Does anyone have Goldfish? I NEED HELP!!!

[LSDisney]

I need help with my Goldfish, but don't know where else to ask for it, so I'm relying on my old Dis Buddies. Please, if you can, help!

Hello,
I'm a new goldfish owner.

I set up the tank, the gravel, the decorations, the filter, and added the chemicals to the water one week prior to purchasing the fish.

I added my five goldfish in to the tank yesterday night. It's a ten gallon tank (the guy at the store told me it was fine, since the fish were small).

This morning the water had this whitish color to it, but it wasn't completely cloudly. I thought it was the filter, so I changed it. That didn't work, so I added "Crystal Clear" to the water, but that didn't help at all either.
Is it possible that the water has gotten this dirty overnight?

Here's a pic of the front view of the aquarium:

Here's a side view:

Can anybody please tell me what's wrong? The fish seem to be doing fine, the the condition of the water bothers me. PLEASE HELP!


Thanks
before hand!

 

[LSDisney]

anyone?

 

[disneygirlatheart]

We just recently got rid of our 4 fish about 1 month ago. I was so tired of cleaning out the tank so often. Anyway this happened to us also. The people at Petsmart told us to get ick away and use it. It turns the water blue for about a day. Perfectly okay for fish. It cleared it up. I believe the sell it at Walmart. Also try tetra.com I am almost sure it is the name of the site. It offers all kinds of info on the fish and water. Good Luck.

 

[jfulcer]

I think that you are thinking that your fish tank should be perfect from day one, and that's a mistake.

A fish tank is a delicate balance of water, food, bacteria, and fish poop. Yep, Fish Poop.

When you first start a tank, the fish that go in there are in pretty much a sterile environment that is actually pretty hostile towards them. By living in the tank, they are adding much needed bacteria and other chemicals to the water. Do not be surprised if you don't lose some or all of the fish that you have started with. A good pet store would have told you to start with cheap fish to 'start' your tank.

I do not believe that adding Ick Away or other ingredients to your water will help at all - and that's actually what I heard from the fish store when I set up my first tank. You tank just needs time to work out it's natural chemical balance, and in the process may end up pretty cloudy. My first tank was REALLY cloudy but in 2-3 weeks it cleared right up without any help from Dow chemical company.

My advice is to sit back, let your fish be, and hope few of them die. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life (or death) in a fish tank. If you are really concerned about the water, take a cupful to a good fish store and have them test it. Sometimes it's free, sometimes they charge $1. They will tell you if it's ok, or suggest what to do if something is wrong. Be sure to tell them it's a new tank.

I'd also suggest getting a Plecostimus (Algae Eater) for when you get Algae in your tank (and you will).

Good luck!

 

[sleepyone]

What are your Ph, ammonia, nitrIte, & nitrAte levels? Goldfish produce lots of waste so, your ammonia levels may be high right now as your tank is cycling. If your fish have ich, they will have little white spots on them. I'd do a 20% water change (don't forget to use NovAqua or something similar).

 

[jfulcer]

I also see you have a snail. Did you know snails are asexual?

 

[epcotfan]

Jfulcer is correct. You need to let the tank take care of itself. The cloudiness will eventually clear away after all the right bio activity takes place.

I'd also suggest getting a Plecostimus (Algae Eater) for when you get Algae in your tank (and you will).

If you do get a Pleco be aware they grow to be VERY LARGE. I have one that is 9 inches and is over 5 years old. It was about an inch when I got it. You also need to feed the pleco an algae chip every few days. Sometimes there is not enough "waste" in the tank to sustain bottom feeders such as Plecos. They will die if they don't have enough algae to sustain themselves. I feed mine one small algae tablet every day. Sometimes Muddy gets shrimp pellets or the interior of frozen peas. I bought him(or her) when I set up my tank. The other fish died off and he/she is the only one that survived.

