Redhead Cichlid Acid Burns :( Really need help here!!!!!

[Beelzebubs]

Ok... Im in the UK and I own a very large Redhead cichlid. He lives in a 200litre tank with a sand base, he has a filter which is the correct size for the tank and a heater which is set to the required temperature. He has no ther items in his tank. The tank has a wooden lid and does have air vents. The tank was purchased a at the beginning of the year and was second hand from someone who kept a salt marine aquarium but the tank was cleaned prior to filling for Teal'k ( the cichlid).
Teal'k has been absolutely fine up untill around 5 weeks ago where i noticed he had a small white abrasion to one of his eyes and he was slowly losing his appetite. I treated the water with an anti internal bacteria treatment and waited to see what happened. The eye got better but then i noticed his other eye was now showing the same problem and his apetite once again went away.
I checked the PH and found it to be acidic...very yelow on the scale so....
I then did a half water change on the tank and the following day did the same again, the acidity level wont change.... Teal'k getting iller and iller and wont eat a bite...he is now sitting in the corner of the tank which is very unlike him as he's normally very interactive.
I put some more treatment for the suspected infection into the tank..waited the few days it told me on the box, but there is still no change.
Today i have tried pulling the PH to alkaline with some PH additive... still it shows yellow acid on the scale.....
I have now done another half water change, straight after i checked the PH and its STILL ACID!!!
PLEASE if anyone out there has some sort of idea which they know will help him, or soeone who i can contact who has the expertise to help him let me know either here or at beelzebubs@hotmail.co.uk or 01978 750854

I have had Teal'k for over 8 years now and he is a part of the family, i know that may sound real stupid to some people but its gonna break my heart if anything happens to him
Im not too fussed about cost, but i can only spend what I have which isnt very much at this time of credit crunch but all ideas or remedies will be truly appreciated.
Thankyou very much for taking the time to read this...

Sarah Jane

 

[HerCrenVie]

Are you sure that pH scale of yours is working normally? Anyway, does your LFS sell crushed coral, or coral chips? These leach calcium compounds into the water, bringing the pH and hardness up, and then keep them stable. I'm assuming your fish is a Paratheraps synspilum. This species, like other Central American cichlids, require slightly alkaline water. I always have some crushed coral in all my tanks, unless I'm keeping softwater fish. It's essentially a pH and hardness buffer; it does increase alkalinity and hardness initially, but subsequently it keeps them more or less constant. Major and sudden changes in pH and hardness can kill fish, and crushed coral prevents that. Go buy some asap! Don't bother about buying liquid additives that claim to increase pH - they simply add another bend to the pH roller-coaster your dear fish is currently experiencing.

 

[Beelzebubs]

GOOD NEWS! We started a cycle of half water changes last night at 6pm.. in all we gave him two changes...at one point he laid on his side at the bottom of the tankand went very very dark and I really thought we had lost him but after around 40 minutes he righted himself and backed out of his corner and looked a little more perky. I checked on him twice in the night and checked the PH which has now increased in alkaline and shows a bluey green colour on the scale chart.
This morning he came out of his corner to dance for me and i have just been and bought him the most expensive cichlid food that pets at home could sell me and he has eaten a couple pellets and is out and about around his tank again!!!!
His eye is still very raw but i think we are onto a winner here.. i will of course take the advice and go and get him some coral tomorrow.
Thankyou for the reply.....
I will keep you all updated on his recovery progress...
Im elated right now.... i love him to bits !!!
Thanks again

Sarah x

 

[Beelzebubs]

GOOD NEWS!!! Last night we gave Teal'k 2 half water changes which bought the acid scale down and it is now a green light blue which is more alkaline for him... during the change i really thought we were about to lose him as he went very very dark and laid on his side by his pump but after 4o minutes he righted himself and backed out of his corner looking a bit better.
I checked on him twice in the night fearing the worst but on both occasions he was in his corner and still alive.
By morning i went over to the tank and he came out from the coner and greeted me with his little dance and looked really perky.
Ive been at work all day and popped into our local pets at home to buy him the most expensive cichlid food i could get for him and he has eaten a couple pellets and has been up and down the tank a few times foraging once again.
His eye still looks really raw and im unsure what i can do for that?
But im delighted that he looks and seems to be feeling alot better.
I really love him
I will go out tomorrow to get him some coral as suggested, thankyou for the advice and i will keep you all posted on his recovery and progress.
Thanks again
Sarah x x

 

[Lady G]

I just wondered the test kit you are using..is it liquid or is it the strips?

Very glad to hear he is doing better, I hope things continue to get better for him. Continuing with the water changes will help quite a bit I'm sure. Just keep it up, and good luck!!