Goldfish

[Dorothy]

Sorry to hear of your loss ..

[Lagoon]

Buds,

Did you allow any run time for your tank to cycle thru?
For sure on those test kits - chlorines, chloramines is nasy stuff for the fish to deal with. Once you test for these you then can move onto a remedy.

[quiltergal]

You did add declor to the water before putting the fish in right? Chlorine will kill them PDQ. Ask at the fish store if they have some of the good bacteria in a bottle. Adding some of that will help speed up the tank seasoning process and hopefully minimize your fish mortality rate.

[puddin]

What is a siphon? I used some stuff that helps fish heal and declors. I get my water out of my own well, though. The red one, I have no idea what it's doing. It's not dieing. Well I don't think so. It's still doing the strange behaver, but I've seen it swim around the tank, too. It ate this morning, too. Maybe it's fine and naturally likes to stay in one place for a time, though I doubt this theory. Oh, I do have some bottled bacteria and have used it.

[puddin]

Ok, I got some good news and some bad news. Good news is I got another fish! I was to replace the glo fish. It's a molly. Dusty gold with black patches. I get a picture up in a day or two. Bad news, I lost the other glo fish. At the store, they said my water was just fine. I let the molly sit in the tank for about 30 mins. before I took him out of the bag and is doing great at the moment. I got a book on aquariums. I will keep you updated.

[flhiker]

Hi Puddin sorry you lost some fish. I think you need to allow your tank to come together, Meaning leave the water alone, do not introduce any new fish, allow the fish you have to get your water to proper bacteria levels. About a month. I am not a big fan of adding chemicals to remove chemicals so as far as adding any water I would take 2 clean gallon jugs and fill with tap water (not well water). and allow to sit for at least 24 hours (no lid, you can put a lid on it after 24 hours)before you put it in the tank. Water will evaporate so have a gallon on hand. when you need to do a water change have two gallons of water ready and waiting. Buy a manual siphon from your pet shop. It consist of 3/8"clear tubing attached to a 1" clear pipe. you use the pipe end to vacuum the gravel while the hose comes out of the tank and empties water into a bucket, after you siphon two gallons stop.(I used a 5 gallon bucket and put 2 gallons in it first to see the 2 gallon line and mark with sharpie) Add the two gallons you have on hand to the tank. I personally wait 30 min. before adding the second gallon. The reason you only add two gallons is the same reason you float the fish before adding them to the tank. To much of a temp. change will shock your fish. The trick to getting your siphon to work is you have to put the entire tubing and pipe in tank and fill completely with water put thumb over end of tubing and bring out of your tank (leaving the hard pipe end in tank) and hang the tubing end below the bottom of the tank,remove your thumb and allow water to go into your bucket. The water flow will lift the gravel up enough to pull the waste out from under it and remove it from the tank. If you don't siphon the gravel, the waste will concentrate.AKA septic tank. Getting started with aquarium takes alot of patients. but once you have a established tank you will have some fish for years. Good luck and keep us informed on how it goes. You will be a expert in no time!

[caseydoll]

Everyone is a bunch of fish tank experts! Dave, you gave some terrific advice and suggestions. I just wanted to add that I start the siphon on the gravel vac by giving it a quick suck at the end of the tube that goes into the bucket while the larger end is filled with water in the aquarium. Far less sanitary but if you're quick you won't get any water in your mouth. Hopefully people aren't gagging by my method but I worked at a pet shop for a very long time so I guess I'm immune to grossness! Not to say I haven't had my share of accidents. I think it may have already been mentioned but don't gravel vac your tank for awhile since it's new. If you need to change some water use only surface water using Daves suggestions. Your tank may even get really cloudy and awful but that is the cycle it goes through while the good bacteria is forming. You especially don't want to clean the gravel during this time. And don't feel bad when you lose a few fish. Everyone does when they first start a tank. Hope that helps a little!

[cb977]

Sarah, that's the way hubby starts the siphon...and yes, there have been a few "incidents".
They're quite funny for the person watching ...that would be me

[caseydoll]

Oh good, now I feel better about telling that! After I posted I thought that maybe I shouldn't have shared that piece of info...

p.s. it's even more hazardous when i'm cleaning my turtle tank! I'm quick as lightning!

[flhiker]

YUK!!! there are just somethings I am not willing to do. My way, "Works Great and its Less Filling"