Basic questions

[HazelDormouse]

I am in similar situation to Hubblez 'Help with new fish tank please!!! Worried'. I was given some, what I now believe to be, incorrect advice from the shop I bought my goldfish from and they consequently, both suffered from stress/poor quality water. (This has now been rectified.)

I had originally bought two goldfish. One died from White spot/ich about ten days ago. I have being treating the water/tank (makes the water go blue) for white spot for a fortnight today on the advice of another forum which someone recommended. Should I stop the treatment now (there has been no sign of white spot on second goldfish)?

Secondly, could you please tell me the correct way to introduce new plants to the tank? How do I ensure that they have not picked anything up on them ( such as white spot)?

Finally, I am reluctant to traumatize for goldfish any more with additional companions - he appeared to have been bullied by first fish and also the possibility of reintroducing white spot. Will he be happy enough on his own?

I apologise for the daft questions. I am rather pathetic in terms of keeping pets.

hello, apologies for crap typing, am on my phone.

how big is your tank? goldfish get massive. do you have a fancy goldfish (fat ones with long double fins) or common goldfish (fish shaped with normal fins)? common goldies bneed more space.

you need to finish the course of ich treatment to make sure it's all killed off. ich has a life cycle, bit like fleas, and it's not always visible.

plsnts can be washed in very weak bleach solution, I would dilute prob 1:20 bleach to water then rinse. that should finish off any nasties.

wait, just seen your comment about blue water. is the treatment methylene blue?

Thank you for replying to my message. The treatment is King British White spot control. It says the main ingredient is Malachite Green on the package. It also says the end of the cycle for White Spot parasites is 14 days. Thus, treatment must be undertaken for 14 days. On another forum, I have read, it suggested it might be better to keep going for 21 days if your fish are not showing any signs of stress.

The tank is 40Litres. I think it is a common goldfish.

We have not been using a light. Keeping the fish in the kitchen where it is not particularly bright. Is this the right thing to do in order to lower stress levels?

Yes, the darkness will help kill off the whitespot too.

A common goldfish is best off in a pond really, but if you do want to keep him indoors then he will need a huge tank- getting on for 250 litres. 40 litres isn't even big enough for a temporary tank really.

It has taken me aback how much space he needs if he is a common goldfish. Thank you for your messages.