Godlfish Sitting At Bottom Of Tank?

[The ynnaJ]

Hi,

Recently I have taken up the hobby of fish after I bought a 50 gallon tank with stand at a garage sale for $40 . Anyhow, we bought 5 goldfish to put into the tank. For the first week and a half, the fish were sooo active, swimming around, exploring their surroundings, and never really resting or showing any sign of unhealthiness. After I did a 20% water change, however, 3 of the fish died and now two of the previously active fish sit at the bottom of the tank all day with periodic spasms swimming around the tank where they will swim frantically to the top of the tank and then come back down to the bottom to sit. What am I doing wrong?

Thank you.

 

[waterdrop]

Well congratulations! Most newcomers to the hobby show up here with 5 goldfish in a goldfish bowl, not a 50 gallon tank! You are at least -closer- to having enough space for them! In fact, perhaps the goldfish folks will come along and deem that 50g would be ok!

The guideline though, as far as I can remember is to have 20 (or is it 30! gallons) for the first goldfish and then 10 more gallons (US Gallons) for each additional one. This is a minimal thing to keep them alive as they are actually pond fish that will grow to absolutely enormous size.

Now what's probably happened to your fish is quite simple. You probably just haven't had access to the basic information about how aquariums work. Fish give off ammonia from their gills and their waste, excess fishfood and plant debris also contributes ammonia to the tank. Ammonia, even in small amounts is deadly to fish and must be cleared away.

The way we control this in the hobby is via a wonderful thing called the "biofilter" which is one of the main functions of the common aquarium filter. But in your case you may not yet have a working biofilter (we'll need to find that out.)

And so my guess is that you're in an urgent situation where you'll first need to perform water changes. Have you got any conditioner? This is the chemical product from your local aquarium shop that performs the task of taking chlorine or chloramine out of your tap water to make it safe for fish. You need that right away. Good brands are Seachem Prime and API StressCoat+ and there are others. You need to perform 50 to 70% water changes and use conditioner per directions on the return water and it needs to be roughly temperature matched (your hand is good enough) to the tank water. You need to do this maybe twice with at least an hour in-between to quickly get things better, then you need to do it once per day, until you can get a good test kit.

You need a good liquid-reagent-based test kit. Many of us like and use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. You'll need a good gravel-cleaner-siphon-hose to handle these water changes. Post up how things are going and further questions and the members will join in and help you.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[The ynnaJ]

Well congratulations! Most newcomers to the hobby show up here with 5 goldfish in a goldfish bowl, not a 50 gallon tank! You are at least -closer- to having enough space for them! In fact, perhaps the goldfish folks will come along and deem that 50g would be ok!

The guideline though, as far as I can remember is to have 20 (or is it 30! gallons) for the first goldfish and then 10 more gallons (US Gallons) for each additional one. This is a minimal thing to keep them alive as they are actually pond fish that will grow to absolutely enormous size.

Now what's probably happened to your fish is quite simple. You probably just haven't had access to the basic information about how aquariums work. Fish give off ammonia from their gills and their waste, excess fishfood and plant debris also contributes ammonia to the tank. Ammonia, even in small amounts is deadly to fish and must be cleared away.

The way we control this in the hobby is via a wonderful thing called the "biofilter" which is one of the main functions of the common aquarium filter. But in your case you may not yet have a working biofilter (we'll need to find that out.)

And so my guess is that you're in an urgent situation where you'll first need to perform water changes. Have you got any conditioner? This is the chemical product from your local aquarium shop that performs the task of taking chlorine or chloramine out of your tap water to make it safe for fish. You need that right away. Good brands are Seachem Prime and API StressCoat+ and there are others. You need to perform 50 to 70% water changes and use conditioner per directions on the return water and it needs to be roughly temperature matched (your hand is good enough) to the tank water. You need to do this maybe twice with at least an hour in-between to quickly get things better, then you need to do it once per day, until you can get a good test kit.

You need a good liquid-reagent-based test kit. Many of us like and use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. You'll need a good gravel-cleaner-siphon-hose to handle these water changes. Post up how things are going and further questions and the members will join in and help you.

