Hello,

This is my first post, but I have been visiting the boards frequently and have found them greatly useful. I am a beginning fish caretaker, and feel like and awful one. Unfortunately, due to space limitations and frequent 1.5 hour car drives, (I'm a college student) I have a small oranda, Pumpkin, in a 2 gallon tank. This is his new, and upgraded tank, , and it was just recently set up about two weeks ago, at the most. It is an Eclipse Explorer 2 Gallon with a carbon filter. Since he has moved into his new home, he has lost several scales, is darting (flashing?) around a lot, and his tail appears to be fraying. For several days now, I have been doing about 50% water changes each day, with water that has been sitting for 24 hours. The nitrite readings appear to be between 3.0 and 4.0 ppm, which really worry me. The pH is about 7.2, and the nitrate readings are about 40 ppm. Are the readings high because of the new tank cycling? I do not have a testing kit for the ammonia levels. I was wondering if anyone knew if ammonia detoxifiers are ok to put in the tank, and if they would help my situation, or if they would make itworse. I also have Melafix and wonder if adding that would add stress or if it would help his scale condition. Other than the loss of scales and darting, Pumpkin continues to swim and eat. If anyone knows how I can help him, please let me know. Thank you very much,

jen

Hi Jen, and welcome to the board!

Sorry to hear about poor Pumpkin. I suspect it is high ammonia which is causing him to dart around the tank. I know you probably already know this, but a 2 gallon tank is far too small even for 1 goldfish. Goldies need a minimum of 10 gallons each (ideally more like 15-20 gallons each). In such a small quantity of water, toxins such as ammonia and nitrite build up very rapidly and turn the water into a burning posionous soup. Plus, Pumpkin will not be able to grow properly - he should eventually reach a length of at least 8-10 inches, but he can't in 2 gallons.

Anyway, as for your questions, yes the ammonia and nitrites are high because the tank is cycling. You need to test the levels of all three key parameters - ammonia, nitrite and nitrate - every day and change enough water to keep ammonia and nitrite between 0.5 and 1.0. (This is a safe level for Pumpkin but still allows enough 'food' for the bacteria which colonise in the filter).

These water changes might be as high as 80% or as low as 10% - it will vary day to day. When no more ammonia and nitrites show up - only nitrates - then the tank is cycled and you can relax a bit on the changes. However, in such a small tank water quality will always be an issue; you might have to do 2 or 3 changes a week even after cycling.

I wouldn't add Melafix until the water quality has been completely sorted out as it can irritate fish skins and Pumpkin sounds like he's irritated enough right now! 2 teaspoons of salt added to the tank would help reduce the effects of the high nitrites however and help prevent infection getting in where his scales are missing; it will also help with the fraying fins. Dissolve the salt first in a little tank water and then pour it in. Any salt will do, as long as it does no have anti-caking agents - check the ingredients.

As for Ammolock, I have never used this myself but it can be useful to help control the ammonia during cycling. It's Ammolock you need by the way, not Ammo Rocks - Ammolock stops the ammonia hurting the fish but still allows the bacteria to feed on it; Ammo rocks don't.

Hope this helps.

One other thing: allowing water to sit only removes chlorine, not chloramine or any other heavy metals which may be present. It is much safer to use a water conditioner for new water (plus you don't have to wait for it to sit around!).

This is totally off topic but I have to tell you I also have a goldie called Pumpkin!

Thank you very much for the information. I know, I feel so guilty for keeping him in such a small tank. I have had him for about 4 months, and have been keeping on top of his water changes several times a week. He just seemed to stress out completely in his new home. I will try some of your suggestions, emmahj.

Does anyone know anything about Ammonia Detoxifier by Proquatics? This is the ammonia detoxifier I have, and have tried to avoid using it. However, with his water parameters sky-rocketing, I wonder if I shold add some.

lil_kittykat_uk, that's cool you have a goldfish named Pumpkin also! I got him during the Halloween season, and was thinking of a good name, then my roommate suggested Pumpkin!

jen