Balloon Mollie Has An Eye Problem Please Help

[heavenly_d3vi1]

I've just noticed that one of my balloon mollies has like an opaque bubble over one of her eyes, I cant find anything like it in my fish book, I've tried to get some pics of her so I hope someone can spot what it is and help me treat her if needed!

nitrate is between 1-10
nitrite is between 5-10

I'm doing 50% water chages everyday atm to lower the levels, the mollies have only been in the tank since the weekend, and the tank was running for a week and a half before that.

 

[WILDER]

Daily water changes and increase aeration till the tanks cycled.
Is the eye bulging out.
http/www.flippersandfins.net/pop-eye.htm

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

No I dont think it is, it looks more like her eye has something covering it, like a bubble.

I have a 50l tank with 2 foot long airstones and an air driven filter along with an interpret pf2 filter, is this enough aeration?

 

[WILDER]

Don't have to much aeration as it can cause gas bubble desease which is bubbles beneath the skin of the fish.
Do you have any melafix.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Does that osund like too much aeration or not?

I dont have any melafix, what is it?

I'm still in the learning process at the moment and only have the things which my local fish shop said i'd need to get, who to be honest... dont seem to know much more than I do!

 

[WILDER]

Heard of it before it can clear up on its own.
Melafix helps its because of the poor water quality.
Can you turn the flow down on your airstone.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Yes, It has a valve thing on it so I'll try that.

Is melafix available from fish shops? Would you suggest larger water changes or stick at 50%?

 

[WILDER]

About 40% water changes.
Turn the flow down on the airstone if you think there to much aeration.
See if it clear up with the water changes, if there no improvement in two days gets back to the board.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Ok, thanks for your help

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

I dont know what it is in gallons, but its 50 litres, I have 4 balloon mollies, 3 white mollies, 2 tiny sucker catfish and 5 really tiny neon tetras

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Added to many fish to soon for a new set up tank.
Your tanks at its stocking limit now, its a bit over if i'm honest.
Neons tetra really need mature tanks they don't handle cycling tanks to well.
Not many fish do as it it burns there gills and skin.
You can't add salt to help as you have catfish.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Shouldn't the fish shop I got them all from have known that? I made sure they knew it was a new tank for that reason!!

So theres not much more I can do atm other than keep up water changes and hope they survive then?

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Her eye is looking a lot better today, after a 40% water change and a reduction in aeration last night. Nitrate level is now down to 0, but nitrite is inbetween 5-10 still, so will keep up with the water changes daily.

 

[WILDER]

What your tap nitrate reading.
It ammonia and nitrites that are the killer.
All you can do is daily water changes.
Do you know anyone with fish tanks to see if they would give you a mature filter sponge.