Best Pop Eye treatment?

Oct 14, 2011
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Keene, NH
#1
Hello, yesterday i noticed my Dwarf Gourami now has pop eye, just after it was cured of ich, what is the best treatment and why do i keep having problems? The ph level is between 7.4 - 8.0, I couldn't tell, the colors are very similar. Everything else is at 0 ppm.
 

Thyra

Superstar Fish
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
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Yelm, WA
#2
If you aren't showing any nitrate, your tank is not cycled. Your pH is not the problem. You should read up on cycling a tank and that would probably help with some of the problems you are having. The pH of my tanks is over 8.0 and the fish have done fine.
 

Oct 14, 2011
45
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Keene, NH
#3
alrighty, so is that the problem most likely? Tank just not cycled yet, there is algae already growing on one of the rocks i have in there. But for the Pop eye Melafix should help? also how long will it take for it to go away?
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#4
A 5 gallon tank is too small to house a dwarf gourami. Frequent water changes will be needed to try to maintain healthy water parameters. Upgrading and cycling a larger tank will be your best bet.
 

Oct 14, 2011
45
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Keene, NH
#5
Yea i am fine with doing water changes until i can come up with money for a bigger tank, that was my plan anyways. Also i was going by the 1 fish per gallon rule. I was gonna get another dwarf gourami, and then stick to small fish like danios or something small like that. My friend has a 29 gallon that eventually he said he as going to sell and i was gonna buy that off of him.
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#6
Everything else is at 0 ppm.
I would suspect the test results are faulty if 'everything' is 0 ppm. How are you testing your water (what test kit brand and type ~strips or liquid test tube kit~) and what SPECIFICALLY are you testing for that gives you a result of 0 ppm?

Also i was going by the 1 fish per gallon rule.
There used to be a 'rule' of one inch of fish per gallon of water, but that does not work in very small aquariums nor with all but the smallest of fish. You would not put a 5inch oscar in a 5 gallon tank.

My friend has a 29 gallon that eventually he said he as going to sell and i was gonna buy that off of him.
A 29 gallon tank would be a great setup for the fish you mentioned.
 

Thyra

Superstar Fish
Jun 2, 2010
1,891
0
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Yelm, WA
#9
Definitely do a partial water change - probably about 50% (some one else may chime in about this) You will need to do this daily to get the ammonia to zero. Also, remember its nitrIte and nitrAte. There is a difference. You want the nitrite at zero, but when it is finally cycled it will show nitrates of about 20ppm.
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#10
The ammonia reading of 2.0 is not 'zero' so that explains the illnesses you've experienced. You should do water changes anytime you see ammonia on the test.

What dechlorinator do you use to treat the water? Check the label and see if you can use it to bind ammonia. I'd do daily 50% water changes and only feed every other day until the tank cycles.
 

Oct 14, 2011
45
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Keene, NH
#11
Also, remember its nitrIte and nitrAte. There is a difference.
Thank you, I've never noticed the difference in the spelling until i just read what you said. So what are the differences between them? Also i am using Nutrafin Aqua Plus for my conditioner. So what should the proper readings be all the time after the tank is fully cycled?
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#12
Also i am using Nutrafin Aqua Plus for my conditioner.
If you are on city water and they use chloramine, using that conditioner will add ammonia to your water. I would recommend using one that binds ammonia until your cycle has completed.

So what should the proper readings be all the time after the tank is fully cycled?
Zero ammonia, zero nitrite, and some measurable nitrates. When you hit 20 in nitrates, you should do a water change to lower them.
 

Oct 14, 2011
45
0
0
Keene, NH
#13
Also my Dwarf Gourami just came out of hiding and its eye is like hanging out, I read online that after suffering Pop eye the fish might lose its eye, but does this mean the pop eye is going away? or is it gonna die? It seems to be acting exactly how i would when i don't feel good, hiding and sleeping all the time. It just came out to look for food so maybe hes feeling better?
 

Oct 14, 2011
45
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0
Keene, NH
#14
Yes i am using city water, also what would the best conditioner be? I hate this feeling that I'm killing fish and I'm only trying to do good and i keep miserably failing. Before i started the tank, i never knew anything about cycling a tank. when i was like 10 years old i used to have a 10 gallon with tropical fish and everything was fine, we never cycled the tank or anything.
 

Fuzz16

Superstar Fish
Oct 20, 2006
1,918
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Wellsville, KS
#15
ammonia burns your fishs gills also.

agree with doing daily 50% water changes to hopefully get the sickness under control...

do you have a filter on this tank? is it working?
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#17
Read the label on the dechlorinators available to you at your pet store. I personally use Prime (made by Seachem), but any that say 'binds ammonia' on the label will work.

Keep in mind, the test kit will still show ammonia (because its STILL THERE when in the bound form as ammonium). I would just follow the instructions for bind it, then still do your 50% water changes until your tank cycles. It can also be used to detoxify nitrite when you get further along in your cycle (even deadlier than ammonia), just be sure to add extra aeration.
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#19
Ammonia does not cause bubbles. If you have a protein slime on the surface of the water, it can hold bubbles. This usually indicates stagnation or excessive organic waste in the water.