Advice needed- Brand new tank and fish, HITH disease and eye cloud
This is Nebula, I got her on Sunday (today is Friday). I got her from facebook marketplace, and the deal included the tank (i was told 75 gal tank) stand, filters, lights, and the chemicals and food etc he had left over. Once I got her I realized she has HITH as well as eye cloud. I know she was poorly kept before because he instructed me to keep the temp at 67*-72*F, and gave goldfish flakes for food. She also had been kept with 3 other cichlids in the same tank.
First and foremost I want to say I know I have made mistakes in this process, and I’m doing my best to fix them. Here is the timeline of events:
Sunday: Fish was transported to my home and kept in a bag for 2-3 hours while I set up the tank. I dosed API tap water conditioner, Stress coat, and aquarium salt according to the instructions on the bottle for a 75 gal tank and started the filters. I realized that night I needed to add quick start, but it simply was not available as stores were closed at this time (major mistake on me for not having on hand). She chills in the corner this night.
Monday morning: Quick started added, dosed for 75 gal tank, first thing in the morning. This is when I noticed she is sick with eye cloud and HITH. I added seachem prime this day as well. I try feeding in the evening and she is not interested. She is active in her tank when i would expect her to be from this point forward
Tuesday: I try feeding in the afternoon and evening, and it appears she is trying to eat but cannot located the food. i dose melafix thinking it will address both eye cloud and HITH daily starting this day (37.5 mil as it it “is” a 75 gal tank). I am testing water morning and evening and getting good results consistently
Wednesday: Still won’t eat, water tests good, another dose of melafix
Thursday: Same as Tuesday
Friday morning (today) Nitrate and ammonia test above 0,I decide to do 50% water change. When I was changing the water, I removed a little less than what I thought was halfway. I conditioned new water, as well as stress coat and quickstart. But to fill up the tank I only needed about 18 gallons. This is making me realize my tank is much smaller than what I was told. I measured, and the dimensions as 48x21x12. Google is telling me that is a 50 gallon tank. There is a photo attached of the tank with the water removed, my math is showing I ended up completing a 35% water change.
I also realize now that the melafix is not addressing her HITH and am planning on adding general cure this evening when I do Melafix. I have also purchased sinking pellets and have a plan to soak the pellet and put it in place at the bottom for it to be easier for her to eat.
Now I am very concerned I have been over dosing her with medication and chemicals. I would like advise on what action is needed at this time- particularly: when should I add the general cure? Should I contiue the melafix for the eye cloud (that is one thing that does seem to be improving)? And am especially concerned with getting her to eat soon. I do feel she’s gotten some tiny pieces when I do flakes, but the flakes are too difficult to fish out after so I really am trying to make pellets work while I am getting the tank cycled. Don’t think she can really see them anyways.
Whatever you all have to offer is appreciated, I got really good responses on my last post. I know I have made mistakes in this process and I am dedicated to fixing them. I am also happy to answer any questions.