Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Flip

Original poster

Goldfish - ok so what are we doing wrong already?

17 replies

Polgara2 · 14/04/2006 10:31

We are now the proud owners of 2 goldfish! However, we only got them yesterday and when we got up this morning the water is murky already. We have only fed them once and not that much, we have a filter so...... help!!!!!

OP posts:

lucy5 · 14/04/2006 10:35

Maybe too much food in one go. Did you clean the new fishtank out first it could have been dusty from the shop or you might not rinsed out the tank quite enough. Or it might just be your water you can buy a liquid which helps clear cloudy water.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 14/04/2006 11:43

Well it really wasn't very much food. I did clean the tank and it was well rinsed so I don't think it was that. I know you shouldn't give them too much food but am baffled by the fact that it has gone murky after so short a time? The man in the pet shop said we would only need to change the water every couple of weeks with the filter!!

OP posts:

buffythenappyslayer · 14/04/2006 11:55

have you got stones at the bottom?we have two tanks and both went murky when we first got them.turned out the stones need sterilising before you put them in as they have tonnes of crap on them.we sterilised them in milton and tehy had already been boiled.also (v.complicated this bit!) but you need to test the ph levels in the water and other chemically levels (cant remember what they are all called).we get stuff from pets at home for ours.also the tank needs time to 'settle' so might also need a couple of days.oh,and check your filter.even though youve only just put it in,it can get clogged up with pre-tank crap taht will have already been in the filter.(sorry for all the very technical terms-ie crap!)hope this helps!

Gingerbear · 14/04/2006 12:28

\link{http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/pet/buying/goldfish.asp\keeping goldfish}

You were given very bad advice by the pet shop.
The filter works mechanically (by filtering out the particles) but it also needs to build up bacteria that convert fishwaste from ammonia to nitrite and nitrate. This takes time, and the best way to do it is by fishless cycling - I added drops of ammonia to an empty tank for 14 days for the filter to 'cycle' - establish the bacteria in the filter that keeps the water and fish healthy.

You can still cycle your tank with fish in it, but it takes a lot more hard work, as you need to monitor the ammonia and nitrite level daily, and if it goes about 0.5ppm, then you need to replace 50% of the water in the tank. (ammonia and nitrite above 0.5 is lethal to fish, it makes them ill, stresses them, and they will become sick)
Post a message on here and people who keep goldfish will help you out. (I have tropical fish, and they are similar, but I don't know much about goldfish)
\link{http://www.tropicalfish.site5.com/tfc/forumdisplay.php?\coldwater forum}f=20
In the meantime, do daily water changes, making sure you add dechlorinator to the water, feed only a tiny amount, as goldfish create a lot of waste, and buy a test kit from the pet shop to make sure the ammonia and nitrite isn't rising too much.
PS the murky water is likely to be either dissolved gases (CO2 or oxygen) coming out of the water, or a bloom of algae - common in new tanks.
Please shout if you need any more help.

Gingerbear · 14/04/2006 12:30

the murk might also be from dust on the gravel - the filter will clear it eventually, but it is best to rinse gravel under the tap very thoroughly before you put it into the tank.

Gingerbear · 14/04/2006 12:32

\link{http://www.tropicalfish.site5.com/tfc\tropical fish centre}
sorry the other link did not work.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 14/04/2006 13:28

Oh gawd - I didn't think goldfish were going to be this complicated . I'm a bit confused now - do I need to change upto half of the water straight away? And then get an ammonia/nitrate tester kit? I did rinse the gravel very, very thoroughly before we put it in. And what do I need to do about the filter, if anything? Oh and the filter has an airflow control on it - how fast should I have it? Sorry to be so completely thick about this .

OP posts:

Gingerbear · 14/04/2006 13:35

Have you any dechlorinator? If so, then yes, use this and change the water - mix hot and cold water until it is the same temperature as that in the bowl/tank.
How big is the tank and how many fish?
You will need to test pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate on a regular basis - either by a test strip (dip in tank, changes colour - match to a colour scale) or even better by liquid drops you add to a test tube full of water.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 14/04/2006 13:41

Errr dechlorinator errr no! Didn't know we needed it (or what it is ). Tank is 12 x 8 x 8 inches with 2 small goldfish in it.

OP posts:

misdee · 14/04/2006 13:46

did they sell you tank and fish on the same day? if so, bad fish shop! ideally you need to set a tank up and cycle it for at least week.

i'd set up a bowl of water now, and leave it overnight, then in the morning do a partial water change. Add some p-clear if you can get, switch the filter offf when you add this and remove the carbon filter.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 14/04/2006 14:10

Yes they did Misdee. Will set up a pan of water for the morning then. What's p-clear? It doesn't have a carbon filter, its a sponge. Oh dear oh dear, I can feel some fishy deaths coming on .

OP posts:

Ulysees · 14/04/2006 14:14

we have algae bloom and it isn't easy to get rid of

Original poster

Polgara2 · 15/04/2006 17:45

Right done the partial water change looks a lot better thank you. Anyone know about the filter, how much air flow control should it be set to high or low or whatever? And how often do I need to clean the filter and how? Sorry so many questions, feeling really thick now .

OP posts:

Gingerbear · 15/04/2006 21:10

what type of filter is it? a box that has suckers and sticks to the glass? Or an undergravel filter (with an air pump)?
Keep it high flow, and you will need to clean it anout once every three weeks - NEVER rinse it under the tap - the chlorine in tap water will kill off all the good bacteria. Rinse it in a jug of tank water (you need to do a partial water change every week) Get a gravel syphon - a plastic tube with hose attached - this can be used to clean up the crap/waste food from the gravel.

ShaysMummy · 15/04/2006 21:12

Did you rinse out the gravel really well?
we used to wash it for ages with the hosepipe when there wasnt a ban!

that was always what murked ours up.

it sounds to me like eveything else you did was right. they only need a little food.

Original poster

Polgara2 · 15/04/2006 22:08

GB yes, filter has suckers and is under the water at side of tank. Will get a gravel syphon and hope that everything goes ok. Thanks everyone for this brilliant advice

OP posts:

kid · 15/04/2006 22:10

I found that our first lot of goldfish died after a couple of weeks because we had poisoned them by not setting up the tank for a week before adding the fish
I cleaned the tank and set it up in exactly the same way and added new fish after a week. They have now been with us for a few months and are still swimming about looking healthy!

Flip