JillianGarcia05

I'll have to check those YouTube videos out. She likes the pellets - and wants more after feeding her allotment for the day. And yes - improvement has been made by leaps and bounds! The bacteria is almost 100% cleared up - just a tinyspot on her head left. Though her right eye is still a tiny bit swollen, not sure what to do about that. Might go to the co-op on Saturday and chat with the folks down there after her next tank change. Other than that she's been sassy as ever - her personality is back for sure. She even flared her gills at me when I did a quick water test and it wasn't food.

Hi @Odd Duck - I did add some more FritzZyme 7 after my tank change on Saturday (per the med instructions) and a little more aquarium salt too. Got her new food at the co-op and she seems to not be bloating after eating now. I was feeding her flakes and she seemed to gulp in as much air as food. Plus, I had a few people tell me the flakes weren't as good. So now she has the little pellets and I drop them in one at a time so she doesn't wolf them down. The fungual looks like it's improving a bit, a little less on her left side and the top of her head. The person I spoke with at the aquarium co-op said to give her a week off after the meds were done and see how she was doing. But I did watch a video on their YouTube that said aquarium salt can help with a lot of stuff. I guess we'll see :)

@Colu and @nabokovfan87 I'll have to find some aquarium salt for her tank then. @Fish Folk I think I've been saddling the line of accepting a positive or negative outcome with her. So I get what you're saying and all in all, just want whatever's best for her. But this lesson is important and I have learned so much from everyone. So thank you for that reminder that stuff happens, good or bad.

@nabokovfan87 thanks! I’ll watch those videos tomorrow and start doing some research. I’d imagine Amazon might have some option. updating on heater since I cant sleep. This looks promising and I can control the temp, plus 4+5 star reviews: Pawfly Submersible Aquarium Heater 50 W Betta Fish Tank Heater Adjustable Electronic Heating Rod with Thermostat and Water Shortage/Overheating Protection for Fish Tanks up to 15 Gallons https://a.co/d/1CU2GXh if this looks okay, I’m going to order since the other 25w barely got to 78. Oh no! My poor fish. The curious thing is the area you pointed out she had when I bought her end of September/beginning October. So it’s possible I brought her home with it. So do the maracyn and then dose with the other type of meds? The maracyn did list it helps with fin rot but might need something stronger it sounds. Also, I think the bloating is from her food and how she eats. She gulps a lot of air, since its fish flakes. But reading about that sounds like those aren’t the best for her due to the filler too. Any recommendations on betta food? I appreciate your help and time along with everyone else. I’ve asked a lot of questions and feel a bit lost. So thank you! I really want to make her better, she means a lot to me. i also have plans for building her a 10 gallon tank with real plants and more room to swim.

@nabokovfan87 thanks! I’ll watch those videos tomorrow and start doing some research. I’d imagine Amazon might have some option. Oh no! My poor fish. The curious thing is the area you pointed out she had when I bought her end of September/beginning October. So it’s possible I brought her home with it. So do the maracyn and then dose with the other type of meds? The maracyn did list it helps with fin rot but might need something stronger it sounds. Also, I think the bloating is from her food and how she eats. She gulps a lot of air, since its fish flakes. But reading about that sounds like those aren’t the best for her due to the filler too. Any recommendations on betta food? I appreciate your help and time along with everyone else. I’ve asked a lot of questions and feel a bit lost. So thank you! I really want to make her better, she means a lot to me. i also have plans for building her a 10 gallon tank with real plants and more room to swim.

Hi @Fish Folk - I took an updated picture, shown in my reply to @nabokovfan87. The photo above doesn't have the spots seen in the first photo I posted. However, I can confirm those aren't there on her anymore. I've looked very thoroughly!

