Dojella

Here is the setup: 10 gallon tank that I set up ~ 2 wks ago and intend to use as a hospital/nursery/spare tank. There are 6 2" feeder goldfish in it to help get it cycled and move into one of my big tanks once their job is done. The substrate is playground sand that had previously spent about a year in a healthy cycled tank and was rinsed really well with hot water before I let it dry thoroughly in hot sun for storage...I rinsed it really well again with hot water before I put it in this tank. Filter is a new 10 gal Whisper with BioBag cartridge... changed a couple of times since setting it up. Light is a full spectrum UVA/UVB fluorescent strip light (ZooMed 10.0 for desert reptiles) The initial water was 5 gallons of water from one of my healthy 55 gallons plus 5 gallons of tap water treated with 1 tsp of Amquel Plus and allowed to sit 30 min before adding to tank. I've been changing about 15% water every day since starting and treating every other batch of new water with Amquel...

I know that feeder fish come from bad conditions and usually carry parasites and other diseases...but I've got giant goldfish that started out as feeders for my cichlids and there's always one or two that I just have to rescue...so I've raised several feeder goldfish in my other tanks and never had a problem...

So the problem... they've got dark red spots and streaks on their fins, tops of their heads, and bases of the fins where fin meets body. I noticed a couple of days ago and it has gotten much worse. They seem pretty jolly, but they are breathing fast and staying near the bottom...anything but listless though...lots of wiggling and swimming...no scratching on substrate though...lots of water circulation and good oxygenation...

... so ... I'm guessing bacterial infection? I've treated with Ick Clear (malachite green & acriflavine) for now. The water did get very cloudy for a day last week (bacterial bloom is my guess since it is a new tank)...but only for a day and has been clear since...

I know...long post...but the more details, hopefully the more useful response. I really enjoy my other grown feeders and I want to give these guys a fighting chance.

My questions... Recommended treatment? Just let it work itself out? Should I be changing more water/less water and how often? Anyone know if the light I am using is OK (ZooMed UVA/UVB 10.0 fluorescent reptile strip light)? .... also, whatever it is, will the tank be safe for other fish when the time comes that I need to use it?

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capekate

It sounds to me like your goldies are suffering from ammonia poisoning. There is nothing in your tank to help speed up the cycle, and my guess is that after only two weeks you are dealing with a ammonia problem due to uncycled tank conditions. Have you tested the water yet? and if so can you give us the readings?

Tony G.

gonna echo kate here, since you are using them to cycle your tank, it is probably the ammonia that is getting to them.

Dojella

Didn't ever think to test for ammonia since I've been changing so much water...but you are right...seems to be about 5 PPM ...

So... recommended treatment? I plan to start changing 50% per day and treating each new batch of water with AmQuel and testing daily...unless I get other suggestions.

Tony G.

you should add some tetra safe start to lock up the ammonia and make it safe for the goldfish. it basically makes it safe for them to live while the cycle is going

capekate

I would recommend starting with that 50% wc asap... from there I would keep doing wc's every 12 hrs til the ammonia level comes down. I would also use prime to detoxify the ammonia not sure if the AMquel does that, I know the amquel + does, not sure about the plain amquel, unless its written right there on the bottle?
But I would do the water changes asap. do you have any filter media from one of your established tanks that you can use some of? even some gravel would help as all these holds beneficial bacteria. The water does not, so it doesnt matter if you use any water from your 55g or not.
But if you can get some of the BB from another established tank, I would use that as well as the immediate water changes. I would NOT change out any filter media in your new tank, you really do not want to disturb any of that, as it is the main place for BB to grow, and thats what you want now.
the red streaks in the area of the fish you described is pretty much where ammonia poisoning red streaks develop. I hope your guys make it... just keep getting that ammonia level down with the water changes...
Best of luck...

Dojella

Just did a 50% change and they already seem to be doing better...breathing slower and not such frantic wiggling. The AmQuel I have is AmQuel Plus and it does say it will remove ammonia/nitrate/nitrite/chlorine/choramine. I also put a big scoop (about a 7-Eleven big gulp worth) of sand from my oldest tank in there. I'll keep up with the every 12 hour water changes. THANKS!

capekate

Its amazing how quickly they can bounce back if you get those water changes in asap. Best of luck with them.. keep up the wc every day, keep testing and see how it goes...
If you have any decorations such as plants, rocks, driftwood from your other established tank, maybe you can add one or two of them as well to help with the BB for now. But even a part of filter media, such as cutting a piece off and putting into your new filter can help a lot right now too.
The sand will help for sure..