Need help bad

Coachb9

New member
So it's been a while since I have been on here but that's because everything has been running smoothly.
Well, that all has changed and I need your help urgently.
My blue spotted puffer is barely swimming at all and is nearly dead. Now the flame angel fish has some film covering one of his eyes. Haven't entered anything new lately, but did try to increase the alkalinity in my tank and decrease the salinity at the same time. Well I put a tablespoon of KH buffer instead of a teaspoon but I hope that isn't what is causing this. I also dropped the salinity from 1.32 to 1.28 in one water change and now to 1.25 with the second water change.
I know they aren't the best pics, but they are the best I can do.
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!
 

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what is your ammonia?
What is your PH. I don't think the KH buffer would be as big an issue as PH buffer. KH--from what I understand--is the water's ability to absorb acids. I have had some seriously high KH before and the fish and corals are unfazed by it. PH is another story. Too high a PH is just as deadly as too low.
 
Update

Update

Ph is 8.2
Ammonia is 0
Nitrite is 0
Salinity is 1.027
Kh is 9, close to 10

So I don't know what I have going on. LFS said the puffer may just be stressed. Said the flame angel may have a gas bubble. Both which should go away over time with improved water conditions.
Thoughts?
 
Sadly there are almost no diagnostic tools available in this trade. Unless you have a fish friendly vet willing to do cultures and not break the bank, or you own the appropriate microscope, tools, and have the skills/resources to help you interpret what you are seeing. Because of that, if it were my fish I'd start with parasite control. Prazi-pro for flukes, tapes, etc. Fresh water dips. And if possible, chloroquine phosphate in the tank (if there are no corals or inverts) or at least in the food (which won't do you any good if they are not eating). Read the advanced aquarist article on CP it's very informative and has the dosing suggestions etc on it.
The problem is there are so many things, bacterial and fungal, that could be causing a problem as well, and very few tools available to the individual to test for those issues. In my experience, vets, who do have some experience with fish, either A: want ridiculous amounts of money (had one quote me 600 for a skin scrape and to look at it under a microscope) or B: try and treat the fish like a dog or cat and want you to drop it off to sit in their clinic all day (6-9 hours) until they can get too it, yet have no set up to maintain the fish in while it's there. Making an appointment for the fish is out of the question, it's one of those things they "squeeze in" when they have time. It doesn't seem to dawn on them that the fish will run out of air, get cold, or simply stress and die being in that type of situation.
 
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