Seizuring Gourami?

[ShyKitty91]

Tested both my aquarium and tap water today.
AQUARIUM
pH 5 (something in my gravel I am guessing.)
0.25ppm NH4 (probably due to the fact I rinsed my filter sponge out when I did the big clean because it SMELLED so bad.)
0.2ppm NO2
30ppm NO3 (doing a water change tomorrow after grocery shopping.)

TAP WATER
pH 7.6
0.5ppm NH4
0.2ppm NO2
7ppm NO3 (found a problem..)

Note: I use API testers.

The stats for my aquarium are pretty much the same as they were a year ago; pretty consistant.. Still wonder how and even IF my gourami has hole in the head. He doesn't have any physical "holes" in his head. The other fish continue to be merry.. And my gourami is just.. Well.. One minute prefectly happy and friendly, and the next.. At the top of the tank, flailing around.. Makes me sad..

This gourami was sick when I got him (cotton and ripped fins and a missing "feeler") and I nursed him back to health.. This fish has had some bad luck..

 

[Flute]

I would definitely do a water change immediately with those ammonia and nitrite readings. If those readings are the norm for your tank then i would be concerned that the long term exposure has done damage. HITH can often be caused by poor water quality.

Apologies if I have gotten the wrong end of the stick! What water conditioner do you use, just out of curiosity?

 

[ShyKitty91]

Eh, it's city water so it can't be that bad. Besides.. Still probably better than the water they came from.
And I use Big Als water conditioner...

The ammonia levels will go down to a constant 0ppm in a few days when the sponge recoups. I know that for sure.
I did do a water change for the NO3 though. 7ppm won't kill them but 30ppm might.. lol...

 

[Getthejist]

30 ppm of nitrate isn't that bad, and 7 ppm from the tap isn't that bad either. The 0.5 NH4 and 0.2 NO2 readings are a bit worrying though as you really want both of those at 0. It's also a bit weird that your NO2 doesn't go down, how old is your test kit?

 

[ShyKitty91]

a month old
NH4 usually goes down to 0 within 8hrs. Its just because I cleaned the sponge that its taking its time.