Weird Eye on Betta (Don't think pop... better photos and video)

[Rocky998]

Okay. I'll do that and check the pH in the cycled tank when I get up now. Thanks for all your help. The water was pretty yellow... which I'm not crazy about. I like the crystal clear look. But if it's helpful to the fish... heh. The things you do for love.

Sounds good!
Yellow lol... Mine was orange when cycling:

It was darker than that but I deleted those pics... Now I have a different scape as well.


Tannins have antibacterial properties for the fish that HELP with diseases. And the fish feel more hidden which help them color up more. Basically it really boosts their ego ...

 

[metropolis93fan]

Sounds good!
Yellow lol... Mine was orange when cycling:
View attachment 162430
It was darker than that but I deleted those pics... Now I have a different scape as well.


Tannins have antibacterial properties for the fish that HELP with diseases. And the fish feel more hidden which help them color up more. Basically it really boosts their ego ...

So it's okay in a cycling tank too? Will do that tomorrow. I put in 4 more tonight in the cycled tank. I did both pH and High pH... uh... 8.8!!!! What the heck do I do? Dump the whole damn bag of leaves in there? I have no clue what's going on!

 

[Rocky998]

So it's okay in a cycling tank too? Will do that tomorrow. I put in 4 more tonight in the cycled tank. I did both pH and High pH... uh... 8.8!!!! What the heck do I do? Dump the whole damn bag of leaves in there? I have no clue what's going on!

That's absolutely fine in a cycling tank. No issues.

Is this in the tank being cycled or is that PH reading in the tank that has fish?

 

[metropolis93fan]

The tank with my betta. That is why I am freaking out

 

[Rocky998]

The tank with my betta. That is why I am freaking out

Ok... Every two days do a small water change using water that has a lower PH... Once you get it to the level you want then stop and go to a normal water change routine.

 

[metropolis93fan]

I can't. I leave for my surgery tomorrow afternoon. Don't get back until Saturday or Sunday.

 

[Rocky998]

I can't. I leave for my surgery tomorrow afternoon. Don't get back until Saturday or Sunday.

Maybe do a normal 25% water change tomorrow morning if possible but your appointment is definitely more important.

I hope your surgery goes well... I don't know what its for but stay strong!

 

[metropolis93fan]

Ok... Every two days do a small water change using water that has a lower PH... Once you get it to the level you want then stop and go to a normal water change routine.

I have to get to bed. Normally high pH is bad water quality but this isn't the issue. Well he had a ton of crap I siphoned out today. But no ammonia or nitrite and maybe. 25 ppm nitrate. The pH us the only truly wonky score.

 

[metropolis93fan]

I have to get to bed. Normally high pH is bad water quality but this isn't the issue. Well he had a ton of crap I siphoned out today. But no ammonia or nitrite and maybe. 25 ppm nitrate. The pH us the only truly wonky score.

Ok I can't stop worrying about my lil guy. My parents can pick this up on their way in town https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQMV4/?tag=ff0d01-20 thoughts? The idea of vinegar even really slowly scares me

 

[Rocky998]

Ok I can't stop worrying about my lil guy. My parents can pick this up on their way in town https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQMV4/?tag=ff0d01-20 thoughts? The idea of vinegar even really slowly scares me

Those chemicals can do more harm than good. Its best to lower it naturally with the distilled water or tannins.

I have to get to bed. Normally high pH is bad water quality but this isn't the issue. Well he had a ton of crap I siphoned out today. But no ammonia or nitrite and maybe. 25 ppm nitrate. The pH us the only truly wonky score.

Not necessarily, high PH is also caused from hard water and there are a bunch of hard water fish. The first fish for me that comes to mind is cichlids... There are so so many types though...

The minerals in the water cause the water to turn more alkaline. Some fish live in lakes with a PH of 9! That's very high.

 

[metropolis93fan]

Those chemicals can do more harm than good. Its best to lower it naturally with the distilled water or tannins.

Not necessarily, high PH is also caused from hard water and there are a bunch of hard water fish. The first fish for me that comes to mind is cichlids... There are so so many types though...

The minerals in the water cause the water to turn more alkaline. Some fish live in lakes with a PH of 9! That's very high.

Huh! EVERYTHING I've read hasn't even mentioned that. Weird. (And I was reading a LOT last night). Good news though! The pH was between 7.6 and 7.7... we're in the clear! I don;t think 4 leaves could do that but whatever the case... he's in a safe zone!

 

[Rocky998]

Huh! EVERYTHING I've read hasn't even mentioned that. Weird. (And I was reading a LOT last night). Good news though! The pH was between 7.6 and 7.7... we're in the clear! I don;t think 4 leaves could do that but whatever the case... he's in a safe zone!

Awesome! Glad to hear it. But remember, if the PH is always fluctuating it can shock the fish and kill it. So try not to let the PH go up and down.

 

[metropolis93fan]

Awesome! Glad to hear it. But remember, if the PH is always fluctuating it can shock the fish and kill it. So try not to let the PH go up and down.

