I became a foster mom to my son's goldfish when he could no longer keep them in his dorm. So my knowledge is minimal - I have an Oranda with a very cloudy eye. It's been that way for about a 10 days. He otherwise acts his usual "normal". The pet store said it was probably a fungus infection so I treated the aquarium with Fungus guard. - twice - following the directions on the bottle but I see no change in his eye. Does any one have any suggestions?
The tank is 30 gallons - I've had it for about 6 months - it's filter system is a Penguin 170 bio wheel and also a sponge covered tube type thing (sorry I don't know what it's called). There are 3 goldfish - a fantail, a "regular" goldfish and the oranda.
The test kit I used tested as follows
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite between 0 and .25ppm
the ph is 8.2 - and has been at that reading since November
Our tap water is well water with no cholorine ph 7.8
I clean the tank about 7-10 days - changing 5-7 gallons of water
I feed them Goldfish flakes - once a day and goldfish crumbles - once a day
Thank you.
Full Version: Cloudy Eye Oranda
How is the behavior? And the nitrates? Could you update us on these?
My kit doesn't test for nitrates - the fish is acting normally and eating ok
I would get the nitrate kit as soon as you can. High nitrates can cause problems as well.
For the eye, I am not sure. Can you describe it more? When did this all start happening?
It is good he is acting ok. Maybe just keep an eye on him and see if anything else develops.
For the eye, I am not sure. Can you describe it more? When did this all start happening?
It is good he is acting ok. Maybe just keep an eye on him and see if anything else develops.
I went out and bought some test strips as that's all the local store had. The nitrates showed to be about 60 ppm - which I think are kind of high. I changed some of the water in the aquarium. The nitrates went down to about 40. I was advised that it might be something called flexobacterial infection or popeye. I bought some Maracyn Plus liquid antibacteria but I haven't given him any yet.
The eye looks like some one put a really dull covering over it - like looking thru frosted glass - I think I would say it bulges out a bit more than the other one. I noticed the eye looking funny about 10 days ago but it seems to be getting worse. I see nothing else unusual on the rest of him or on the other two fish
The eye looks like some one put a really dull covering over it - like looking thru frosted glass - I think I would say it bulges out a bit more than the other one. I noticed the eye looking funny about 10 days ago but it seems to be getting worse. I see nothing else unusual on the rest of him or on the other two fish
When you say that you clean your tank evey 7-10 days, could you describe what you do for this process? Or do you just do a waterchange?
Unless you test regularly and haven't seen any changes in ammonia, I suspect that the root of the problem is in the cycle of the tank. Cleaning too much of the filter and/or the tank can cause the bio-filter to be temorarily set-back. Also, too small a filter won't be able to keep the water clean. Ammonia/ nitrIte spikes can come and go rather quickly as a result of either or.
Your penguin 170 is a sufficient filter for a tank only half the size of yours (for goldfish). Basically, its waaaay too small for 3 goldfish in a 30 gallon. It only pushes 170 gallons per hour. To achieve the propor filtration rate to keep your water clean, you would need to double the filtration you have now. The suggested rule of thumb, this is important, is that your filtration rate should be 100gph for every ten gallons of water the tank holds (or 10x's filtration rate). I highly suggest that you get another filter just like the one you have and get it going. A VERY cheap source for them is the very reputable Big Als online.com. Heres a link: Penguin 150 This is the newest version of your filter. Its actually 20 GPH less but it has a larger bio-wheel and you said that you have a spongefilter already. So, I think the combination of the 3 filters will bring your filtration up to a rate that will be able to handle your goldies bio-load for years of growing to come.
So, off the top, do not medicate just yet. Although that is the correct medication for the type of symptom your seeing, ammonia can and often does cause clouding too. I think your goldie can heal on his own if you can correct the water params for him. To do this is simple; large, daily waterchanges until you can get another filter on the tank and it becomes cycled.
Post back soon.
Paul
Unless you test regularly and haven't seen any changes in ammonia, I suspect that the root of the problem is in the cycle of the tank. Cleaning too much of the filter and/or the tank can cause the bio-filter to be temorarily set-back. Also, too small a filter won't be able to keep the water clean. Ammonia/ nitrIte spikes can come and go rather quickly as a result of either or.
Your penguin 170 is a sufficient filter for a tank only half the size of yours (for goldfish). Basically, its waaaay too small for 3 goldfish in a 30 gallon. It only pushes 170 gallons per hour. To achieve the propor filtration rate to keep your water clean, you would need to double the filtration you have now. The suggested rule of thumb, this is important, is that your filtration rate should be 100gph for every ten gallons of water the tank holds (or 10x's filtration rate). I highly suggest that you get another filter just like the one you have and get it going. A VERY cheap source for them is the very reputable Big Als online.com. Heres a link: Penguin 150 This is the newest version of your filter. Its actually 20 GPH less but it has a larger bio-wheel and you said that you have a spongefilter already. So, I think the combination of the 3 filters will bring your filtration up to a rate that will be able to handle your goldies bio-load for years of growing to come.
So, off the top, do not medicate just yet. Although that is the correct medication for the type of symptom your seeing, ammonia can and often does cause clouding too. I think your goldie can heal on his own if you can correct the water params for him. To do this is simple; large, daily waterchanges until you can get another filter on the tank and it becomes cycled.
Post back soon.
Paul
Cleaning the tank consists of scrubbing the sides and using a suction type vacuum - going in and out between the gravel - collecting debris etc and water and then replacing the water lost with fresh. I usually top off the tank in between cleanings with about one gallon of water
Great! thats sounds like a good routine to me. 
For now, you could try adding a little salt to the water. This will help sheild them from any nitrItes in the water. It will also help with a few other aspects too. Don't worry, salt in the water is just fine. Goldfish are WELL adapted to differing salinities from time to time.
Since your nitrIte problems don't seem to be too bad as of recently, you might want to only go with a .15% solution. To achieve this, you need to add 1 1/4 level teaspoons aquarium salt to each gallon of water you pour into the tank. Remember, salt cannot be filtered out nor does it evaporate. This means that you need to closely monitor your calculations and additions to the tank. If you add 1 1/4 teaspoons to each and evry gallon of water you put in the tank (and ONLY the water you add to the tank), you will be all good. Again, don't worry, Goldfish are well adapted to salt in the water and can easily handle twice the level I am prescribing you.
Continue the salting until you have had the new filter up and running for a couple weeks. Then, just quit the salt altogether.
I think you should see some improvement after you begun the daily waterchanges.
Post back soon.
Paul
For now, you could try adding a little salt to the water. This will help sheild them from any nitrItes in the water. It will also help with a few other aspects too. Don't worry, salt in the water is just fine. Goldfish are WELL adapted to differing salinities from time to time.
Since your nitrIte problems don't seem to be too bad as of recently, you might want to only go with a .15% solution. To achieve this, you need to add 1 1/4 level teaspoons aquarium salt to each gallon of water you pour into the tank. Remember, salt cannot be filtered out nor does it evaporate. This means that you need to closely monitor your calculations and additions to the tank. If you add 1 1/4 teaspoons to each and evry gallon of water you put in the tank (and ONLY the water you add to the tank), you will be all good. Again, don't worry, Goldfish are well adapted to salt in the water and can easily handle twice the level I am prescribing you.
Continue the salting until you have had the new filter up and running for a couple weeks. Then, just quit the salt altogether.
I think you should see some improvement after you begun the daily waterchanges.
Post back soon.
Paul
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