HELP! Tiger Oscar sick, please help me figure out what it is!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I appreciate all of your experience and advice everyone, The instructions state take 5 ml of water ( which i do) drop 8 drops of nitrite bottle # 1 and then shake it up, I do, then I wait 1 minute, then i put 8 drops of bottle # 2 and wait endlessly, after about 2 minutes the color stays regularly at 0 ppm indicator. I think i'll add some salt, those plants don't mean to me as much as the fish in the tank.
 
Your not doing the test properly.

From API

Directions for Testing Nitrate:
  • Read thoroughly before testing. Do not allow Test Solutions to get into aquarium.
  • To remove childproof safety cap: With one hand, push red tab left with thumb while unscrewing cap with free hand.
    • Fill a clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested (to the line on the tube).
    • Add 10 drops from Nitrate Test Solution Bottle # 1, holding dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops added to the water sample.
    • Cap the test tube and invert tube several times to mix solution. Do not hold finger over the open end of the tube, as this may affect test results.
    • Vigorously shake the Nitrate Test Solution Bottle # 2 for at least 30 seconds. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results.
    • Now add 10 drops from Nitrate Test Solution Bottle #2, holding dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops to the water sample.
    • Cap the test tube and shake vigorously for one minute. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results.
    • Wait five minutes for the color to develop.
    • Read the test results by matching the color of the solution against those on the Nitrate Test Color Chart. The tube should be viewed against the white area beside the color chart. Color comparisons are best made in a well-lit area. The closest match indicates the ppm (mg/L) of nitrate in the water sample. Rinse the test tube with clean water after each use.

Directions for Testing Nitrite:
  • Read thoroughly before testing. Do not allow test solutions to get into aquarium.
  • To remove childproof safety cap: With one hand, push red tab left with thumb while unscrewing cap with free hand.
    • Fill a clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested (to the line on the tube).
    • Add 5 drops of Nitrite Test Solution, holding dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops added to the water sample.
    • Cap the test tube and shake the tube for 5 seconds. Do not hold finger over the open end of the tube, as this may affect test results.
    • Wait five minutes for the color to develop.
    • Read the test results by matching the color of the solution against those on the Nitrite Test Color Chart. The tube should be viewed against the white area beside the color chart. Color comparisons are best made in a well-lit area. The closest match indicates the ppm (mg/L) of nitrite in the water sample. Rinse the test tube with clean water after each use.
Directions for Testing Ammonia Levels.
Read thoroughly before testing.

  1. Fill a clean test tube with five ml of aquarium water (to the line on the test tube).
  2. Add eight drops of ammonia test solution #1 to the water sample, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops.
  3. Add eight drops of ammonia test solution #2 to the water sample, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a complete vertical position to assure uniformity of drops.
  4. Cap the test tube and shake vigorously for five seconds. Do not hold your finger over the open end of the tube as this may affect the test results.
  5. Wait five minutes for the color to develop.
  6. Read the test results by comparing the color of the test solution with those on the ammonia test color chart. The tube should be viewed against a white background in a well-lit area. The closest match indicates the ppm of ammonia in the water sample. Rinse the test tube with clean water after each use.

Try it again.

Mike.
 
I honestly don't think that it is a disease. If you see like fuzz coming out of it our something and he is not acting normal than i will be confinced it is a disease or a parasite, looks more like he scratched himself, even if he is non aggressive. I have a 1 foot oscar that has his face all scratched up cause he likes to play with the gravel, and even though you don't see it they will do it cause when you get near the tank they will get scared, and when you are asleep you are gone and they are not scared.
 
x2 on not doing the test properly. Simple instructions = 8 drops of nitrate test #1, shake test #2 bottle 30 seconds then put 8 drops of test #2 in, then shake the vial containing everything for 60 second.

Let us know! And it does look like it may just be from clumsiness. My oscar has that all the time. Heals right away.
 
x2 on not doing the test properly. Simple instructions = 8 drops of nitrate test #1, shake test #2 bottle 30 seconds then put 8 drops of test #2 in, then shake the vial containing everything for 60 second.

Let us know! And it does look like it may just be from clumsiness. My oscar has that all the time. Heals right away.

Muffy what Test kit are you using? I pulled the Instructions right from API and it clearly states 10 drops of each chemical?
 
I appreciate all of your experience and advice everyone, The instructions state take 5 ml of water ( which i do) drop 8 drops of nitrite bottle # 1 and then shake it up, I do, then I wait 1 minute, then i put 8 drops of bottle # 2 and wait endlessly, after about 2 minutes the color stays regularly at 0 ppm indicator. I think i'll add some salt, those plants don't mean to me as much as the fish in the tank.

here you say nitrIte! so which is it you are testing? NITRITES should be 0 while NITRATES will not be zero
 
Vigorously shake the Nitrate Test Solution Bottle # 2 for at least 30 seconds. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results.

Do NOT forget this step. It is easy to forget.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com