midas cichlid sick?

Question
QUESTION: She is 2 yrs old and 10". 2 days ago she started to just sit in the corner and looks like she had lost color. Her gill on the left side appears to barely move and she has no appetite. All the levels are zero except the nitrates between 40 and 80 and have always been at that level since I started the tank 2 yrs ago. I do water 25% water changes at least twice/mo. What should I do?

ANSWER: Hi Jeff,
  Try doing an extra water change and see if she perks up a little.  It may be that twice a month just isn't enough now that she is such a big fish.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 33 gal tank and she is the only fish and I DID do a water change last week as well. I will do another but levels are normal right?

Answer
Hi Jeff,
  I am very suspicious of what most test kits say; I basically don't trust any of them.  Doing an extra water change or two certainly can't hurt.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>