I don't plan on letting things do that again. But I don't know what I did to make it happen!


Now. I have a serious, serious dilemma. I had intended on letting the new tank cycle fully before putting MY betta in it, and my mom in the already-cycled tank my fish currently inhabits.


Guide so we know which tank and wish fish we are talking about:
My tank: from-now-on called "Old Tank"
My fish: from-now-on called "Noah"

New tank: Now called "Cycling tank" or "new tank"
Mom's fish: from-now-on called "Sven"


So, in these terms, I had intended on putting Noah in the cycling/new tank when it had fully cycled and keeping in the old tank until then. I had planned on keeping Sven in his 1 gallon while the new tank cycles (but bringing him back to the apartment after my surgery). When the new tank was finished cycling, I planned on moving Noah to the new tank and Sven to the old tank.



I want to make sure you understand THAT before making suggestions about the problem.



Reminder: Sven has been suffering in a 1.5 gallon tank since mid January.



He is no longer eating. I think some of this has to do with the fact that I had to put the heater from his tank in the new tank to help the cycling. I didn’t like doing that, but I’ve reached my financial limits. And I threw the really cheap one that came with a 1 gallon I bought off a kid from our church to be my “hotel” for Noah out. I thought I had that and it got pitched.



I’m going to do a water change tomorrow. I forgot to bring fresh catappa leaves, darn it. I meant to. But I’m not hopeful he’s going to make a comeback while in this tiny, cold tank.



He has to wait until AT LEAST Saturday. There’s no way around it. Absolutely none. Surgery on Thursday, Out of hospital Friday. I want to stay with my parents one day just in case there is a complication. My town HAS a hospital but it’s a small town vs a town with 3 hospitals. Last procedure I had done I required an ambulance. I’m just… being careful.



I guess, first question… Is there any chance the new tank will be cycled by the time I get home? I added ALMOST the entire bottle of bacteria to the water. I saved just a tiny bit in case the cycle stalled. It was at 1 ppm ammonia last night.



2nd question: If it’s NOT, what do I need to do to make it safe (as safe as can be) to put Noah in it and in-fish cycle? Do I need to do a water change so there isn’t as much ammonia? I can do a sponge squeeze from the old tank. There’s one piece of décor in the old tank I can put in there, although I had to scrub it free of algae yesterday. So it may not acquire too much bacteria in less than a week.



I DEFINITELY want Noah in the new tank. For one, it’s got all silk plants (there are two plastic in the old tank) and with his eye popping out like it is I want him in a safe environment. For another, I want to watch MY fish more than Mom’s, and I spend most of the time in the living room where the new tank is. (No room in the bedroom for a long tank). Besides, putting Sven in an already-cycled tank is probably the best thing that could happen to him.



Please help me in CASE I’m not cycled yet. I don’t like the option. I don’t. I KNOW it's not the way to do it. But I think it’s Sven’s only REAL chance (if he hasn’t passed away already by Saturday). Noah has survived in-tank cycling once.. and he was WAY weaker then. (I was literally crushing pellets of food into powder when I first got him. He was too weak to crunch the tiniest of pieces of food). Thank you.

 

[Rocky998]

Is there any chance the new tank will be cycled by the time I get home? I added ALMOST the entire bottle of bacteria to the water. I saved just a tiny bit in case the cycle stalled. It was at 1 ppm ammonia last night.

No way. Cycles take at least a week unless you have extremely fast growing plants. Keep up with ammonia until a full dose of ammonia is gone in 24hrs and there is no nitrites as well. Then do an almost 100% water change.
Sense you have the bacteria in the cycle may only take a week or two instead of three or four weeks.

If it’s NOT, what do I need to do to make it safe (as safe as can be) to put Noah in it and in-fish cycle? Do I need to do a water change so there isn’t as much ammonia? I can do a sponge squeeze from the old tank. There’s one piece of décor in the old tank I can put in there, although I had to scrub it free of algae yesterday. So it may not acquire too much bacteria in less than a week.

Change all the water out, dechlorinate the new water, put it in, try to get some sort of live fast growing plant if possible and cross your fingers. I di not guarantee the success of Noah in there but it may work.

I DEFINITELY want Noah in the new tank. For one, it’s got all silk plants (there are two plastic in the old tank) and with his eye popping out like it is I want him in a safe environment. For another, I want to watch MY fish more than Mom’s, and I spend most of the time in the living room where the new tank is. (No room in the bedroom for a long tank). Besides, putting Sven in an already-cycled tank is probably the best thing that could happen to him.



Please help me in CASE I’m not cycled yet. I don’t like the option. I don’t. I KNOW it's not the way to do it. But I think it’s Sven’s only REAL chance (if he hasn’t passed away already by Saturday). Noah has survived in-tank cycling once.. and he was WAY weaker then. (I was literally crushing pellets of food into powder when I first got him. He was too weak to crunch the tiniest of pieces of food). Thank you.

The silk plants will be just fine but not the plastic ones. They may injure him.

If it's an emergency and you absolutely have to move them over, then do it. But if you can finish cycling the tank, then I would do that.