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Goldfish
I have a problem that I appear to be too dense to solve. I used to have a
almost 30 aquariums full of various kinds of fish. Swapped the young fish to a fish dealer for supplies. When I went back to work full time I decided spending my weekends cleaning fish tanks was a bit of a bore. That was 30 years ago and I cannot believe I have forgptten so much about fish. As I have a fairly new pond outside that as yet has no fish, I bought three fantails and all new equipment for an indoor aquarium. I hope to combine some of the fish now living in my old outside pond with the new fish and put all in the pond when the weather warms up. When I bought these 3 new ones they looked perfectly clean. No ich, no rot, nothing else visible. They looked and acted like healthy fish. So I set up the aquarium and waited a day before putting the fish in. The water started to cloud almost immediately. After a couple days their fins started to sag. Two days later they were peppered with tiny white spots which I presume is ich. And their tails started to shred which I assume is fin rot. Then they started to lay around on the bottom most of the time. Didn't think they would live until morning so I took spring water and filled a glass bowl, threw in a drop of methylenee blue or some such thing and moved the fish. This morning they are ever so much livlier and not on the bottom. The water is starting to cloud again and unless my husband sneaked them some food, I cannot think of any reason for this. I just asked my husband and he said he did not feed the fish. So why is the water getting cloudy when there are only the fish there. My question is, where did the rot and the ich come from unless had it and it just was not visible. I never ever had a fish with ich before and I have had hundreds of fish in the past. I have removed all the water in the aquarium and am planning to rinse all the stone and plants. Then hopefully I can let it stand over night and put the fish back into the the 10 gallon job. Anyone any suggestions? I don't really think this bio filter I bought at Walmarts is doing a very good job. I got one of my 30 year old filters out and can't believe that I can't remember how to set it up. I think it's charcoal on the bottom with the cotton over that? Is this correct? I didn't mean to write a book, but I feel for those poor fish and believe me the people in that fish store will me one more time before I snub them forever. Hope some one can help me of point me in the direction of some h elp. Thanks a bunch. Pixi |
Pixi,
Have you tested for ammonia. Ammonia will cause cloudiness, and in small aquarium, newly set up, the filter has not had a chance to cycle, so it would not be unreasonable to suspect high ammonia. The high ammonia will stress the fish, allowing parasites, naturally present on the fish to explode in numbers and get the better of the fish. The fish will act strange when stressed. Keep a close eye on the ammonia, and as the filter begins to kick in, then you will undoubtedly have nitrites to worry about. If the ammonia is high, then large frequent water changes or addition of Amquel is called for to protect the fish until the filter can catch up. Once nitrites start to show up, then large frequent water changes or the addition of about one teaspoon of salt per gallon of water added on each of three successive days will prevent nitrite absorbtion by the fish. It typically takes a week or more for the ammonia levels to start declining and several weeks for the nitrites to decline. The fish should not be fed, or fed very lightly during the cycling of the filter to limit the levels of ammonia and nitrites. Patience. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "pixi" wrote in message erver.com... When I bought these 3 new ones they looked perfectly clean. No ich, no rot, nothing else visible. They looked and acted like healthy fish. So I set up the aquarium and waited a day before putting the fish in. The water started to cloud almost immediately. After a couple days their fins started to sag. Two days later they were peppered with tiny white spots which I presume is ich. And their tails started to shred which I assume is fin rot. Then they started to lay around on the bottom most of the time. Didn't think they would live until morning so I took spring water and filled a glass bowl, threw in a drop of methylenee blue or some such thing and moved the fish. This morning they are ever so much livlier and not on the bottom. The water is starting to cloud again and unless my husband sneaked them some food, I cannot think of any reason for this. I just asked my husband and he said he did not feed the fish. So why is the water getting cloudy when there are only the fish there. My question is, where did the rot and the ich come from unless had it and it just was not visible. I have removed all the water in the aquarium and am planning to rinse all the stone and plants. Then hopefully I can let it stand over night and put the fish back into the the 10 gallon job. Anyone any suggestions? I don't really think this bio filter I bought at Walmarts is doing a very good job. I got one of my 30 year old filters out and can't believe that I can't remember how to set it up. I think it's charcoal on the bottom with the cotton over that? Is this correct? I didn't mean to write a book, but I feel for those poor fish and believe me the people in that fish store will me one more time before I snub them forever. Hope some one can help me of point me in the direction of some h elp. Thanks a bunch. Pixi |
Pixi,
