Feeling defeated and considering giving up

[lyrix]

Hello again, fellow fish enthusiasts and friends,

I'm back after a brief hiatus, but this time with a heavy heart and a broken spirit. My tank has completely melted down in just 12 hours, and I'm at a loss. I don't want to admit defeat, but I think it's time to face reality. I'm on the verge of giving up on the hobby, but I want to try one last time to set things right before I throw away all my hard work and say goodbye to Grosso.

I woke up this morning to find a large amount of Grosso's scales rotting off his right side. The pictures don't do it justice - it's worse than it looks. He's also got a weird, light-reflective film near his sprig. This wasn't happening last night before bed. I'd noticed a small white speck on his left side for a few days, but I was waiting to see what would happen. Big mistake.

My water parameters are all over the place. I use store-bought UV-sterilized freshwater with added electrolytes, but my pH is super acidic, hardness is through the roof, and I've got some nitrates but no nitrites or ammonia. I tested the store-bought water this morning, and it was fine, but my tank water is a disaster. I've got a ton of white, stringy algae and a thick biofilm on the spider wood. I know it rots over time, but I usually clean it with a toothbrush and boil it before putting it back in the tank.

I'm guessing my problem is with the filtration system. I've got a canister filter designed for a 10-gallon tank, and I set it up according to the manufacturer's instructions. It was working fine until last night, when it started making a weird noise like there was air in the system. I checked for clogs, but everything seems fine. I even made my own air stone out of lava rock to give Grosso a more natural feel.

I've been using almond leaf extract, stress coat, and a shrimp-safe liquid fertilizer for the plants. I also add beneficial bacteria after water changes. I've reduced Grosso's light time to 6 hours, and he's on a timer. The water is heated and at the right temperature.

I'm tired and upset, and I don't know what to do. I don't want to rip the whole tank apart and start over, and I don't want to replace the canister filter again. I'm not mechanically inclined enough to take it apart and fix it, and I don't want Grosso to suffer any more. He looks awful, and I feel awful for letting him get to this point. I feel like a total failure.

Can anyone offer some last-ditch advice or suggestions to help me save this tank and Grosso before I give up completely?

[farmhand]

I'm not the most experienced person here, but I have a hunch that the substrate change might have stirred up some trouble. When you disturbed the substrate, you might have released some residue or even poisonous gases, which could have triggered a mini cycle and caused the stringy algae to appear. I've seen this happen before, and it's not pretty.

As for Grosso, I think he might be experiencing some poisoning. I'd love to hear from @roygun_1 or @coltin, as they're more knowledgeable about this stuff. Maybe they can take a closer look at the symptoms and offer some advice.

Regarding the canister filter, I've had issues with air getting in before. Are the lines tight enough around the connectors? Even a slight bend can cause the gurgling sound. I've found that using food-grade silicone grease on the o-rings helps to prevent this. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Don't give up just yet. Take a deep breath and try to get the tank back on track. It's not over yet.

[swim_deep]

If you've got a spare 5-gallon tank lying around, consider transferring Grosso to it temporarily - it's possible something in the current tank is poisoning him. Beyond that, I'm at a loss. Best bet is to wait for someone more knowledgeable like Ellrog or Colin to chime in with some advice.

[belleora]

I think I see what might be going on with the slimy film on Grosso - it's probably just excess mucus he's producing to try and soothe the irritation on his scales and skin. That white bump near his Sprig in the photo does look a bit suspicious, though. I'd definitely recommend pulling the spiderwood out of the tank - I don't like the sound of that thick biofilm and who knows if it's introduced some kind of contaminant into the water. When you rinsed the filter media in "betta water," was that just RO water from the store or something else entirely? I'm not giving up on you, lyrix - it's clear you've put a lot of time, money, and effort into giving Grosso the best life possible, and I think it's worth trying a few more things before throwing in the towel.

[florapine]

Sorry to hear you're going through this. I've dealt with similar struggles in the past. It seems like you might be facing a fungal issue, with the white spot and the fins looking a bit melted, possibly fin rot. I'd consider setting up a separate hospital tank to treat this.

I've noticed that cycling tanks with pH under 7 can be quite a challenge, and it often takes longer. It's possible that your tank is still in the early stages of being fully cycled.

One thing I'd like to suggest is to avoid removing Grosso from the tank during maintenance. Using nets and transferring him to and fro can be very stressful, and it can also disturb his slime coat. I know it's hard to resist the urge to protect him, but it might be better to find alternative ways to minimize stress during maintenance.

I'm no betta expert, but I have some general experience with aquariums. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best in getting your tank back on track.

[Lurcher]

I can only imagine the frustration and despair you must be feeling right now. I'm going through a similar crisis with my tank, and I know how it feels to be at a complete loss. It's like watching everything you've worked so hard for unravel before your eyes. I'm sending you all the best of luck, and I truly hope you manage to turn things around for Grosso.

[coltin]

It seems like the issue at hand is excess mucus, likely caused by an irritant in the water. Given the timing, I'd say it's possible that something in the new water or on your equipment contaminated the tank.

I'm not entirely sure what kind of electrolytes are added to store-bought water, but I do know that betta fish are typically found in very soft water with minimal mineral content. Generally speaking, their natural habitat has a GH below 100ppm and a pH below 7.0.

To address the issue, I'd recommend doing a 75% water change and thoroughly cleaning the substrate every day for a week. Make sure to use water that's free of chlorine and chloramine before adding it to the tank. If you're using reverse osmosis water, it should be safe to use. Adding a bit of aquarium salt might also help - use about one heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water, and keep it in the tank for a week or two.

It's also crucial to increase aeration and surface turbulence to maximise oxygen levels in the water. When cleaning the tank, be sure to have clean hands - no moisturiser, soap, or perfume residue. Ensure that any containers used for the tank are free of chemicals and only used for this purpose.

[florap]

Don't give up on Grosso just yet. I've found betta fish to be pretty resilient.

One thing that crossed my mind - is the lava rock you used for the air stone sharp? It's possible he might have scratched himself on it, which could be contributing to his condition.

I also think it's worth considering that there might not be just one issue at play here. Sometimes, it's a combination of factors that can cause problems like this.

Take the advice of the experts here, and don't be too quick to throw in the towel. Hang in there, and let's see if we can't get Grosso back on the mend. Best of luck.

[florap]

I'm back, and it's not good. I'm on the verge of giving up my tank, my hobby, and saying goodbye to my beloved Grosso. It's been a nightmare – a complete tank meltdown in just 12 hours. I'm at a loss, and I'm not sure where to turn.