My GSP is running into the tank glass and is blind

[titanoboa100]

Parameters: API test tube and droplet test done at a local Pet Supplies Plus store on 4/1/2012
PH 8.4 Alkaline
Ammonia 2PPM
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0


Parameters: PetsMart test strip done at a local PetsMart on 4/1/2012
PH 8.4 Alkaline
Ammonia 1.2 PPM
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Alkalinity 300 PPM
Hardness 75 PPM

(Salinity: I do my own testing for salinity since I have a Hydrometer. It shows a 1.000 reading.)

Cage Size:
10 Gallon
Inhabitants:
There is nothing else in the tank except the single GSP.
2 fake aquarium plants
white gravel
1 five inch conch shell
11 small sea shells
Aqueon Quite flow filter
Fluorescent light
50 watt heater

Feeding:
I feed once a day supermarket raw shrimp.
I rarely feed him Aqueon Fish Flakes.

Products:
I use the Auqueon brand water conditioner.
I use Jungle brand Aquarium Salt.
I use the NITE-OUT II Microbe Lift.

Changes:
When I first got the aquarium on 3/26/2012, I filled the empty 10 gallon aquarium with tap water and added 1tsp of Auqeon water conditioner. I waited 18 hours before adding the GSP.

On 3/27/2012 I purchased the GSP at Walmart. I put the GSP while still in the store bag in the water for 10 mins. Then I put some of my 10 gallon tank water into the store bag with the GSP still inside the bag for 10 more mins. I then released the GSP into the 10 gallon tank. I then added 1 tablespoon of Jungles Aquarium salt to the tank.

On 3/28/2012 I got my water tested at the local Petco. However I didn't write down the numbers. The Petco store associate told me that the water was for the most part okay, but that the Ammonia was a bit high. She told me to do a 10-25% water change.

On 3/29/2012 I prepared 2 gallons of tap water for a water change. I added water conditioner to the prepared water. The GSP seems to stay by the water filter and keeps his belly turning color from black to white, but mostly black. His eating is almost non existent.

On 3/30/2012 I didn't pay much attention to the GSP since I thought the water change would help lower the ammonia just like what the Petco associate told me.

On 3/31/2012 I did a 2 gallon water change with the water that was prepared from 3/29/2012. I also added 2 tables spoons of salt. The GSP is swimming like he's blind and runs into the tank glass and gravel at the bottom. He ate some shrimp. I gave him a live snail, but he didn't even touch it.

On 4/1/2012 I purchased and added 1 TSP of NITE-OUT II. My GSP is swimming and nose diving into the gravel of the aquarium. The GSP seems to be swimming into the glass walls of the aquarium. The GSP will not eat. He stays under or near the water filter for most of the day and turns a black color. I have even put live snails into the tank and he will swim by them and not even notice them. He curls up into a ball or simply lays down on the gravel to sleep. I think he is blind or something like that. I have had him since Tuesday March 27th. I have only noticed the blindness since yesterday Saturday March 31st.


[http://youtu.be/rVvx9scnF2U] [http://youtu.be/V88BDDBS4pQ]

[bertie 83]

Ammonia poisoning. 80% waterchange instantly. A couple of large waterchanges daily till your water stabilises. A much bigger tank will be needed very soon. A bottle of dr tims or safestart will help you on your way.

[bertie 83]

Salinity 1.000 is freshwater. I would discontinue trying to change the salinity until you have him well again. First priority is sorting water quality

[scpion]

Your description of the procedure is very detailed. I assume its from the lfs BUT, U have to stop listening to them.

[titanoboa100]

Do I need let tap water sit for at least 24 hours before it goes into the tank? How long does the water conditioners take to dechlorinate the tap water?

[Flutter]

No. Tap water can go directly in the tank (same temperature). When you do a water change though add enough dechlorinator to treat the entire 10 gallons.

[Pufferpunk]

I use the NITE-OUT II Microbe Lift.

Just goes to show this crap doesn't work. Try getting Tetra's Safestart & add that to your filter.

[titanoboa100]

Okay guys I guess you can tell that im a newbie at this and I appreciate the help.

Today I did a 5 gallon water change. According to the API test I was able to bring the Ammonia down from a 1.2 ppm to a 1.0 ppm. The PH reading also showed a drop from 8.4 down to 7.6. Nitrate and Nitrite are still both at 0.

I know you guys said to do an 80% water change. Im sorry I should have just done what you said. Should I go ahead and do another water change this time at 8 gallons? I will need to go a purchase the Safe start stuff. Another thing is I didn't even feed the GSP once yesterday(4/2/2012). I thought letting him go hungry for one day would be acceptable, due to the already high Ammonia in the water. Should I give him some shrimp today?

Another thing that I have noticed is after I did the 5 gallon water change, the water was much more clear and I noticed that there seems to be some tiny white round spots on his mouth area and one on his back tail fin. These white things are spherical in appearance and I hope its not Ick.

