Hello,
My son’s fair time goldfish is my little buddy and I’ve kept him alive 3 years so far, but he’s becoming ill and I desperately need help. Please be kind, fish are NOT my area of expertise and passion but I’m doing my best.
He’s in a 20 gallon aquarium with an albino pleco. We have an appropriate filter and a bubbler, and a heater set to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I use bottled RO water to do 50% water changes every week or two. Add API Quick Start at each water change. Filters are changed as recommended.
When we got the 20 gallon tank about a year ago, we put seashell type substrate in the tank. The goldfish gradually turned white but seemed very healthy. I read on what could be turning the goldfish white and alkalinosis seemed like the diagnosis because of the substrate, and because the PH was getting higher, and PH Down didn’t touch it (PH was like 8.0) So I scooped out all the seashell substrate this weekend and netted the fish/removed them from the aquarium when I did this. I then performed a 50% water change as usual and replaced the filters. We now have standard aquarium rocks. I did not add Equilibrium this time around as I thought it might help with PH, but I usually add the recommended amount at each water change to remineralize the water.
The pleco seemed lethargic yesterday but that’s kind of her personality so I didn’t think much of it, but today, the goldfish has cloudy eyes and is extremely lethargic.
All readings are:
PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
GH: 180
KH: 120
In case this is a case of the net causing injuries, I added a dose of Melafix this evening and will follow the recommendation for a 7 day course followed by a 25% water change in 7 days.
Any suggestions? I’m grateful for your help. Feeling really anxious and worried about our little friends tonight.
My son’s fair time goldfish is my little buddy and I’ve kept him alive 3 years so far, but he’s becoming ill and I desperately need help. Please be kind, fish are NOT my area of expertise and passion but I’m doing my best.
He’s in a 20 gallon aquarium with an albino pleco. We have an appropriate filter and a bubbler, and a heater set to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I use bottled RO water to do 50% water changes every week or two. Add API Quick Start at each water change. Filters are changed as recommended.
When we got the 20 gallon tank about a year ago, we put seashell type substrate in the tank. The goldfish gradually turned white but seemed very healthy. I read on what could be turning the goldfish white and alkalinosis seemed like the diagnosis because of the substrate, and because the PH was getting higher, and PH Down didn’t touch it (PH was like 8.0) So I scooped out all the seashell substrate this weekend and netted the fish/removed them from the aquarium when I did this. I then performed a 50% water change as usual and replaced the filters. We now have standard aquarium rocks. I did not add Equilibrium this time around as I thought it might help with PH, but I usually add the recommended amount at each water change to remineralize the water.
The pleco seemed lethargic yesterday but that’s kind of her personality so I didn’t think much of it, but today, the goldfish has cloudy eyes and is extremely lethargic.
All readings are:
PH: 7.4
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
GH: 180
KH: 120
In case this is a case of the net causing injuries, I added a dose of Melafix this evening and will follow the recommendation for a 7 day course followed by a 25% water change in 7 days.
Any suggestions? I’m grateful for your help. Feeling really anxious and worried about our little friends tonight.
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