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My powder blue doesn't seem to be doing well. He's listless and lumpy.

Lumpy? Can you post a picture and your water parameters?

What are the lumps like? Are they hard, solid, fluid-filled, soft, fuzzy, etc?

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

By lumpy I mean like his insides are swollen.

46 gal bow front
Temp - 80-82 degrees
Amonia - 0
Nitrite - 0.05
Low PH (6.2-7.4) - 7.4
High PH (7.4-8.6) - 7.4-7.6

1 Opalescent Gourami 3"
1 Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami 1 1/2"
1 Gold Gourami 1 1/2"
1 Bala Shark 3 1/2"
1 Boesemani Rainbowfish 2"
4 Long Fin Golden Danios 1"
5 Zebra Danios 3/4-1"
1 Coryadora 1"

I am treating the tank right now for Ich, with Kordon Prevent Ich every day. Had not taken the carbon filters out, did today.

Haven't yet done a water change. Said on Ich treatment to do after 1 week of treatment.

What cory was trying to get from you was some more information.

The paramaters helped...however if you could answer as many more of the questions posed in [link=this sticky note]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Hospital/43725.html?200407200128" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] we can help you more.

Since you didnt remove the carbon from your filter the carbon absorbed most or all of the medication that you added to the tank. Carbon just cant tell the difference between "good" and "bad" pollutants and therefore takes everything. I'd suggest a water change and since the carbon is now out redose the tank. Keep a close eye on your ammonia and nitrIte as some meds can cause an ammonia spike.

As for the gourami...some more info will really help us. How long have you had it and what have you been feeding? Have you noticed if it's been eliminating waste regularly?

While it's not the subject of your post I just thought I'd mention, since you are new here, that you really should reconsider the stock of your tank. Bala sharks need plenty of swimming room as they're active fish that grow to twelve inches in length and are schooling fish (pretty but you'd need a 500 gallon tank :%)).
Also, corys are schooling fish and should be in groups of their own kind. My suggestion is once the tank is ich free (give it at least 2 weeks) return the bala shark to your local fish store (LFS) for a trade and get a few more corys of the same type that you already have. You'll want 4-6 minimum, you'll notice how active and playful they are as you start increasing your school.

Welcome to the site, hope you stick around .

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Sorry, thought I had covered most of the parameter information, as I had read the Hospital Helper.

The Powder blue is gone. He didn't make it.

Thanks for the info on the Bala, my daughter gave to me as her oscar was beating it up. I will try to trade him in though.

I did have more cories but was before I upgraded from a 10 gallon to the 46 gallon. I lost all but the one. I will get some more though, as I like them.

I now also have some sort of Pleco that another daughter has had for years in a 10 gal and is at least 5" long. Should I also find him a new home?

I have seen some info that says the gouramis aren't that nice as they get older and I really like the dwarfs. Can you have the regulars with the dwarfs?

I can't believe it, I was just getting ready to post this exact same thing. My Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami has a huge bulge on his right side. He's staying at the surface (more than normal) hiding in a corner and gasping for air. He is going to the bathroom regularly, but it is almost clear and really really stringy?

Water parameters (I just got my first test kit, so hopefully these are accurate...):
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 20-25ppm (I thought this might be because I recently added 3 fish)??
Nitrates: 30 ppm
PH: 6.8

Stocking: 120 gallon
5 Bleeding Heart Tetras
3 Sunset Platies
5 Cherry Barbs
1 Dwarf Gourami
1 Apistogramma Agassizi
1 Bristlenose Pleco
2 Flying Foxes
5 Corydoras metae
2 Angelfish (tiny - not even quarter size)
2 snails
3 shrimp

I do water changes about every 10 days and take out about 30 - 40 gallons each time. Tank is well established - has been running for 3-4 years. Help, I don't want to lose Gus!!

I'm not exactly sure about the large bulge on your fish, but if your nitrites are really that high then I bet extreme stress plays a part. Nitrites are worse for fish than nitrates, and should not be present in an established fish tank.

Before acting on anything, it's best to make sure your test kit is reputable. What brand and type is it, please? The dip strips are notoriously inaccurate, and may give you a false reading. If that is not the case, then I suggest at least one water change as soon as possible to remove some of the nitrites. Water changes are almost always beneficial to ill fish, and in this case crucial. One or two changes will help to get rid of a lot of pollutants, and especially the nitrites.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I know, I knew the nitrites were way too high, I don't understand it. I just did a water change a few days ago too. I'll do another tonight - and retest the water. All of the other fish seem fine, although I know that really doesn't mean anything. I wonder if my chemipure that's in my filter is leeching stuff back into the water???? Maybe it's too old??? I changed two bags last water change and the other two bags have been in there for 2 months I think. I the chemipure it says that they are good for 3-4 months. I hadn't ever used it before, but it was recommended to me so I thought I'd give it try - so far I've been very happy with it.

Anyways - test kit was bought from Dr. Foster & Smith - it's not strips, I think it's API??

HA, I'm an idiot - nitrites are .25 ppm NOT 25 ppm!!

nitrites are .25 ppm NOT 25 ppm

But there is still some reason for this. As they should be 0 in an established tank. And for the size of your tank, and the small fish in it, adding 3 to it should not make it elevate.

How much do you feed the tank?
How often do you feed the tank?
How much food is left over after about 5 mins?
Also, take some tap water, let it sit in a glass for several hours to remove any extra gases in it, and then test it. Please post the results of the tap water too.

These questions are for both of you having problems, as you both have measurable nitrites. After the cycle has completed, you should never have any measurable ammonia or nitrites. Only the nitrAtes should rise, thus the need for water changes to lower them.

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There is always a bigger fish...