Unknown Cloudy Eye White Patches Mucus

bjbass

Candiru
MFK Member
Apr 10, 2010
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Have you tested your water?
Yes
If yes, what is your ammonia?
0
If yes, what is your nitrite?
0
If yes, what is your nitrate?
5 ppm
If I did not test my water...
...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
31-40%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every two weeks
If I do not change my water...
...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
I am hoping you guys can help as I have been dealing with this problem for years that seems to come back every so often. My fish get cloudy eyes with white patches and a some get a white slime coating with some that it hangs off them. My water parameters are fine, but I have historically had a PH that measures at 6.0 with the API kit so it may be lower. I am going to put some crushed oyster shells in to help with that as I have in the past, but I haven't recently for the past few years. I do have driftwood in my tank and my water is very soft from the tap. I do weekly to biweekly 30% water changes. I have mostly natives blue gills, pumpkinseed, LMB, and I have an Oscar. This is so frustrating because I have tried treatments over the years and nothing seems to eradicate this so I feel like it has to be something else. This tank has been running since 2009 and I have had various deaths over the years when they develop this white mess.

In the past I thought that my fish might have VHS as natives in PA do carry that.

This is a 210 gallon with a 40 gallon sump

IMG_20200702_155331.jpg
 
Last edited:

bjbass

Candiru
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Apr 10, 2010
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The fish in that picture developed that in one day as I just added him yesterday, but the rest have some of the same symptoms. This guy is just the worst.
 

tlindsey

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Aug 6, 2011
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The fish in that picture developed that in one day as I just added him yesterday, but the rest have some of the same symptoms. This guy is just the worst.

I suggest you gradually up your water changes and do them weekly. What is your PH out of the tap in your area?
 
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kno4te

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I suggest you gradually up your water changes and do them weekly. What is your PH out of the tap in your area?
+1 I’d assume it’s due to the low ph. Once corrected it should be fine.
 
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bjbass

Candiru
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Apr 10, 2010
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Thank you guys so much for your replies! Immediately after I took those pictures, I performed a water change. About 5 hours later the fish look much better!

I tested my tapwater and it is a 6.8. So if I up my water changes it should do the trick!
 

kno4te

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Thank you guys so much for your replies! Immediately after I took those pictures, I performed a water change. About 5 hours later the fish look much better!

I tested my tapwater and it is a 6.8. So if I up my water changes it should do the trick!
Water changes and adding some crushed coral to keep it from dropping if it’s that low.
 
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