Hi @nabokovfan87 - this is the best I could get (see image below). She loves moving around a lot when she sees me. Lots of energy. The heater I have I can't adjust the temps. So I will have to wait to get paid on Thursday to find another one to help heat the tank more. Do you have any recommendations for one that's for 3 gallons? I did have a carbon filter. But replacing it with a sponge (got the sponge from the co-op) because of the maracyn treatment. I followed the instructions of how to transfer that old filter and replace it with the new one per the co-op instructions (went in person). I also have ceramic rings in the filtration set-up (which is a back hanging on that came with the tank - Top Fin betta set-up). As for the water change, I did do some big ones when I found out I had an ammonia spike (around Thanksgiving week). And did 30% water changes daily for about one week. I was instructed when i went to the co-op to put that Fritz 7 in and follow the med instructions leaving the tank be. I only did one treatment of the maracyn. So basically, I need to repeat what I did a few weeks ago with daily tank changes? Sorry, just clarifying! Thanks! Also noting - I will make sure to make her fast. She isn't going to be too happy about that. Does the bloating mean something? Also, I only did one full treatment of the maracyn (started 12/2-12/7) and did the 25% water change recommended on the 6th day last Thursday. So was I supposed to do one more round of treatment or should I hold off?

Hi @Fish Folk - I have Maracyn from Fritz. I did one round of treatment for the pop-eye re: ammonia spike. Sounds like she needs another round of the 5-day treatment? Thanks!

I need some help again. I thought I was out of the woods with my betta, but yesterday I noticed some light patches (like the one on her head) around her gills and under her chin. This morning her right eye got cloudy again - I'm not sure what to do. For context, I was battling an ammonia spike and got it down to 0ppm. To help with getting the spike down I did a week and a half of water changes and then went to the co-op in person to get more help. I was instructed to put FritzZyme 7 Freshwater and then start treating the tank with Maracyn due to the pop-eye and what I thought was an ammonia burn (the light patch on her head). She perked back up, is WAY more active and her normal self and by the time I completed the first cycle of treatment, the water parameters seemed to have balanced out - that was on Thursday. Tested the waters on Saturday and the same. But today I tested and it seems to have a little ammonia in the water (the API said 0-.25ppm). I think she has a bacterial/fungal thing happening, should I do another dose of the maracyn? I see on the box it helps with bacteria on fish and the description matches what might be happening. Here's the tank info: 3 gallons 77 temp pH: 7.0 Ammonia: 0-.25 ppm Nitrite: 0ppm Nitrate: 0ppm Picture's below of my Augustine - sorry for the hazy glass, was told to leave them alone because that's where good bacteria live too.

@reefhugger I think that was my issue too, overfeeding. My betta gets SO excited and begs for food. Right now I'm only feeding her once a day, a tiny amount since I'm getting this back to where they should be because before this, there would be food waste on the bottom of the tank. Defintely learning from this past experience since I was messing with a lot of things well it was trying to cycle. Got a sponge filter now (from the co-op) and have biomedia in the filter too. 🙂

Thank you @nabokovfan87 - I appreciate it 🙂

Thanks, @AllFishNoBrakes! I'll make sure to be consistent from now on.

Hi all - just doing a feel-good post that today I tested my water after two and half weeks of dealing with ammonia levels and they are finally at 0ppm!! Shout out to everyone including Paul at the Aquarium co-op for all your advice on how to get my sweet betta, Augustine's tank back to where it should be. Now for an ultimate newbie question. Now that I've got her water parameters in the right direction, what's the best way to keep them that way? I've seen a variety of different "This is how you do it" kinds of advice in researching it online. But curious what you all think. Thank you!

Thank you - so far she's perked back up. So I'm hoping that's a good sign. 🙂

She got pop-eye/swollen eye and also an ammonia burn on the top of her head. So this is to help ease those issues. @Macready - yeah that's what I thought. So I only gave her a tiny bit of food. But I'll hold off on feeding her again until tomorrow/Thursday. I have the API water test kit that I've been using. Was instructed to wait to test until I do the 25% water change. Since i was babying the tank for almost two weeks with water changes and testing to help with the ammonia spike.

