Cichlid eye funk, HELP!

[Jimmy]

Hi I am new here and my tank has a big problem. Two days after I got back from a three week long trip one of my cichlids and my Chinese algae eat both died. The tank also spiked. My PH is low, water is HARD, my testing kit says to add Buffer, and the Nitrates are high. My biggest and oldest cichlid is still alive and eating well but he now has this big bubble of cloudy mass over his right eye. It just appeared over night. Do any of you have any idea what it could be, or what to do about it?
Thanks

[glennt_com]

Sorry I can't help you out much but just wanted to say that that happened to one of my chiclids too. It eventually started to get better, but for some reason it died?!?!?!???? I doubt it was because of the eye, but who knows? (not me)

[Jimmy]

Hmm, thanks any way man.

[glennt_com]

no problemo

[dom]

should be pop eye. This is due to poor water condition. Change 80% of water. get some aquarium salt in. Raise the PH up to 8 or 8.5.

[ari]

Originally Posted by dom

should be pop eye. This is due to poor water condition. Change 80% of water. get some aquarium salt in. Raise the PH up to 8 or 8.5.

yes its pop eyes....but really ...why 80% change and salt? once u put salt in your tank ...u will have a tough time getting it out unless u make a 100% water change.your fish is sick ...an 80% water change is only going to make it worst, and raising the ph is not going to help nor will it make the situation any worst. go see the FS ..ask the man for some medication. if u have a spare tank..good.take the fish out ...while still in the net ..apply the medication on its eyes...yes just like an eye drop oilment.sometimes there will blood ozzing out...but dont worry,it happens. then put the fish in the spare tank. raise the temp to 30C and add in the same medication. repeat medication after 48 hours. if u dont have a spare tank ...then make a 30% water change ...raise temp to 30C and add medication. the medication should be green or yellow in colour...and do not feed for at least a week. good luck

[Jimmy]

Thanks, I'll try that. Don't mean to sound dumb but who is "MS"?
He seems to be a pretty strong fish I've had him a while I just had to go out of state and the people taking care of him had no idea what they were doing. I hope it works out, thanks for your help.

[dom]

You must keep at least 20% of old water. suddent change of 100% are not really good to the sick fish. your fish might feel stress about it.

ari, i used this method to cure my malawi before. Aquarium salt is the best medic to cure any sickness or killed any disease. As Jimmy said, the ph is quite low. Cichlids will only surviving or growing well in higher PH. This is the basic knowledge of keep cichlids.

[mybirdshit]

Erm, dom, may I point out not all cichlids need hard water...are we forgetting the Altum angelfish, the apistogrammas and discus? These thrive best in softwater.

[mybirdshit]

Anyway, I also think that salt is a good alternative to other medication if it can be helped.