~~waterdrop~~

Hi,

Believe it or not, I did do my research. And most of it said 1 fancy goldfish per 10 gallons. Also, my goldfish were relatively small and the reputable fish store that I went to said that it was okay for 5 for a 50 gallon.
I read this website and others:
<a href="http/www.geocities.com/adams_goldfish101/gereral.html" target="_blank">http/www.geocities.com/adams_goldfish101/gereral.html</a>

Also, I have an Aquaclear filter + a heater aside if I need it and I used NovAqua in the water. The temperature is also always around 68 degrees- 70 degrees. I told my dad that we needed a pH and ammonia test kit but he didn't believe me because he's a science professor with his own lab so he said that he can get much better pH testing kit from his lab. >.<

Thanks for your quick response!

Also, I noticed that the fishes poo isn't normal looking. It's much lighter colored and sausage- like (long clumps).

EDIT: Oops! I just realized I spelled "Goldfish" wrong in the topic! Sorry about that!

 

[arobinson1984]

The website you mentioned, based on the fact it is a 'geocities' site is probably just stating someones opinion rather than sound advice.

I dont keep goldfish but have read quite alot about them on here and understand that it is 30 gal for the first fish then 10 gal per fish after so ideally you only want 3 in your tank, maybe 4 at a push.

Another thing that is vital with goldfish is your filtration, your tank will need to have double filtration. Ideally you need a filter that is suitable for a tank at least double the size of yours, this is because goldfish are huge waste producers and if your filter can't cope you will get a build up of ammonia in your tank which will kill your fish.

You have found a great forum here and there are many people who are experienced in keeping goldfish and I'm sure you'll be able to find all the information you require.

Andy

 

[Jazzzz]

Ok

I have a 50 gallon tank with goldfish in.

If we are talking fancy goldfish, not commets or shubumkins or standard goldies, then 4 would be a good number in my books.

Standard goldfish would be a max of 2

Commets, shubumkins are pond fish and should stay in a pond.

The tank will need a large external filter rated for at least a 100gallon tank as they are huge waste producers.

A heater is not neccesary.

The reason your fish died and the other 2 are looking sad is because the tank was not cycled and the amonia and nitrate levels will have gone through the roof turning your water piosonus.

Do not use tall thin rocks as they could be knocked over causing the tank to crack.

Plants are essential for keeping them happy but you will find that they can consume 2 pets at home plants a night once fully grown.

For this reason I reckomened a 50/50 mix of real and silk plants as this will stop the tank looking baron after a few days.

Java furn mounted on bogwood will also make a great addition to your tank.

Do not buy any new fish for now and do a large 50% water change using dechlorinator.

What filter are you currently using?

 

[The ynnaJ]

Ok

I have a 50 gallon tank with goldfish in.

If we are talking fancy goldfish, not commets or shubumkins or standard goldies, then 4 would be a good number in my books.

Standard goldfish would be a max of 2

Commets, shubumkins are pond fish and should stay in a pond.

The tank will need a large external filter rated for at least a 100gallon tank as they are huge waste producers.

A heater is not neccesary.

The reason your fish died and the other 2 are looking sad is because the tank was not cycled and the amonia and nitrate levels will have gone through the roof turning your water piosonus.

Do not use tall thin rocks as they could be knocked over causing the tank to crack.

Plants are essential for keeping them happy but you will find that they can consume 2 pets at home plants a night once fully grown.

For this reason I reckomened a 50/50 mix of real and silk plants as this will stop the tank looking baron after a few days.

Java furn mounted on bogwood will also make a great addition to your tank.

Do not buy any new fish for now and do a large 50% water change using dechlorinator.

What filter are you currently using?

I'm not sure what filter it is because it came used with the fish tank but it's an aquaclear.

 

[waterdrop]

(feel like I'm ascending the mount here with moses to reach the Godl thread... )

Aquaclear's are good filters! Much more flexible than many other HOBs. Hopefully its running biomedia and mechanical (sponges, floss) rather than carbon.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[The ynnaJ]

(feel like I'm ascending the mount here with moses to reach the Godl thread... )

Aquaclear's are good filters! Much more flexible than many other HOBs. Hopefully its running biomedia and mechanical (sponges, floss) rather than carbon.

~~waterdrop~~

Yeah it is.

I put the remaining fish into a different tank today and did a full water change and added NovAqua plus. Getting pH and ammonia paper tomorrow.