 

[LSDisney]

I also see you have a snail. Did you know snails are asexual?

no, i didn't know that

thanks

 

[jfulcer]

If you do get a Pleco be aware they grow to be VERY LARGE. I have one that is 9 inches and is over 5 years old. It was about an inch when I got it. You also need to feed the pleco an algae chip every few days. Sometimes there is not enough "waste" in the tank to sustain bottom feeders such as Plecos. They will die if they don't have enough algae to sustain themselves. I feed mine one small algae tablet every day. Sometimes Muddy gets shrimp pellets or the interior of frozen peas. I bought him(or her) when I set up my tank. The other fish died off and he/she is the only one that survived.

My fish have always been really efficient at making the tank dirty. I do agree that they get pretty large. I had one grow to about 7-8 inches long (and in a ten gallon tank, that's HUGE). The fish store that I deal with was glad to exchange it for a smaller one. They said they will quarantine it for a while, then sell it to someone who has a much larger tank. I don't even want to know how much profit they will make from me custom growing them an algae eater that size.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'd also suggest getting a Plecostimus (Algae Eater) for when you get Algae in your tank (and you will).

I wouldn't. That thing gets so HUGE and craps up your tank, knocks everything over. Our Pleco "Sucky" also ended up to be "the fish that lived", he was a foot long at least. We got rid of the tank and gave Sucky to DH's co-worker. He is still alive and LARGER.

My brothers Pleco grew to be HUGE, it looked like a shark. My brother is into fish & had very large tanks.

 

[sleepyone]

That looks like a mystery snail. Aren't they sexual?

 

[jfulcer]

That looks like a mystery snail. Aren't they sexual?

I just did a quick search because I labeled it 'Asexual'. But that's technically the wrong term. Snails can be hermaphrodites, which is different from asexual.

 

[LSDisney]

That looks like a mystery snail. Aren't they sexual?

yes, it is a "black mystery snail"

i got the snail because i heard that it ate algae...
will the snail replace the Pleco's purpose?

going back to the cloudy water, so u guys think that I should just leave the aqarium as is?


THANK YOU!

 

[jfulcer]

yes, it is a "black mystery snail"

i got the snail because i heard that it ate algae...
will the snail replace the Pleco's purpose?

going back to the cloudy water, so u guys think that I should just leave the aqarium as is?


THANK YOU!

Yes, snails will clean the tank too.

Yes, I believe that you should just leave the tank as is. If you are concerned just get the water tested. Then you can know for sure.

 

[TeresaMc]

Be forewarned that 5 goldfish in a 10 gallons tank will be way to small way to quick. Your tank does need to cycle and should clear up.....I would do a 20% water change once a week and otherwise just wait and see. another option is some pet stores sell bio-balls which are a ball covered in "scum" these are the good bacteria and will help speed up the process. I have 5 goldfish in a 29 gallon tank and they are very dirty and I do 20% water changes at least weekly sometimes twice a week plus I have a filter for a 50 gallon tank. Goldfish are fun to watch.....good luck.

 

[sleepyone]

Mystery Snails will eat algea when they are small. I feed mine (boiled) collard greens which has the calcium they need. They also eat any excess food that falls to the bottom of the aquarium.

ETA: Mystery Snails add a lot to your bioload. I count my mystery snails as 2.5"

 

[Tigger Fans!]

I'd recommend getting one of those inexpensive test kits to check your water. You can buy them at any pet store. Until your biological filter really gets going you'll really have to watch your water. I'm surprised they had you add so many fish all at once.

Good luck!

 

[daisyduck123]

Sorry...I know nothing about goldfish...when I read the title of your post...I was thinking you meant....GOLDFISH CRACKERS....we have those in our kitchen all the time.!!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Looks like the others have covered the whole "tanks are crazy and take a while to become stable" stuff, so I'll just say- Cute fish!

I had a pleco who was "the fish that lived", too! He outlived all of my other fish, something like 8 years!