Happy Tuesday! Last Saturday I visited the co-op and got set up with a game plan for my betta. Currently treating the tank with Fritz Maracyn and dosed the tank with Zyme 7 bacteria (to get BB in the tank) on Saturday, and was instructed for no more water changes (and testing) until day 6 of using Maracyn (per instruction on the package). So basically just leave the tank alone and allow it to try and cycle. The one thing I completely forgot to ask is how often should I feed her while doing this. The idea is to get the tank cycled again and the fish back to health. She ate a little on Sunday night and I fed her a little yesterday around mid-afternoon. But before these new instructions, she was fasting for 2-3 days due to just not feeling well. Now she's feeling WAY better (acting like her normal self) and begging for food. But, I guess the fear is feeding her and having an ammonia spike again. So just curious should I feed her once a day? Or every other day? Just trying my best to get things balanced out. Thanks all!

Very true. When I do the water change today and prepare the replacement water with prime, I'll gather some to test and see. Tomorrow I plan on going to the Aquarium Co-Op (it's not too far from me) and seeing if anyone has some other recommendations to follow. Thanks again for all your help 🙂

I didn't add any prime to the water when I tested the ammonia - just straight tap water. I'm guessing I should add prime and test again?

Hi @Galabar - I feel like I'm now 100% confused since other places have said false positives. I guess I'm at the point where I've been doing daily tank changes (plus two big ones last week) and want to get the nitrogen cycle started. I've heard from some that for the BB to work, I need to stop with the water change and put the BB in it.

Okay, that's good to know. I was told to get it to 0 ppm and then you'll be fine.

@nabokovfan87 - I asked in a different post and someone mentioned that since I'm removing water from the tank daily, it's pointless putting in the BB. So I stopped adding it after my water change on Monday. I have been waiting 24 hours (give or take an hour) between testing. But maybe I need to find a better system. I work remotely, so my days vary on free time along with my weekends. So would you recommend doing water changes, adding treated water with prime and the bb again? I'm new to this whole thing and just trying to get things back on track for my poor betta, Augustine. The filtration I have came with the tank system. My plan once things settle down and if my fish survives (she's been very low energy since the spike and eating a little every couple of days) to get a bigger tank (5 gallons) with a different setup with a new filtration and live plants and get that cycled prior to putting her in. Also thank you for the welcome!

I do rinse them out with warm water and let them air dry. But I'll snag some distilled water from the grocery store and start cleaning them that way.

What would qualify as a sterile tank? 0ppm for ammonia and nitrates appearing? I'm still doing the daily water changes with prime and getting readings of .25ppm in the tank for ammonia. I just did another post to see if anyone knows of the API fresh water master kit does give false postives with prime. If so, can I move onto the next phase of stopping water changes and adding the Seachem sability into the tank for 7-10 days to get nitrogen cycle going.

Hi all, I've posted on here a couple of times trying to help my poor female betta after an ammonia spike after my new tank crashed while trying to establish a cycle. Long story short, did some things like change the filter after a month, causing my bb to disappear and never fully established. Either way the past week I've been doing water changes to keep the ammonia levels done. The first reading was 2ppm and I've kept it at .25ppm every day since last Thursday. Daily routine is 25% water change with treated water with prime. Please note: this is a fish in-tank situation - only one female betta. I was curious since I've seen people comment and would love to verify that the API freshwater master test kit will show a false reading of ammonia when using Seachem prime. Is this true? I also tested my water and the ammonia is 0ppm and verified my city's water is treated with chlorine. I know I have to jump start my cycle again and have a bottle of Seachem Sability to help. However, while doing daily water changes, I can't treat the water yet. So if it's true that API freshwater master kit + prime = false ammonia readings. Does that mean I can stop with the daily water changes and jump start my BB with the sability product? Or do I keep doing the daily water changes until it reaches 0ppm and then start the BB? Many thanks!

@MrWestCoast - Awesome. I'll do this today with my water change. So that might explain why I haven't been able to get the ammonia level to 0ppm and it's been lingering at .25ppm most days. So hopefully in the next few days, it should start to shift lower then hopefully? Not sure how long this process takes.