Hi,
Test Results for the Following:
Ammonia Level? 0
Nitrite Level? 0
Nitrate level? Lost the color chart, the color was a orange, kinda deep but not really
Ph Level, (If possible,KH and GH and chloramines)?pH= 7.6 (this is rrrreeeeallly wierd) KH = 85 GH=107
Ph Level out of the Tap? approx 6
Tank size (How many Gals) and How long has it been running? 38gal, approx 10-11months
What is the name and size of the filter/s? penguin 350
How often do you change the water and how much? When i come home i do a 95% Water change and 25% for each day im home ( i only come home about once a month)
How many fish in the tank and their size? 2 goldfish approx 3-4in(including tail) One is a black moor/commen cross and the other a fantail, also two dojo loaches
What kind of water additives or conditioners? Amquel plus and novaaqua
Any medications added to the tank? nope
Add any new fish to the tank? Yes the two dojos, i added them about a month and half ago (last time i was home)
What do you feed your fish? progold
Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt",
bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? No
Any unusual behavior like staying
at the bottom, not eating, ect..?
Yes, my fantail is bottoms sitting.... alot, my dad says hes been doing this for 2-3 weeks, the black moor seems fine, and the dojos are very active (are they suppose to swim to the surface frequently?). Heres the wierd thing
For the entire time ive had the tank, my pH has been very low, im talking like 6 (dont have a low ph range test kit and thats the lowest on the chart). Ive added crushed coral to the filters a while back. However i went to test today and its reading around 7.6. I tested 3 or 4 times with the two different bottles i have (came in different kits but are the same time). Im using the fresthwater master test kit that comes in the green box. And then i tested the tapwater and its still at around 6. Whats going on?
My dad and i are going out to get them a light now to see if that helps... and hes swimming around at the moment but i know hell eventually go back to his corner. Should i pick up anything else while im there?

Just got back from college for the weekend after about a month and half. The water in my tank was filthy... like could hardly see the fish terrible. Changed pretty much all of the water and rinsed my filter and plants in old tank water.

The ph has risen because of the crushed coral - it's brilliant for raising the kh/ph and keeping it stable Just make sure to refresh it every couple of months so it continues to work its magic

I think the problem is (and will continue to be) a lack of waterchanges. Unfortunately if you can only get home once a month, then the water may become stagnant. Is there any way your dad can siphon off about 30% weekly just to refresh the water? Then when you get home, you can give the tank a proper clean...

How does his poop look?
Any other symptoms you can see?

Also, how much are they being fed daily? How many times per day?
Do you rinse the filter media when you do a massive change?
How do you rinse it?

Please post back soon

Hi
thanks for anwsering

I checked the pH after i had pretty much done a 100% water change, thats what has me so confused. and the tap water read about 6.

I do agree about the lack of water changes, but my dad is such a workaholic, by the time he gets home i would feel terrible to ask him to change the water (its such a huge ordeal as the nearest faucet is down the stairs and on the other side of the house). However he has gotten attached to them too and noted the fish had been bottom sitting for about 2 or 3 weeks(which means he began it about a week after i had given it a good clean). So we went and bought a light, while they seemed to enjoy it, he was still bottomsitting.

Other than bottoms sitting he looks fine. He does have one little bloodspot on his tail (almost looks like the kind you get when you hit your thumb with a hammer or something) but i assumed this was from bottom sitting as he has a long flowing tail. His top fin is erect and he looks around, his poop seems fine.

I do know that my dad overfeeds and ive explained to him umteen times just a pinch. Unfortantly hes a sap and he falls for the " we are still hungry" look. I am working on that.

When i do a massive water change i take the plants, bags that hold the crushed coral, and filter media out and rinse it in a bucket of tank water, just to get the goopy stuff off. I leave the biowheels alone however.

Hey, quick update. While fazz is seemingly doing better (off the gravel a bit more) he still spends a substantial amount of time on the floor. Everything seems normal though i did spot a half stringy poo floating around, not sure if it even was poo. But i think better safe then sorry i want to do a does of this medigold im hearing so much about. Where would i pick some up? is it in stores or only online?? Thanks


O and should i feed them and then watch them to make sure that is what i saw? im fasting them right now for 3 days and then trying the pea thing to see if itll help any.

Hi Andrea

You can get medigold from www.goldfishconnection.com and they send it out straight away. If you're seeing lethargy, clamped fins, stringy poop then it may be a good idea to start feeding for a minimum of 14 days

Hey, thanks for the reply. I was watching them yesterday after feeding them (on the lookout for poo) andi noticed they were spitting out thier food. is this something ishould be worried about? Are they getting enough food?

I wish i could just see a clear sign instead of feeling like a hypochondriac for my fish