Disease help

[CJs Aquatics]

Can anyone help me identify this dark pigmentation near the left gills of my juvenile blue eyed lemon pleco? He seems to be doing ok eating an algae wafer in the picture I’m just unaware as to what that may be disease or genetics or other, any help would be appreciated thanks…

[Colu]

I can't see the picture and what are your water parameters

[CJs Aquatics]

Sorry, I’m new to this forum, and forums in general… I attempted to upload a thumbnail it’s possible it didn’t upload… parameters are as follows: 

200 nitrate 

0 nitrite 

150 GH

0 buffer 

6.4 ph 

0 chlorine 

 

 

[quikv6]

A few concerning things related to your parameters:

1) 0 buffer could lead to PH swings, or a PH crash. What is your PH out of the tap?

2) 200 nitrates seem quite high....very high actually. Most folks try to keep it below 40ppm, as a general rule. How long has the tank been established, and what is your water change schedule and stocking?

Sorry about the questions, but they could help point towards the potential issue at large.

[CJs Aquatics]

I change water weekly, the tank has been set up and inhabited for months, the nitrates shocked me when I read the test strip bc it’s a pretty heavily planted tank that hasn’t had many issues except occasional ones in the past which were from over feeding I corrected, nothing really has changed, the pleco in question is the newest fish in the tank and kinda small, but has been chowing down today, idk what caused the parameters to swing like this but to answer your question and hopefully lead me to an answer the ph from my tap is 6.8 ish 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 75 hardness it looks like and 0.8 chlorine 

[Colu]

I would add some crushed coral to raise your KH to provent pH swings.have you been using a dechlorinator like prime when you do your water changes

[CJs Aquatics]

Yes I use prime every water change to dechlorinate water the only other chemical that goes into the tank is easy green

[Colu]

I would daily small water changes to get your nirates down coupled with your low buffer could be getting pH swings that more than likely what's affecting your fish i would add.prime Daily as it also detoxify  nitrates till you get your nirates down to below 40

Edited September 7, 2021 by Colu

[CJs Aquatics]

I will do small water changes daily and add prime and hope it helps the little guy, I’ll start now, thanks for input

[Colu]

I would a stop dosing easy green for now as it a nitrogen base fertilizer that more than likely causeing your high levels of nitrates

[CJs Aquatics]

That would also make sense, should I do anything special for the pleco with the spot I noticed or just maintenance the tank and see if it resolves itself?

[Colu]

Once you get your nirates down I think you will start to see an improvement in him the  dark pigmentation more then likely caused by the nitrates 

[CJs Aquatics]

Ok thank you so much for your time and advice I appreciate it