Have you tested for ammonia. Ammonia will cause cloudiness, and in small aquarium, newly set up, the filter has not had a chance to cycle, so it would not be unreasonable to suspect high ammonia. The high ammonia will stress the fish, allowing parasites, naturally present on the fish to explode in numbers and get the better of the fish. The fish will act strange when stressed. Keep a close eye on the ammonia, and as the filter begins to kick in, then you will undoubtedly have nitrites to worry about. If the ammonia is high, then large frequent water changes or addition of Amquel is called for to protect the fish until the filter can catch up. Once nitrites start to show up, then large frequent water changes or the addition of about one teaspoon of salt per gallon of water added on each of three successive days will prevent nitrite absorbtion by the fish. It typically takes a week or more for the ammonia levels to start declining and several weeks for the nitrites to decline. The fish should not be fed, or fed very lightly during the cycling of the filter to limit the levels of ammonia and nitrites. Patience. -- RichToyBox http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html "pixi" wrote in message erver.com... When I bought these 3 new ones they looked perfectly clean. No ich, no rot, nothing else visible. They looked and acted like healthy fish. So I set up the aquarium and waited a day before putting the fish in. The water started to cloud almost immediately. After a couple days their fins started to sag. Two days later they were peppered with tiny white spots which I presume is ich. And their tails started to shred which I assume is fin rot. Then they started to lay around on the bottom most of the time. Didn't think they would live until morning so I took spring water and filled a glass bowl, threw in a drop of methylenee blue or some such thing and moved the fish. This morning they are ever so much livlier and not on the bottom. The water is starting to cloud again and unless my husband sneaked them some food, I cannot think of any reason for this. I just asked my husband and he said he did not feed the fish. So why is the water getting cloudy when there are only the fish there. My question is, where did the rot and the ich come from unless had it and it just was not visible. I have removed all the water in the aquarium and am planning to rinse all the stone and plants. Then hopefully I can let it stand over night and put the fish back into the the 10 gallon job. Anyone any suggestions? I don't really think this bio filter I bought at Walmarts is doing a very good job. I got one of my 30 year old filters out and can't believe that I can't remember how to set it up. I think it's charcoal on the bottom with the cotton over that? Is this correct? I didn't mean to write a book, but I feel for those poor fish and believe me the people in that fish store will me one more time before I snub them forever. Hope some one can help me of point me in the direction of some h elp. Thanks a bunch. Pixi |
Pixi, sorry to hear you are having prolems. Way back in my 30's I had
several tanks going, but the kids left home, I got tired of cleaning tanks, and got rid of all of them. Now I am trying to get a 50 gal. going again, and I can't believe the trouble I am having. Finally after changing the water twice and the fish twice it is finally settling down. I thnk my hubby finally scared the tank into behaveing, he said if I had to drain that *&@# thing again, and buy more fish, he was going to toss it in the alley! Maybe when you get over 60 you have to resort to a few bad words and scare the tank into submission. The tank is acting beautiful now. Ha Ha Ha. KathyAZ "pixi" wrote in message erver.com... I have a problem that I appear to be too dense to solve. I used to have a almost 30 aquariums full of various kinds of fish. Swapped the young fish to a fish dealer for supplies. When I went back to work full time I decided spending my weekends cleaning fish tanks was a bit of a bore. That was 30 years ago and I cannot believe I have forgptten so much about fish. As I have a fairly new pond outside that as yet has no fish, I bought three fantails and all new equipment for an indoor aquarium. I hope to combine some of the fish now living in my old outside pond with the new fish and put all in the pond when the weather warms up. When I bought these 3 new ones they looked perfectly clean. No ich, no rot, nothing else visible. They looked and acted like healthy fish. So I set up the aquarium and waited a day before putting the fish in. The water started to cloud almost immediately. After a couple days their fins started to sag. Two days later they were peppered with tiny white spots which I presume is ich. And their tails started to shred which I assume is fin rot. Then they started to lay around on the bottom most of the time. Didn't think they would live until morning so I took spring water and filled a glass bowl, threw in a drop of methylenee blue or some such thing and moved the fish. This morning they are ever so much livlier and not on the bottom. The water is starting to cloud again and unless my husband sneaked them some food, I cannot think of any reason for this. I just asked my husband and he said he did not feed the fish. So why is the water getting cloudy when there are only the fish there. My question is, where did the rot and the ich come from unless had it and it just was not visible. I never ever had a fish with ich before and I have had hundreds of fish in the past. I have removed all the water in the aquarium and am planning to rinse all the stone and plants. Then hopefully I can let it stand over night and put the fish back into the the 10 gallon job. Anyone any suggestions? I don't really think this bio filter I bought at Walmarts is doing a very good job. I got one of my 30 year old filters out and can't believe that I can't remember how to set it up. I think it's charcoal on the bottom with the cotton over that? Is this correct? I didn't mean to write a book, but I feel for those poor fish and believe me the people in that fish store will me one more time before I snub them forever. Hope some one can help me of point me in the direction of some h elp. Thanks a bunch. Pixi |
