Gill Damage

[fyre095]

Hi i have a question. My bacteria had a kill off so i have fish and right now i have a 2ppm nitrite, ammonia looks like about 3 ppm. I have lost 1 zebra danio. My other fish seem normal but gills are red is this permmanent damage or will it go away if i ever get my tank recycled? I am trying my best to keep the ammonia and nitrites down with water changes.


5 neons
4 cories
1 pleco
4 zebra danios

John

[Star_Rider]

typically gill damage from ammonia is permanent. you need to do a large water change 50% now and another 50% later today.
try to keep ammonia below .25
you will most likely be doing daily water changes until the tank has cycled.
if you are showing this much ammonia you will need to recycle the tank.

what killed off the bacteria?
do you have another established tank? you can get bacteria from an established tank.

[Dangerdoll]

totally agree with star, the damage is permanent and the best you can absolutely do is get those parameters in check.... water changes should be your best friend until then....

[fyre095]

After reading how bad test strips are I went and got better tests. My readings now are NO2 about 1.6 and Nh is about 2.4 PH is right at 7. On the scale in my test kit it says that Nh at 7 ph is .001 not sure what that means. I have done the water changes and will continue to do so until Nitrites are at a lower level. I assumed it was a bacteria kill off problem since my tank started reading 0 nitrite and nitrates again and read NH again. I am not sure what caused it but i assume that is what happened. Just curious what is the minimum size tank for this set up? I have them in a 29 gal right now do i need to get another one?
5 neons
4 cories
1 pleco
4 zebra danios

[Ghost_knife]

pleco, prolly a common gets well over 24 inches. my Koi will attest to it.