u/Defiant-River-1531

About 7 weeks in. Water parameters yesterday afternoon (1st pic) and this afternoon(2nd pic). Last night about 10pm I dosed with 4mL Dr Tim’s and reading was between 2/4ppm, and a cap of FritzZyme 7. I’m keeping my fingers crossed we are approaching the finish line. The other pictures are of my filters. I have a dual sponge hygger M (15-55gallon) and a HOB SeaChem tidal 55. Carib Sea Super Natural Moonlight Sand bottom, 3 Amazon swords in pots, 3 anubias, 3 Java ferns, a basket of pothos, dwarf water lettuce and red root floaters. Tank temps are in the low to mid 70°s since fans are on tub and to facilitate bacteria growth. Is that just algae on my sponges? If so do I squeeze them out when I change water or leave it alone? I’ve been too scared to do anything to it while trying to cycle. Just want to be sure before adding my buddy to the tank.

My axie is tubbed. Changed tub water last night. Prime and stability in the tub water. This morning I didn’t notice anything off. Came home at lunch and added a frozen water bottle because the temps seem to rise even with two fans. Came home 4 hours later and the tub is cloudy. Open it up to find this stuff everywhere! He seems to be fine. Tail isn’t curling, gills aren’t curling. Just gunk everywhere. I moved him to a new tub with clean water. Had to run out for a bit and 3 hour later it’s everywhere again! Is it his slime coat or biofilm? What do I do? Tub temps have been staying around 64°-67°

Came home today to a power outage, apparently several hours. 72° tank and ammonia spike .25-.5, Nitrates 5-10ish, pH was fine and Nitrite was 0. Immediately tubbed him and started cooling water.

While he was out of the tank I went ahead and cleaned, probably 40- 50% water change, siphoned all the plant debris and stirred the sand around. And threw away the Java fern! What a mess it makes. Current readings are about the same.

I only fed him 1/2 his normal night feeding 2 small red wigglers) because I figured all the stress might make him sick. While taking to him, I noticed he has 2 little red dots. I believe I read in a recent post that is a sign of bacterial infection? Maybe? Or something else. Then I panic and think is his tail curling?!?! Paranoia may well be the death of me. I’m not sure who is more stressed at this point, but I think it’s me. I’m completely obsessed with him and don’t know what I’d do if something happened to him. I’m also including a pic of his undercarriage to see if Y’all think he is really a he or have I been calling her a he? He’s? about 5 months old. He was about 6 weeks old when I got him.

Side note. They may be more resilient than we think. His clutch mates that didn’t sell were tossed in a drainage ditch in south Louisianna before they left for vacation in December. Kids found them maybe a month ago thriving. They caught 2 or 3 of the 4 they saw. I do not know them personally. They are relatives of an in-law.