Goldfish Rehomed!

[sallyann]

Just to let you know that goldie is now in his new home, he was not bothered about the move at all, just swan around eating bits that had come off the filter when i switched it over.
I have just done a water test too, so here are the results, if you can have a look at them i would g=be grateful.

ph 8.4, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, ammonia, 0-0.25, slight green tinge,

ph is high, but this goldfish has lived in this all his life (10 years) I don't think changing the water would help as i know its about the same ph, how can you change ph, or will he be ok,?

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Sally Ann,

I don't remember reading your previous threads so i'm unsure what has happened. I assume you had goldie in a tank which was too small?

Anyway, don't worry about the pH. Adjusting the pH should only really be attempted by experienced fishkeepers as it can go very wrong. So long as it is stable, the actual pH value isn't really a concern. Goldfish generally prefer a high pH anyway, so it's nothing to worry about.

Ammonia however is something to worry about. Keep a very close eye on it.

Again, i don't know your circumstances (ie. whether your filter is cycled or not), so i will limit myself to advice on controlling the ammonia level just now rather than trying to prevent the ammonia appearing. I'm sure Miss Wiggle will help you out on that.

You should really try to keep ammonia below 0.25ppm. If it creeps above 0.25, do a water change to counter it. Don't be afraid to change too much water. Changes of 90% aren't uncommon whilst battling ammonia if that is what is necessary to keep the ammonia level down. Ammonia is lethal to fish in very small quantities and water changes are the best way of getting rid of it.

Also, everything i have said about ammonia applies to nitrite too. You can effectively ignore nitrate for the time being.

Good luck with it. I'm off to find your previous threads now, probably to find that i've just told you lots of stuff you already know. Oh well!!

Cheers

BTT

 

[Miss Wiggle]

ha ha BTT, yeah you'll find the whole back history in the previous threads.

sallyanne's just getting things sorted to make a better life for her goldie

replied on your other thread about the pH and ammonia

 

[sallyann]

Thanks for your reply, always nice to get replies, yes I have had lots of good advice from miss wiggle, she has helped me out lots, since i posted with a sick goldfish 2 weeks ago, I cannot believe how much I have learnt, and how I have been doing it wrong for 10 years!!

I have used my current filter and sponge and added my plants and ornaments, filter is ok for this size tank, I have upgraded from a 16 litre to a 40 litre tank.

The goldfish is used to this water and has lived it it for a long time, the ph does come down over time I have noticed, I am going to check the ammonia in a couple of hours and do a water change if its not altered at all, I will then keep testing every day until everything is stable.

The goldfish is very happy exploring his new home, looking for food I suspect!!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Thanks for your reply, always nice to get replies, yes I have had lots of good advice from miss wiggle, she has helped me out lots, since i posted with a sick goldfish 2 weeks ago, I cannot believe how much I have learnt, and how I have been doing it wrong for 10 years!!

well it's always nice for us when we see someone come on asking for help who is so open to hearing and advice and just wants to do the right thing for their fihies. so you're definatley on the right track

The goldfish is very happy exploring his new home, looking for food I suspect!!

yup undoubtedly!

hold off feeding him for 24 hrs though. when you mvoe a fish its pretty stressful for them, half the time they don't eat that day and if the food is left uneaten it'ss mess up the water. 1 day without food will do him no harm at all and keeping the water clean should be your priority for now so best to just leave him without food for today.

 

[sallyann]

Thanks for your reply, always nice to get replies, yes I have had lots of good advice from miss wiggle, she has helped me out lots, since i posted with a sick goldfish 2 weeks ago, I cannot believe how much I have learnt, and how I have been doing it wrong for 10 years!!

well it's always nice for us when we see someone come on asking for help who is so open to hearing and advice and just wants to do the right thing for their fihies. so you're definatley on the right track

The goldfish is very happy exploring his new home, looking for food I suspect!!

yup undoubtedly!

hold off feeding him for 24 hrs though. when you mvoe a fish its pretty stressful for them, half the time they don't eat that day and if the food is left uneaten it'ss mess up the water. 1 day without food will do him no harm at all and keeping the water clean should be your priority for now so best to just leave him without food for today.

Ok, no food for today!! will feed him tomorrow around this time, hubby going to sort light put this week-end, needs fitting to hood with some clips.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

cool, my hubby deals with all the equipment side of things for me, he's much better at it than i am.

 

[sallyann]

cool, my hubby deals with all the equipment side of things for me, he's much better at it than i am.

Yeah, so does mine, I don't have the patience for it!, men do have their uses. Lol

Just done another ammonia test and its now down to 0

Should I test this every day for a couple of days, and what about the other tests?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

lol, yes they do. mine's a builder which definatley comes in handy, he's pretty practical so he deals with that side of stuff for me. He's currently putting up a new ceiling in our bedroom..... good lad!! lol

that's what i thought would happen. it's just when you move the filter a load of muck gets stirred up giving an ammonia reading, you've got a mature filter though so it should be able top process the little blip of ammonia quickly.... which it obviously has done.

test for all your levels (ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) every day for a week, post up the results if you're not sure of anything.

touch wood it'll stay stable then, after a week if it's steady you should get into the habit of testing once a week when you do your water change, it can be a good idea to keep a log book of your water readings.

once the tank's been stable for 6 months or so you don't need to be so vigorous with your tests, some people continue to do them as they don't take long and they give you reassurance that everythings fine and sometimes early warning of any problems. personally i only test now if a tank's newly set up or if i spot any problems.

 

[sallyann]

lol, yes they do. mine's a builder which definatley comes in handy, he's pretty practical so he deals with that side of stuff for me. He's currently putting up a new ceiling in our bedroom..... good lad!! lol

that's what i thought would happen. it's just when you move the filter a load of muck gets stirred up giving an ammonia reading, you've got a mature filter though so it should be able top process the little blip of ammonia quickly.... which it obviously has done.

test for all your levels (ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) every day for a week, post up the results if you're not sure of anything.

touch wood it'll stay stable then, after a week if it's steady you should get into the habit of testing once a week when you do your water change, it can be a good idea to keep a log book of your water readings.

once the tank's been stable for 6 months or so you don't need to be so vigorous with your tests, some people continue to do them as they don't take long and they give you reassurance that everythings fine and sometimes early warning of any problems. personally i only test now if a tank's newly set up or if i spot any problems.

great , will do, I feel as if I am getting the hang of it now, I thought my filter had sorted out the ammonia, yipee!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

glad to hear it, it can be confusing as hell at first but once you get your head round it you'll be well away