SPONGE FILTER BETTA FISH

[Adamantium]

Looks like you’re right where you need to be. As mentioned, that’s Nitrate, AKA the final product in the nitrogen cycle. That means your tank is cycled, and any newly introduced ammonia (as long as it’s not a huge amount) will be turned to nitrate. 5PPM is pretty much spot on perfect. Try not to let the tank get above 20.

btw, any particular reason you posted this on a reef aquarium forum? It wasn’t a bad move, since most of us know what to do here, but I’m really curious.

 

[Copingwithpods]

Looks like you’re right where you need to be. As mentioned, that’s Nitrate, AKA the final product in the nitrogen cycle. That means your tank is cycled, and any newly introduced ammonia (as long as it’s not a huge amount) will be turned to nitrate. 5PPM is pretty much spot on perfect. Try not to let the tank get above 20.

btw, any particular reason you posted this on a reef aquarium forum? It wasn’t a bad move, since most of us know what to do here, but I’m really curious.

Because it's R2R lol here you actually get the help you need

 

[Macky]

I'm seeing no3 on the colour chart, that is nitrate, not nitrite. Difference between the two is nitrate is relatively harmless to fish. 5ppm nitrate is just fine, I was at one point 80ppm in my saltwater tank and everything was just fine. I wouldn't recommend letting it get above 10-20. It's really ammonia and nitrite you have to worry about.

Figures! I didn’t realize it was two different! So nitrite is more important! Looks like I’ll be going back to get another test! I’m hoping his water is ok! Should I do another water change in a day or two before I get back to the store?

 

[Macky]

I'm seeing no3 on the colour chart, that is nitrate, not nitrite. Difference between the two is nitrate is relatively harmless to fish. 5ppm nitrate is just fine, I was at one point 80ppm in my saltwater tank and everything was just fine. I wouldn't recommend letting it get above 10-20. It's really ammonia and nitrite you have to worry about.

 

[Macky]

Because it's R2R lol here you actually get the help you need

I found it on google! I’m a new first time fish owner and I saw people posting questions so I figured to give it a shot and see if someone out of the goodness of them would help me out and they did!

 

[Macky]

I'm seeing no3 on the colour chart, that is nitrate, not nitrite. Difference between the two is nitrate is relatively harmless to fish. 5ppm nitrate is just fine, I was at one point 80ppm in my saltwater tank and everything was just fine. I wouldn't recommend letting it get above 10-20. It's really ammonia and nitrite you have to worry about.

Did water change and ammonia levels are at 0 but he isn’t swimming anymore and is staying up top by the filter, his eyes are also slowly starting to pop out what should I do!?

 

[Macky]

Because it's R2R lol here you actually get the help you need

 

[Macky]

Looks like you’re right where you need to be. As mentioned, that’s Nitrate, AKA the final product in the nitrogen cycle. That means your tank is cycled, and any newly introduced ammonia (as long as it’s not a huge amount) will be turned to nitrate. 5PPM is pretty much spot on perfect. Try not to let the tank get above 20.

btw, any particular reason you posted this on a reef aquarium forum? It wasn’t a bad move, since most of us know what to do here, but I’m really curious.

I did water change today and ammonia levels are at 0 but haven’t got nitrite kit yet, he is staying by pump and by top of water eyes are slowly popping what should I do?

 

[Macky]

Looks like you’re right where you need to be. As mentioned, that’s Nitrate, AKA the final product in the nitrogen cycle. That means your tank is cycled, and any newly introduced ammonia (as long as it’s not a huge amount) will be turned to nitrate. 5PPM is pretty much spot on perfect. Try not to let the tank get above 20.

btw, any particular reason you posted this on a reef aquarium forum? It wasn’t a bad move, since most of us know what to do here, but I’m really curious.

I found it on google! I’m a new first time fish owner and I saw people posting questions so I figured to give it a shot and see if someone out of the goodness of them would help me out and they did!

 

[Hugh Mann]

I did water change today and ammonia levels are at 0 but haven’t got nitrite kit yet, he is staying by pump and by top of water eyes are slowly popping what should I do?

Wouldn't worry about a nitrite test, if you're ammonia is 0 and you have nitrates, you won't have nitrite.

