Deminox
Aquarium Advice Regular
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2014
- Messages
- 80
A bit of history. Started out with 2 small fancy tail goldfish (Gonzo and Camilla) in a 10gal with intent to upgrade as they got a bit bigger. Thought the tank was cycled, it wasn't. Poor fish went through the works, high amonia, nitrite spikes, etc. Finally got it level and then Gonzo died a week before my paycheck that was dedicated to getting them a 29 gal.
Set up the 29 gal, filled with water *slowly from a brita as our tap water isnt great even with conditioner.* let run for only 2 days BUT with the old filter floating in it, some gravel from the old tank, some decorations, and 2 of those bacterial colony floating stars. Had water tested, transfered Camilla, rest of the substrate, rest of the decos, and now had 2 filters running. Got water tested every 3 days, levels have been great since. (LFS does free water tests. Said very very minor amonia levels, normal for a goldfish tank)
Flash forward. Lost 6 ottocats only weeks after adding. (2 at a time. Replacing only as died) decided no more ottos. Camilla bottom sat for days, then was active, then bottom sat, then active. LFS girl (who has a 200gal tank and a couple 100 gals, shes really good with fish) said its possible just permanent damage from the previous conditions, or possible she is just bored/lonely.
Added a fancy tail, small guy. Klauss. Followed her around like a puppy, not nipping. They were thick as theives and even slept in a nook together. A month in Camila started getting swim bladder. Gave her some peas, no luck. Noticed slight signs of maybe it being bacterial, took some pictures, was recommended tc tetra by a girl at the LFS that wasnt the usual one i talk too. 1 day of that treatment Camilla was swimming normal again, but white splotches showed up. Ich. Verified i couldn't treat both at once.
Ran 2 new carbon filters to remove tc tetra and did 30% W/C. Waited 48 hours. Added ich treatment. Cured the ich. Then her and klaus developed black on some scales and part of fins. Regular healing process for goldfish, except Klauss got better. Camilla got fin rot. Lost most of her giant tail in a matter of 48 hours. Klauss the sweetheart stayed by her even when she wasnt swimming.
Asked for help, found the regular girl at the LFS, she recommended sulfur something. Didn't seem too hopeful when i showed her the picture, Camilla also got red gills. Turned the 10 gal into a sick tank, put camilla in it with the meds, acclimated her of course. She died a few hours later. (She was barely moving by the time i got back from the pet store. Really rapid decline)
Not wanting Klauss to be alone for too long, as adding fish after a goldfish has been alone for a long time never works well for me (and he looked really blah) i went to the LFS the next day and picked up a slightly bigger ryu fancy tail. And a cory cat. Asked about the sick tank / quarantine tank, regular girl said probably not a good idea if the meds are still in that tank, better do a big water change in that little tank and replace the filter then let it cycle before using it. While a quarantine tank is recommended its probably safer in this case to just acclimate and add. *also got water tested. Levels still "next to perfect, which for such little waste producers is perfect"*
New goldfish is slightly bigger than klauss and pushes him around a bit during feeding and just randomly sometimes. (Stress maybe new tank for him and all). BUT my cory died in 24 hours. He was very hyper in the store. Very calm in the bag on the ride home. Then just sat in one spot in the tank all day. Then went sideways and breathing heavy. Then spastically started swimming on his side for about 45 seconds... and death.
I have read so much conflicting info on cory cats. Dont mix with goldfish. Their amonia rates even at best will kill the cory fast! Cory and goldfish are great companions! Dont get a cory they need warmer water! Get 5 corys minimum or they will die they need to school! ...
29 gal. Klauss is doing fine (other than being chased a bit. its only day 2 for the new fish) levels are all normal. Ph. Nitrites. Amonia, etc. Catfish of any type die super fast. Dont want to buy "5 corys" and a) have them die, b) isnt that WAY beyond max capacity for a 29gal??
Suggestions? Help? What can i safely add for a bottom cleaning fish? And at what point should i be concerned if klauss keeps getting chased?
