*Hi, I was wonder what the best way to correct the levels in my fish tank are. I've been asking the people at the pet store but they all give me different answers. BTW...I do a 15% water change about every week, as well as clean the gravel a bit.

I have a 55gal (since Nov.)
2 - Filters
2 - giant bubble walls
1 - Shubunkin 10in
1 - Comet 10in
1 - Mini Catfish guy 5in
3 - African frogs
3 - Pleco's (one is 9in, and two are 3in) one of the smaller pleco's just got added b/c the Texas Cichlid in our other tank ate off his dorsal fin.

*Anyways here are the params.
Nitrite - 80 - 200
Nitrate - 0 - .5
Hardness - 250 - 425 (I was told this was a correct level for Houston water)
Alk - 0 (says to add buffer up)
PH - 6.4 (says to add ph plus)
Temp - 75'F

*Now here's another question or two. My Comet has a couple scales that have fallen off and the Shubunkin is hangin out at the bottom of the tank for half the day. It looks as if he's just chilling but Is it a sign for anything else.

*Ok I also have this pleco about 4in long and he has a swollen belly. I've red about swim bladder disease and I think it might be what he has. I'm about to see if he'll even eat a pea. (hasn't eaten one yet)

Now the other day the power went off for 24hrs and since I live in Houston Tx it got really hot in the tank. The last time I remeber checking the temp in the tank it was up to 88'F and it's usually at 75'F. I know the fish were getting stressed but I couldnt do too much besides do a 15% water change to try and keep the temp a bit lower.

Anyways Long story short...He is not floating upsidedown at the top of the water w/ his belly sticking out. He frantically swims around every now and then. He also floats around the top of the tank on his side. He is very bloated and I'd like to know what I can do for him. All my other fish seem fine (due to the dramatic change in the water temp.

Is this b/c of the dramatic change in water temp? Yall think he has SBD? Or somethin else. (sorry I cant take photos my digital just broke the other day)

I dont want my goldfish to get sick if my pleco has something contagious. The only thing is, we dont have a hospital tank yet so...FYI

Thank You,
Adrianne

I think you've mixed up nitrite and nitrate. What are the exact readings for nitrIte, nitrAte, pH, and ammonia?

Welcome Adrianne!

A rubbermaid tub or an ice chest works well for a QT tank. I'd get the sick pleco out of there. Is he eating and pooping? If so how does it look?

In general, it's not a good idea to keep plecos with goldies cuz as plecos get bigger, they can do some serious damage to goldies. Dunno about the frogs, but most goldie folks recommend keeping goldies in a species only tank.

I'd step up partial water changes to 25% daily to get nitrAte down below 40ppm.

I'd also start using baking soda to increase your KH. You're close to having your pH crash. 1 teaspoon of baking soda should raise your KH by 1dh or 18ppm. At first it will just raise pH cuz it'll get used up buffering acids in the tank. Predissolve in tank water and then add to a high water flow area. Give it time to get dispersed well and then check pH. You can repeat, but with the goal of raising pH by no more than .4 per day. You'll want to keep up this process till KH is at 120ppm.

KH is what keeps pH stable. Acids are produced in the tank as the biofilter converts ammonia to nitrAte and the biofilter bacteria also need KH to do their thing. The heavier the bioload, the faster KH gets used up. If your tap water has decent KH levels, partial water changes should be able to replentish KH levels (and decrease nitrAte levels). Both plecos and goldies are poop factories and are heavy on the bioload, so it may be necessary to routinely buffer with baking soda.

What's the KH of your tap water?
How much water do you usually change out how often?
Are you vacuuming with each partial water change?

Let's get the water quality in order and see how your goldies are doing then.

NitrAte - 80 - 200
NitrIte - 0 - .5
Hardness - 250 - 425
Alk - 0
PH - 6.4