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I am really worried about Twister. He is a fancy goldfish, about 6 1/2 inches from nose to tail. This year he started growing this "Shell" on his face that resembles an oranda. Who knows exactly what he is. He is in a 30 gallon tank with 4 others. A 5 inch spotted dojo, 4 in bubble face fish ( sorry, don't know the real name), a 4 1/2 inch calico, and a white 5 inch fancy goldfish. I just did a water change. 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates, 1 ppm ammonia. The water is salted. I run an aquacare filter. I just put the charcoal filter back in tonight. Water is ok for hardness, but the PH is high. Around 8. I feed Hikari food. Hikari flakes, daphnia, dehydrated brine shrimp. Tetra blookworms, adn Bio Blend sinking pellets. The only new food is my pet store had live brine shimp. I gave them to the fish last week. I use Tap Water Conditioner., Amquel if needed, cycle each time I change the water.

I had a run of Septecemia in the tank. I treated it with Marcyn Two at first. That did not work. The I treated it with Furacyn. This has cleared it up in everyone except Twister. He still has several red streaks in his tail, with one large red spot on the end of one of the veins. I can't seem to get this to clear up. Any suggestions?

Thanks
cathy

Hi Cathy, and !
The first impression I got from reading is that your tank doesn't look like its cycled yet, hence the ammonia reading, but now nitrites or nitrates. How long do you have the tank?
Here are a few helpful links on the process of cycling a tank....
Cycling a tank/filter

And one more, helps you understand the basic needs of a goldfish.....
10 steps to a healthy goldfish

Once you read through the second link, you will realize that unfortunately your tank is too small for 4 goldfish and a dojo. Streaks in a fish's finnage in most cases is an indication of a water quality issue. Ammonia is toxic to fish, even in small amounts, and can even kill a fish. So is the next stage in the cycling process, the nitrites.
Some fish are more sensitive to water quality problems then others, hence Twister still showing symptoms, while everybody else is fine. To keep the stress down and improve your fish's health, you have to do more frequent water changes and daily water testing until the cycling is complete. Septicemia, if that is what it was the first time, can be taken care off without meds, just with pristine water for the fish.
And one last thing that comes to mind - ammonia is more toxic with a higher pH, and yours being at 8 qualifies for a little high. Usually its okay as long as the pH is stable, its just a concern when ammonia is present in the tank. Even more watching, testing and water changes are neccessary.
You did good with the salt in the water (how much do you put in?), that will help protect the fishes gill from the affects of the soon to be showing nitrites.

Let us know how Twister is doing!.... B)

thanks for the info. I have had these fish for 2 years. they started in a 10 gallon tank. When I moved into the 30 gal. That is when they grew this large. I don't have anymore room for a bigger tank! This tank is about a year old. I did loose the cycle about 6 months ago, but it had been almost perfect until my kids got sick. Besides PH down, do you know of anyway to lower the PH? The chemicals don't seem to be working. I just changed water last night and the PH never moved.

thanks for the info

Cathy

Yeah, its amazing how fast they suddenly grow if given a bigger space!
pH down doesn't really work all that great, its only a short time solution, the ph goes up again after a few hours, which is generally more stress, the continuious up and down of the pH.
I wouldn't mess at all with a stable pH, just test the water more frequently and do more water changes, and to feel a little bit more safe you can get a water conditioner and detoxifier called "Prime" by Seachem. It does not only take care of ammonia by turning it into a nontoxic version, it also takes care of nitrites, heavy metals, is a dechlorinator as well. And,unlike some other water conditioners, leaves the pH alone.....
How is Twister today?

You wouldn't know there is anything wrong. He is eating like a piggy which is normal, keeping his tank in order ( he is the dominent fish) and swimming around. The red is still there, but it has not gotten any worse. I will do a small water change tonight and see if that helps the PH.

thanks for your help

cathy

were pullin for ya cathy! twister sounds like a lovely fish. and very lucky to have such a caring keeper as you!


paul