Lucy

The strips can be inaccurate and over the long run more expensive than the liquid kits.
If you can, I'd highly recommend the API Mater Kit. It's very reliable and gives 100's of tests.

Blub

If you can't find the API kit - get the Nutrafin 'Essential mini master' test kit. It's what I use and it gives me good readings every time.

Also, if you are going to cycle the tank with fish in there, you will need to do a 25% water change every day! Personally, I would give the fish you have back, as fantails will get to 15-20cm long each and need 20gals for the first fish and 10gals added on for each extra fish! So, a 60gal tank would be needed for them at full size! For this reason it might be easier to give them to the fish store.

Good luck!

Debsy70

Hi everyone, well I used the strips last night and all the reading were ok thankfully. We do a part water change and gravel clean (with the hoover thing) every 10 days or so and that seems to be fine.
In answer to you Blub, I cant take the fish back now coz I love them
I would rather buy a bigger tank if they do grow too big hee hee

aquarist48

Good morning Debsy. Glad to hear that your readings are showing ok. When you have the chance and the means, as suggested in previous posts the API (liquid) Mater Test Kit will help you a lot more in the long run than the strips. Too, the liquid test kits are more accurate.
Best of luck with your tank. Remember to clean your filter in the siphoned tank water and not under the tap. (assuming you have city water and not well water).
If you have any more questions by all means we're here to help.
Have a good day today!
Ken

Blub

Cool! It sounds like things are going well for you and your fishies! Your maintenance schedule sounds OK, personally I have Sunday as my Water change day to change the fish water every week. The 2 small ones are easy but the big one I dread... At least the fish like it! Just make sure that tank can come very soon as if you leave it too long they will become stunted - which is basically when their insides keep growing but their outsides stop growing; it causes lots of stress, lowers the immune system and shortens their life significantly which is not what you want. They will probably need a bigger tank sometime within the next year.

Oh... And is there any pics?

Debsy70

Hi there, I haven't put any photo's on yet as I dont know how to do it, sorry

Hi Ken, yeah I'm going to buy one when i get paid, they are £35.00 here, dont know how that compares to the states ? They do look really happy, I think I'm becoming obsessed with my little fishy wishies
Oh and no we dont have a well, thats so funny, I have never even seen a real well ha ha

Lucy

Here you go:
How Do I: Attach Pictures to my post

Debsy70

argh thanks Lucy I will try to do it when I get home later x

Debsy70

Hi there, one of my cold water ornamental fish seems to be having problems swimming. It cant seem to get to the bottom and is on its side a lot. I have some swim bladder medication from the fish shop but do I need to seperate it from the other fish in order to treat it. If anyone can reply asap pls as I want to help in as soon as I can, Many thanks Debs

joy1125

what is the swim bladder medication I never heard of anything like that. Is it special food?

Fancy goldies that have eggshaped bodies are prone to swim bladder issues. Try feeding a defrosted frozen pea, deshelled.

What do you normally feed them? I'd avoid feeding much flake food, and go with sinking pellets, or even homemade gel food. Recipes and other food ideas can be found here on FishLores goldfish board if you want to check them out.


Deb, here's a good link to read about goldfish buoyancy issues, treatment and feeding.
http://thegab.org/Articles/Buoyancy.html

Debsy70

Thanks, I'm just having a read, I may try the pea thing, will let ou know how I get on. ta

Debsy70

Just gave them some pea's so will see how they go on with that. Thanks

Debsy70

Just to let you all know, the peas worked - thank you, we are so glad

Debsy70

Joy sorry I didn't answer your questions, well ita a liquid you put in the tank to help the fish but it says it can take the oxygen out of the tank so its not very good.
We normally just feed them flakes and sometimes blood worms coz we dont know what else to feed them really. We are so scared of killing them now after my first accident with my tropical fish, although that had nothing to do with feeding I dont want to ust try them with something that isn't good for them.
Do I feed them pea's even if there isn't any problems or just when they are having trouble staying the right way up ??

jdhef

You might want to give them peas once a week. They actaully act as a laxitive, so it won't hurt them to give it to them if they are not bloated.

Debsy70

Hi everyone, the pea remedy was short lived, unfortunately she was back swimming on onw side etc yesterday morning, we have put the swim bladder stuff in now and she seems a lot better this morning but its a treatment that needs repeating every 4 days so will see how she gets on