both are around 6.8. Im not sure if this is important, but my tank GH is 150, while my tap GH is around 25.

If that's what they have been living in then that's fine. Just checking.

 

If that's what they have been living in then that's fine. Just checking.

oops, I only saw the "What is your tank PH vs your tap PH?" part of your reply. Ok, I see. I appreciate the help and information, thank you!

 

What is your tank PH vs your tap PH?

They could very well be flashing because their gills are irritated. Ammonia and nitrite will cause that.

If you have solved the ammonia/nitrite issue then you are probably gonna be ok. The salt will help the healing. They are probably still flashing because they aren't healed yet.

But be mindful of your PH because swings can also be a little irritating to them.

Tank pH and tap pH are not important. Tank kH and tap kH are very important.

My kH is 0-1 out of the tap, but pH is 9.5 - 10. The true offgassed pH is somewhere between 6.3 - 6.8. I can easily do a 50% water change with 10pH tap water in a tank with a pH of 6.3. Fish won't bat an eye.

 

That's where I was headed. I understand how KH works. But I don't assume that everyone does. But still, if the PH is in fact swinging in the tank, yes it could point to a difference in KH and it is important and it can irritate the fish. PH is very important.

Regardless, im still leaning towards the ammonia and nitrite and the fish just need some time to recover.