Sorry for the really long post, i just figure as much detailed info on the fish and tank history the on my first post the better. That way im not accidentally omitting anything critical that could radically change any advice i might get.
Set up the 29 gal, filled with water *slowly from a brita as our tap water isnt great even with conditioner.* let run for only 2 days BUT with the old filter floating in it, some gravel from the old tank, some decorations, and 2 of those bacterial colony floating stars. Had water tested, transfered Camilla, rest of the substrate, rest of the decos, and now had 2 filters running. Got water tested every 3 days, levels have been great since. (LFS does free water tests. Said very very minor amonia levels, normal for a goldfish tank)
Flash forward. Lost 6 ottocats only weeks after adding. (2 at a time. Replacing only as died) decided no more ottos. Camilla bottom sat for days, then was active, then bottom sat, then active. LFS girl (who has a 200gal tank and a couple 100 gals, shes really good with fish) said its possible just permanent damage from the previous conditions, or possible she is just bored/lonely.
Added a fancy tail, small guy. Klauss. Followed her around like a puppy, not nipping. They were thick as theives and even slept in a nook together. A month in Camila started getting swim bladder. Gave her some peas, no luck. Noticed slight signs of maybe it being bacterial, took some pictures, was recommended tc tetra by a girl at the LFS that wasnt the usual one i talk too. 1 day of that treatment Camilla was swimming normal again, but white splotches showed up. Ich. Verified i couldn't treat both at once.
Ran 2 new carbon filters to remove tc tetra and did 30% W/C. Waited 48 hours. Added ich treatment. Cured the ich. Then her and klaus developed black on some scales and part of fins. Regular healing process for goldfish, except Klauss got better. Camilla got fin rot. Lost most of her giant tail in a matter of 48 hours. Klauss the sweetheart stayed by her even when she wasnt swimming.
Asked for help, found the regular girl at the LFS, she recommended sulfur something. Didn't seem too hopeful when i showed her the picture, Camilla also got red gills. Turned the 10 gal into a sick tank, put camilla in it with the meds, acclimated her of course. She died a few hours later. (She was barely moving by the time i got back from the pet store. Really rapid decline)
Not wanting Klauss to be alone for too long, as adding fish after a goldfish has been alone for a long time never works well for me (and he looked really blah) i went to the LFS the next day and picked up a slightly bigger ryu fancy tail. And a cory cat. Asked about the sick tank / quarantine tank, regular girl said probably not a good idea if the meds are still in that tank, better do a big water change in that little tank and replace the filter then let it cycle before using it. While a quarantine tank is recommended its probably safer in this case to just acclimate and add. *also got water tested. Levels still "next to perfect, which for such little waste producers is perfect"*
New goldfish is slightly bigger than klauss and pushes him around a bit during feeding and just randomly sometimes. (Stress maybe new tank for him and all). BUT my cory died in 24 hours. He was very hyper in the store. Very calm in the bag on the ride home. Then just sat in one spot in the tank all day. Then went sideways and breathing heavy. Then spastically started swimming on his side for about 45 seconds... and death.
I have read so much conflicting info on cory cats. Dont mix with goldfish. Their amonia rates even at best will kill the cory fast! Cory and goldfish are great companions! Dont get a cory they need warmer water! Get 5 corys minimum or they will die they need to school! ...
29 gal. Klauss is doing fine (other than being chased a bit. its only day 2 for the new fish) levels are all normal. Ph. Nitrites. Amonia, etc. Catfish of any type die super fast. Dont want to buy "5 corys" and a) have them die, b) isnt that WAY beyond max capacity for a 29gal??
Suggestions? Help? What can i safely add for a bottom cleaning fish? And at what point should i be concerned if klauss keeps getting chased?
Sorry for the really long post, i just figure as much detailed info on the fish and tank history the on my first post the better. That way im not accidentally omitting anything critical that could radically change any advice i might get.
