Nitrites

My ph level was high on my tank...and i used the lemon juice remedy. i put a teaspoon of it in the tank....about 20 minutes later i checked the level and it already dropped a little....i left to go to work and when i got back home my tank was a milky color and the NITRITES TOP MY CHART.... i saved my fish but what made this happen...do i need to completly empty the tank or just do a couple water changes

 

Do a water change. IF there is fish then add prime.

 

i put the fish in another tank....they were really stressed just laying on there sides....but once i got them in the other tank they started acting normal...there still beathing a little heavy...... but what made this happen..oh and my two blue eyed crabs are dead

 

Wow ! Sounds like you got to the fish just in time. Sounds like the addition of the lemon caused a bacterial bloom, clouding the water and taking up available O2. The lemon juice probably had just enough natural sugars in it to cause the bloom. Curious what was the pH level you were treating ?