Test Results for the Following:
Ammonia Level? 0
Nitrite Level? 0
Nitrate level? 10
Ph Level, (If possible,KH and GH and chloramines)? 7 (it was just 7.6 a few days ago)
Ph Level out of the Tap? 7
Tank size (How many Gals) and How long has it been running? 10 gal, a few months
What is the name and size of the filter/s? Aquaclear 20
How often do you change the water and how much? 2 gal 2x per week, occasionally 5 gal



How many fish in the tank and their size? 1.5" moor
What kind of water additives or conditioners? Amquel+, crushed coral
Any medications added to the tank? Prazi-Q
Add any new fish to the tank? no
What do you feed your fish? Had been metromeds for the past month, just switched to jump start today
Any unusual findings on the fish such as
"grains of salt", bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus? scale egdes are slightly raised, poop is clear and stringy about 1/2 the time
Any unusual behavior like staying
at the bottom, not eating, ect..? no

I just don't know what to do for this fish. He looked a little bloated a few days ago, so I've been watching him closely. The bloat went away, but now his scales are raised the tiniest bit. It's hard to tell exactly how much because the little bugger won't stay still, or even face away from me. I don't think I'm imagining it though. It seems like the metromeds didn't completely get rid of whatever was causing his dropsy. Unless the pH crash could have triggered it? Or is this going to be a constant problem until his bacterial infection or whatever goes away? Maybe if I move the coral from the tank bottom and into the filter that will help stabilize it. Should I put him back on mms? He's only had one meal of jump start so far anyway.

This fish is going to drive me insane. I don't know what else to do for him.

It doesn't matter where the coral is. It does its job in the filter or on the floor. Are you absolutely certain the scales are lifting? Whereabouts? Sometimes when a black fish is losing color the scales can look a little raised.

That may be it, since I can't seem to see it today. He's definitely losing his black on his sides, which is where I saw/thought I saw the dropsy. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid.

Buff-it-up is the best thing I have ever used to raise and sustain the pH. My tap is 6.8 pH & 35 KH. I use the buff it up to raise it to 7.6 pH 87.5 KH and it holds it rock steady, no dip whatsoever.

Going from 7.6 to 7.0 is not good. It is not actually a pH crash(a sudden drop of 2 points or more) but it could be a crash waitin' to happen. Remember, one point on the pH scale is ten fold, so a 2 point drop is 10x10=100. In another words, if your pH crashes, and it goes from 7 to 5, it means your goldie's water just got 100 times more acidic. That could easily shock and kill a fish.

If your fish is still bloated, the epsom treatment should help release the excess fluid. Epsom is not a stress reducer like aquarium salt and some fish might not take a liking to it. I think I recall you mentioning that Ace did not like it.....

Are you using baking soda to up the pH? What is your KH out of the tap and in the tank?

As far as the scales go, I would have to agree with Trinket. It's very unlikely that dropsy would re-appear while you are on full metromeds treatment. Possible, but very unlikely.

Yeah, I guess I was just being paranoid. I had to leave for a weekend, but I came home and he was fine. No signs of dropsy. The edges of his scales are more black than the rest, which are turning gold, so maybe that's what I saw.

You're right, Ace was not fond of epsom salts at all. But the bloat has gone, so as long as it doens't come back I think I'll spare him the salts.

I don't really know what the KH is, since all I have are the test strips for it, and I don't trust them. But from what they say, the tap KH seems to be almost 0, and in the tank I think it's around 80. No, I don't use baking soda, just the coral. The coral at least seems to keep it between 7 and 8 as long as I don't do too many or too few water changes, but it still doesn't stay still. Maybe I'll try that Buff it Up. Can that be used with coral, and is it in pet stores or online? I'm close to broke, so if it's not expensive I might get some.

Thanks again, everyone.

Buff it up is pretty expensive. $12 for 20oz from GFC or $45 for 8 lbs from online Koi stores. For a broke college student(I feel your pain, I've been there), I would think that baking soda is highly appealing at 50cents a pound, no?

Baking soda is what you use to raise the pH. Crushed coral is what you use to sustain it. You need to use both if you don't get Buff it up.


On a different note, I just noticed that my oranda Sosh's scales are not flush.
I just ordered fresh metromeds second day air this morning. Wish me luck Alyssa.

Sorry about an off the topic question..

What is metromed? Is it effective of treating drosy?

Oh no, poor Sosh! I hope your fishy is ok. Good luck!

I think I'll have to go with baking soda and coral for a while, I'm pretty sure I can afford that, at least.

32Bit_fish: MetroMeds are good for early dropsy, among other things. It got rid of my fish's dropsy a few weeks ago. That's about all I know about it, but I got it from Goldfish Connection.

Thanks Alyssa!


Go gradual on the baking soda. Don't raise it too much at once.

Is it Metronidazole? I used them to treat internal parasite disease (white poo/not eating problem) on my discus.

Yeah, it has Metronidazole and some sort of antibiotic.

You keep discus? Wow. They're gorgeous fish, but I've heard they're difficult to keep.

Yeah, I used to a lot of them in my 125g and in several other smaller tanks. I bred them too but it was difficult.

They are not difficult to keep as long as you done your research before jump in and dump the fish in the tank. Also acquiring healthy discus from a good source is very very important. It saves lots money and pain steaking experience of treating the fish.

At last, never buy fish from LFS.