Sounds like you have other issues going on here. I'm sorry, I don't know how to help with the new issue you just described. Best of luck for you and your fish friend.

 

[Copingwithpods]

Bulging eyes or "popeyed" can be a sing of internal gasses building up behind the eye sockets, although medications do exist most people do frequent water changes and wait for improvements. Make sure your tank is maintaining a steady temperature and pH if you are testing for that. Also make sure your new water is temp matched to the tank so you don't shock the fish with cold water. If it's just one eye it could be injury.

 

[Macky]

Bulging eyes or "popeyed" can be a sing of internal gasses building up behind the eye sockets, although medications do exist most people do frequent water changes and wait for improvements. Make sure your tank is maintaining a steady temperature and pH if you are testing for that. Also make sure your new water is temp matched to the tank so you don't shock the fish with cold water. If it's just one eye it could be injury.

He is getting signs of dropsy and fin rot the ammonia levels spiked o just did 50% water change and added more ammonia neutralizer what else can I do

 

[Copingwithpods]

If he is in clean, temp stable water with ammonia blocker all you can do is let it be. Remember your sponge filter and substrate need the ammonia to begin the cycle so don't do 100% water changes. Continue with the plan of 1 gallon water changes a day with temp matched water.

Anything else you are adding to the water? Is he eating?

 

[Macky]

If he is in clean, temp stable water with ammonia blocker all you can do is let it be. Remember your sponge filter and substrate need the ammonia to begin the cycle so don't do 100% water changes. Continue with the plan of 1 gallon water changes a day with temp matched water.

Anything else you are adding to the water? Is he eating?

Yes he is eating I fed him this morning but he is still swimming around looking for food but fins are looking thinner and ripped up almost like, his head is dropping and his stomach is getting a little big ( I feed him 2-4 pellets every 24 hours) I think he’s gonna fast for 24hours tomorrow along with his eyes puffing no discolor around eyes though I’m using a water conditioner as well that helps with fins and metals in water also chlorine and then a betta enviro-clean as well along with some d-klor during water changes that’s it

 

[Macky]

Yes he is eating I fed him this morning but he is still swimming around looking for food but fins are looking thinner and ripped up almost like, his head is dropping and his stomach is getting a little big ( I feed him 2-4 pellets every 24 hours) I think he’s gonna fast for 24hours tomorrow along with his eyes puffing no discolor around eyes though I’m using a water conditioner as well that helps with fins and metals in water also chlorine and then a betta enviro-clean as well along with some d-klor during water changes that’s it

Just did ammonia test now levels are back to 0ppm

 

[Copingwithpods]

You could switch to filtered drinking water for your water changes. There's alot of stuff the declorinator won't remove. That should make life alot easier for the fish to recover.

 

[Macky]

You could switch to filtered drinking water for your water changes. There's alot of stuff the declorinator won't remove. That should make life alot easier for the fish to recover.

Okay thank you I appreciate your help so much!!!! I will keep my eye on him! I’ll will try to get that ASAP

 

[Macky]

You could switch to filtered drinking water for your water changes. There's alot of stuff the declorinator won't remove. That should make life alot easier for the fish to recover.

Is it a bad idea to clean the pump pipe in his tank water? Does that carry nitrite ?

 

[Copingwithpods]

No problem, I know right now it might be a pain doing so many water changes with filtered drinking water but once your tank is stabilized a one gallon water change every 2 weeks or so won't be too hard.

As for cleaning the pipe, sure if it needs it. Just don't do too much at once, remember the bacteria that process ammonia colonize every surface in the tank so don't clean too much at once or you'll kill them all.

 

[Macky]

No problem, I know right now it might be a pain doing so many water changes with filtered drinking water but once your tank is stabilized a one gallon water change every 2 weeks or so won't be too hard.

As for cleaning the pipe, sure if it needs it. Just don't do too much at once, remember the bacteria that process ammonia colonize every surface in the tank so don't clean too much at once or you'll kill them all.

Okay! I did a 20% water change today around 12 and then later I did test and levels spiked to .25 so I just did around 9:45-10pm a water change ammonia levels back at 0 should I change a little with drinking wAter or leave it until tomorrow?