I think I know why my crab died today, and why some other fish have died

[Rabrrrrrr]

I checked the critical levels on things today after a few months of not doing so (let that be a lesson to me!!) and my pH was around 6.1, and my nitrates were way the hell high.

Whoops!!!

So I've buffered the pH back up, and reduced the nitrates this evening, and now my fish seem MUCH happier!

Son of a bitch, it's always something with an aquarium.

And the damn crab cost me almost $18, too. But even more importantly, it was a huge patriot crab that I really, really liked.

My betta is also on his death bed, and he might even have died already.

FUCK!!

[ahem]

1. I'm a Betta breeder, if you think he's still alive

and you want any advice to save him, let me know. I'd be happy to help. I love the little guys.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. I was tempted to buy a little betta bowl for the guy

and see if I can help him in that.

Unfortunately, my hospital tank is out of action due to a broken filter, and I haven't replaced it, and I figure by the time I could get the tank reset the betta guy will likely be dead.

I have him in a birthing basket now so he's alone and can't be bothered, and he just lays on the bottom of it, breathing hard, and not often moving.

[ahem]

5. Sorry he's not looking good, but with Bettas you never know

he may hold on for a while still. The best thing you could do for him now would be setting up a bowl (not a tiny one, something between 1/2 and 1 gallon--if you don't have one, you can improvise with a gallon jug with top cut off or even a drink pitcher.) I would fill it about a quarter of the way with tank water and the rest with spring water (no need to dechlorinate with spring water.)

Check the ph, if 7 or higher add a drop or two of ph Down (even though 7 is ideal for him normally, you don't want to jump too high since he's been in 6.1 for a while now. 6.7 or 6.8 would probably be best, but if it would take more than a drop or two of ph Down to get there don't add more--it'll be good enough.)

Add freshwater aquarium salt (1/4teaspoon for 1/2 gallon; 1/2 teaspoon for a gallon) and Aquari-Sol (1 drop for 1/2 gallon; 2 for a gallon.) That should be a pretty soothing mix for him.

I hope he gets better!

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Well, I tried it. He was looking pretty bad - much color was gone already,

and in about a half hour of his new home, he died and went to Samurai Fighting Fish Valhalla.

Sad. He was a very beautiful fish.

[ahem]

8. So sorry I couldn't help.

I'm sure he was beautiful. It sounds like he had one fin in the grave, but you should feel good that you tried so hard to save him.

Samurai Fighting Fish Valhalla? Is that where my little guy who checked out a couple of months ago went? I hope so--he was a badass 2-year-old. I like to think of him scrapping it out in the great hereafter.

[BikeWriter]

11. I'm sorry about your fish, Pard. :-(

[jmowreader]

2. Do a 50-percent water change. Today.

You should change 10 percent of the water every week, but since you've been screwing around and letting your nitrogen cycle go to shit, you need to change a lot of water in that tank.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. That's a good idea.

Thanks!

[Rising Phoenix]

6. I love having fish

they are the only pets I"m not allergic to

[mykpart]

9. The doctor gave me some medicine

that killed all my crabs!

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. Well, I did a 20 gallon water change tonight, and my fish seem happier.

I didn't do a full water change, just because my tap water is SO mineral heavy (it tastes awful). So I will do some changes day by day. Not the most efficient way, but at least it helps reduce the toxic shock to the fishies, and will be easier to adjust the pH.

Just adding 20 gallons of tap water to the 125 gallon tank spiked the pH up over 7.2. BAM!

But I tested the nitrates again, and it's still about what it was before. But yet my nitrites are at zero, and my ammonia level is zero. My water filter is awesome, and I've changed the media in it every month, so they're all okay.

Could it be possible that my nitrate tester is fucked?

I just don't see how I can have no ammonia, no nitrites, with a pH (now) of 6.9-7.0, and water that's properly buffered, and yet be so drastically high in nitrates.

I just don't get it.

[crispini]

12. I don't get it. Are aquariums different than ponds?

I don't even test for nitrate. I worry about nitrite, but I let the plants take care of the nitrate, and it's my understanding that nitrate doesn't bother the fish. :shrug:

....looks up nitrate cycle ... yeah, ammonia --> nitrite --> nitrate.