As far as the dechlorination and the use of the water conditioners. I added about 6 drops of the Aqueon water conditioner to every gallon of water. I now know that I will be adding 1 tsp to every water change no matter the amount of water that is going into the tank. 1 tsp is the recommended amount for dechlorination of the entire 10 gallon tank.

So far the NITE-OUT II Microbe Lift doesn't seem to be working. Is there a possibility that I just didn't change enough water on the 3/31/2012, and there was too much Ammonia in the tank inhibiting the growth of the NITE-OUT Microbes?

[sgtmyers88]

Unfortunately your description sounds precisely like he has Ich. So my suggestion is to get the temp up to 86 degrees and use Melafix or a couple of the Jungle Ich Clear fizz tablets. And keep doing water changes daily! If you absolutely feel he must be fed you can give him a small amount of food but if he rejects it remove it from the tank ASAP.

[bertie 83]

I would get your water to sound quality before treating ich. I doubt he is strong enough to cope with both. Yes do the water change and do a couple of large ones daily. Get the safestart ASAP so you can get the ick treated

[titanoboa100]

Today his color has returned some what. He doesn't seem to be running into the glass aquarium panels as much. He's still hanging out by the water filter. I also wanted to mention that yesterday after I did the 5 gallon water change, I did not washout the filter carbon pad. I thought that washing it out would kill some of the little bacteria that it currently holds. Im still learning about this water change and cycling.

How much of a water change should I do this time? With the Ammonia down to 1.0 ppm, should I be doing another 50-80% water change or do a smaller 25% water change?

I got him to eat some shrimp, but only cause I tied a string to it and dangled it in front of his face. I guess he could smell or taste the shrimp, but couldn't really see it. He will be pooping a lot more today or tonight after his meal so that might spike the Ammonia.

I also added 5 ml of Aqueon water condition just to make sure I got all of the tank water dechlorinated.

I don't even have a test kit and I am looking to get the API test kit. So far I have been doing my water tests with my local aquariums at Petco, Petsmart and Pet supplies plus. Pet supplies plus gives me a free API droplet test, I never go by what the Petco and Petsmart strip test gives me. I have noticed that the test strip tests that Petco, Petsmart differ a lot from the API droplet tests that Pet supplies plus does for me. Both the paper strip and the API droplets show Nitrates and Nitrites at 0. PH is also very close, however Ammonia was showing 0 for the paper strip test and 1.0 for the API droplets! I make sure that I write down all numbers and parameters each time I test at a Petco, Petsmart and Pet Supplies Plus.

I am trying to purchase all my fish supplies online from now on. I will be looking to buy the API freshwater test kit, or some other droplet based test kit. I think its safe to say that everyone here knows the droplet test kit is more accurate than the paper strip test kits. I will also be looking at getting the safe start and the medicine for the ICK.

I also wanted to mention that maybe the PH went down to 7.6 from the high of 8.4 because I removed the sea shells that I had in the aquarium. Currently the only thing I have in the tank is the white gravel and the GSP. I even took out the plastic plants.

[Flutter]

You don't need any medicine for the ich, all you need to treat that is aquarium salt. Someone else with more experience in situations like this can help you with whether or not you should begin to treat for ich immediately. I personally believe that you should be focusing on water quality right now (monitoring the ich as well of course).

Regarding water changes, you're probably best to do 2+ 80% water changes per day until the ammonia is down to 0. Anything above 0 is bad for your fish (same with nitrites, you should see them in the future). Since you don't yet have a test kit just keep doing water changes multiple times per day, and get your water tested when possible. Don't worry about pH right now, ammonia and nitrite are the serious substances.

You're trying very hard, I hope you are successful with saving your fish.

[bertie 83]

+1 to what flutter said about 2x 80% w/c daily. Definately wait until his strength is up before putting him through ich treatment, we will talk you through this when the time comes. Oh and add back some decor for him to hide in he will be much more comfortable

[scpion]

imo, U can safely throw out your carbon pad and replace them with media that can house nitrifying bacterial. Bio ring etc. Carbon pad doesn't do much in this situation. Not too sure how long U have been using them but U will have to throw them out after some time eventually. Skip the med, salt and heat is all U need to treat ich, but sort out the water problem first.

Also, put in the declorinator into the tank b4 the new water goes in. Since your tank is small, I would even declorinate the water in a bucket b4 replacing the water.

[titanoboa100]

I just did a 3 gallon water change. I added 5 ml of the water conditioner to the 3 gallon tap water bucket before adding it into the tank. I also poured the NITE-OUT II onto the carbon filter pad. I always make sure that I don't rinse out the carbon filter pad when I do a water change. Lets see how much of a difference a 3 gallon change does. I also have the temp at about 80 F. Before I had visited this site I was learning how to do water changes via youtube videos. Correct me if I did something wrong. Perhaps I should post a youtube video of my next water change so that you guys can tell me if im doing it right.