Above is the picture of "Rocky" our Black Moor that we've had for about 3 weeks.
Tank: Classica Cold Water 30L - ran with good bacteria and plants for 8 days before adding fish
Filter: Classica CPF200
Just taken test readings which are:
PH = 9 (which seems too high?)
Ammonia = 0.1mg/l
NitrIte = 0.1mg/l
NitrAte = 50mg/l (again this seems too high)
Temp: Unknown as we don't have a thermometer
Food: JBL Goldpearls (sinking food for Fantails), only giving a max of 3 pearls each a day, last two days have given them a chopped up pea.
Purchased a new 30 litre tank, set it all running, put the good bacteria stuff into the filter. After 8 days we added "Rocky" the first fish. We originally had the tank upstairs but moved it about 3 days ago so we could see more of the fish. It's cooler down here.
Before adding a second fish we took the water to the fish shop and they tested the water, the nitrite (I'm sure it was nitrite and not nitrate) was high. We did 50% water change, cleaned filter in removed fish water and have been doing 5% water changes for about 4 days and only fed Rocky on day 3 after high sample reading. Rocky's gills looked red which alerted me to a problem. Gills cleared up.
Just over a week later took more water back to the shop, it was tested and found to be fine. So we got a second fish (a Lionhead - my sons choice, odd looking fish!). However on the very same day we introduced him into the tank he seems to have swim bladder, he has to wedge himself under the leaves to stop floating to the top of the tank and when he does feed he's almost on his nose (doing a headstand is the best way I can describe it). The Lionhead has been with us for 4 days now, he seems happy enough, apart from the swim bladder symptoms.
My concern is Rocky - his symptoms are:
- Lying on the bottom of the tank most of the day (he will swim for food)
- Generally looking unhappy
- White stuff on his mouth and when I looked about 20 mins ago there seems to be some white stuff on his eyes too - please see picture above.
Whilst researching there are a lot of posts saying that fancy goldfish prefer warmer water and I was all set to buy a heater but the chap at the fish shop said they are fine in cold water - so advice would be appreciated there too.
I'm sure there are many posts from new tank owners, so apologies, I thought we'd got the water quality right before adding fish. Now I feel awful that Rocky isn't well.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Debbie