Channa Andrao eyes white opaque in the center

[george7523]

Hello fellow channa lovers,

Several of my channa andrao are suffering from white opaque eyes symptoms for a couple of months now. After researching the internet, I haven't been able to find a definitive answer to the cause of this. Some say ammonia, some say flukes or protozoa. Here are my water parameters tested using api master kit. These tests have been done numerous times in a month to maximize accuracy.

nitrate, nitrite = 0
ammonia ~ 0 or 0.1 (hard to distinquish)
ph 8.2
temp 61 f

If ammonia can be ruled out, could having a high ph of 8.2 cause channa andrao to get sick ? maybe to the point of dying ? I understand high PH can drive harmless ammonium into toxic ammonia, but even if total ammonia is 0.1; At temp 61 f, 8.2 ph, ammonia would only be 0.070. But assuming ammonia is zero, could having high PH 8.2 make channa andrao sick and have white opaque eyes ?

What would be the ideal ph then ? I am currently trying to lower it by using spaghnum moss. I'm also reactivating my co2 reactor but am not sure if I should keep it on 24/7 to avoid ph swing, or turn it on only at lights on for the plants.

Another question is it's been widely talked about that channa do not like water changes. But no one explains the reason behind this ? What is it about the water change specifically that is not good for channa's well being ? Is it the PH fluctuation or the possible ammonia contamination after seachem prime breaks down chloramine in our tap water ? (prime supposedly detoxify ammonia for 48 hours but this is controversial)

Thank you so much for any insight and input.

-George

 

[neko1]

61 f? are they in winter period or is this the constant temperature?

what is tank size / stocking

 

[george7523]

61 f is the natural winter period temperature. Come spring and summer, temp goes to normal 74 - 80 f. tank size is two 20 gallon and one 50 gallon all plumbed to one sump. one 20 gallon = 1 adult channa andrao and 1 siamese algae eater, the other 20 gallon = 2 silver flying fox, and bunch of juvenile channa andrao, the 50 gallon = 1 siamese algae eater, 1 adult channa andrao. another 50 gallon = 1 channa andrao. All experiencing this opaque white center in the eyes.

 

[george7523]

I do add about 2 gallon of freshwater every 3 to 4 days to top off evaporated water because the sump has no cover and there is a mister. Since the city I live in uses chloramine, this freshwater is produce by running tap water through sediment / pentek carbon / pentek chlorplus 10 filter. Then adding appropriate amount of seachem prime just to be sure all chlorine / chloramine has been removed. Not sure if prime actually does bind ammonia into ammonium like it advertises but it's added nevertheless just in case. Then I let it sit a day or two in a reservoir which has a cannister filter with bio media in it to consume the ammonia. Tested for 0 - 0.1 ammonia first before use. 0 - 0.1 because it's hard to be 100% accurate in differentiating the api color chart. Especially the yellow and the slightly green yellow. But I would say I'm 80% think it's 0 ammonia judging from the color. At worst it's 0.1 ammonia. Which if prime does what it advertises, should not be a problem.

The api ammonia results looks more yellow in real life then in picture

 

[neko1]

ph is high for channa.
online i read 6-7. I do know that channas can survive a high range of things. im not sure if it matters(since i have a low ph tap water) but i would try to lower it to 6.5 Never had that problem but maybe it reduces their immune system giving the cloudy eyes ? I would also recommend waterchange if eyes get cloudy. For me that always does the trick.