Pixi, sorry to hear you are having prolems. Way back in my 30's I had
several tanks going, but the kids left home, I got tired of cleaning tanks, and got rid of all of them. Now I am trying to get a 50 gal. going again, and I can't believe the trouble I am having. Finally after changing the water twice and the fish twice it is finally settling down. I thnk my hubby finally scared the tank into behaveing, he said if I had to drain that *&@# thing again, and buy more fish, he was going to toss it in the alley! Maybe when you get over 60 you have to resort to a few bad words and scare the tank into submission. The tank is acting beautiful now. Ha Ha Ha. KathyAZ "pixi" wrote in message erver.com... I have a problem that I appear to be too dense to solve. I used to have a almost 30 aquariums full of various kinds of fish. Swapped the young fish to a fish dealer for supplies. When I went back to work full time I decided spending my weekends cleaning fish tanks was a bit of a bore. That was 30 years ago and I cannot believe I have forgptten so much about fish. As I have a fairly new pond outside that as yet has no fish, I bought three fantails and all new equipment for an indoor aquarium. I hope to combine some of the fish now living in my old outside pond with the new fish and put all in the pond when the weather warms up. When I bought these 3 new ones they looked perfectly clean. No ich, no rot, nothing else visible. They looked and acted like healthy fish. So I set up the aquarium and waited a day before putting the fish in. The water started to cloud almost immediately. After a couple days their fins started to sag. Two days later they were peppered with tiny white spots which I presume is ich. And their tails started to shred which I assume is fin rot. Then they started to lay around on the bottom most of the time. Didn't think they would live until morning so I took spring water and filled a glass bowl, threw in a drop of methylenee blue or some such thing and moved the fish. This morning they are ever so much livlier and not on the bottom. The water is starting to cloud again and unless my husband sneaked them some food, I cannot think of any reason for this. I just asked my husband and he said he did not feed the fish. So why is the water getting cloudy when there are only the fish there. My question is, where did the rot and the ich come from unless had it and it just was not visible. I never ever had a fish with ich before and I have had hundreds of fish in the past. I have removed all the water in the aquarium and am planning to rinse all the stone and plants. Then hopefully I can let it stand over night and put the fish back into the the 10 gallon job. Anyone any suggestions? I don't really think this bio filter I bought at Walmarts is doing a very good job. I got one of my 30 year old filters out and can't believe that I can't remember how to set it up. I think it's charcoal on the bottom with the cotton over that? Is this correct? I didn't mean to write a book, but I feel for those poor fish and believe me the people in that fish store will me one more time before I snub them forever. Hope some one can help me of point me in the direction of some h elp. Thanks a bunch. Pixi |
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 18:45:37 -0700, "Kathy" wrote:
Pixi, sorry to hear you are having prolems. Way back in my 30's I had several tanks going, but the kids left home, I got tired of cleaning tanks, and got rid of all of them. Now I am trying to get a 50 gal. going again, and I can't believe the trouble I am having. Finally after changing the water twice and the fish twice it is finally settling down. I thnk my hubby finally scared the tank into behaveing, he said if I had to drain that *&@# thing again, and buy more fish, he was going to toss it in the alley! Maybe when you get over 60 you have to resort to a few bad words and scare the tank into submission. The tank is acting beautiful now. Ha Ha Ha. KathyAZ Our biggest mistake, and I've done it too, is all these BIG water changes when a filter is cycling. Better, imo/ime, is treat the ammonia with an ammonia locking chemical (Amquel), and the nitrite with 0.1% salt. Water change 20% every 5-7 days. Don't feed the fish at all till the cycle is complete, and then lightly thereafter, as the filter will have to deal with that extra ammonia when you feed them. Slowly, over weeks, increase the food. ~ jan See my ponds and filter design: http://users.owt.com/jjspond/ ~Keep 'em Wet!~ Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a To e-mail see website |
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 18:45:37 -0700, "Kathy" wrote:
Pixi, sorry to hear you are having prolems. Way back in my 30's I had several tanks going, but the kids left home, I got tired of cleaning tanks, and got rid of all of them. Now I am trying to get a 50 gal. going again, and I can't believe the trouble I am having. Finally after changing the water twice and the fish twice it is finally settling down. I thnk my hubby finally scared the tank into behaveing, he said if I had to drain that *&@# thing again, and buy more fish, he was going to toss it in the alley! Maybe when you get over 60 you have to resort to a few bad words and scare the tank into submission. The tank is acting beautiful now. Ha Ha Ha. KathyAZ Our biggest mistake, and I've done it too, is all these BIG water changes when a filter is cycling. Better, imo/ime, is treat the ammonia with an ammonia locking chemical (Amquel), and the nitrite with 0.1% salt. Water change 20% every 5-7 days. Don't feed the fish at all till the cycle is complete, and then lightly thereafter, as the filter will have to deal with that extra ammonia when you feed them. Slowly, over weeks, increase the food. ~ jan See my ponds and filter design: http://users.owt.com/jjspond/ ~Keep 'em Wet!~ Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a To e-mail see website |
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