Jackie Frost

A week ago I started a goldfish aquarium. I have two goldfish in a 15 gallon tank. (Yes, I now know the tank is too small for two goldfish but I'm stuck with that problem for now.) Anyway the temperature in my house fluctuates from 78 degrees in the morining to 80 by mid afternoon. No matter what I do (including increasing the airconditioner) I can't control this flucation and my goldfish are now listless. I'm thinking about buying a heater and keeping it at 80 degrees. I know this is high for goldfish but at least the temperature won't change. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't mean to sound so dramatic the health of my two goldfish are at stake.

Nutter

The best advice I can give you is to get a bigger tank ASAP!! The larger the body of water the less the fluctuations will be. The fish are listless because of the small tank. They just are not happy being so cramped.

Until you get a bigger tank for them try moving the tank to part of the house that has a more stable temp or placing it nearer the air conditioner. You can also point a fan directly at the tank with the lid removed for evaporative coolin. Stretch a stocking over the top to prevent escapees. If that doesn't work then cover the tank with a blanket or something like that to help insulate it abit. I use the polystyrene sheets that go underneath tanks to surround them on all sides in very warm weather. It means you can't see the fish bu tit's better to not see them as much than have them dead.

A heater will not help a great deal as you seem to be battling high temps rather than fluctuating ones. My GF's go through much larger fluctuations than that on a 24hr basis & they are fine. My temp very between 14 & 22degrees celcius.

Bottom line though, move the larger tank up your priority list.

Robin4

Hi Jackie Frost,

You can also try turning off the aquarium lights during the hotest times of the day.

Robin

mommybaby295

2 degrees doesn't seem so significant to me. what if t your fish are listless for a different reason althogether? Could you please list your water test results I'm thinking maybe your tank isn't cycled, and the ammonia or nitrite readings are a problem.

edit: I don't have goldfish, and am also new here. I just want to make sure we
aren't overlooking a bigger issue, and the fish are hurt because of it.

oh, and also, i see in your info that you are using a test strip. the experienced people on this site recommend the API master test kit with liquids because apparently, the strips are inaccurate.

Nutter

Good pickup Mommybaby295. I should have looked in the tank profile. It's only been set up for a week so it definitly isn't cycled fully yet.

Je55*e

That's very strange. The heater is probably malfunctioning. I would remove it right away (unplug it first!). You may not need a heater at all, if the temperature in your house stays warm enough for the water to be early to mid 70's.

mommybaby295

did you post this again?

Nick Goody

Hi Jackie, Welcome to Fishlore! Personally I would remove the heater, and if your fish are looking very listless, try adding a few icecubes to the tank. Even if the temp in your house is in the 80's the tank temp shouldn't get that high. Adding a few icecubes now and then should keep the temp down a little. Thats what I do in my Axolotyl tank in the summer here when the temps are high.

mommybaby295

I still say you should test your ammonia - your tank might not be cycled.

Je55*e

^Agreed. I hadn't thought to ask that. What are your results for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

Nutter

As I said in your other post about this your problem is not fluctuating temp, (though not ideal), it is more likely that the fish feel cramped along with the temp being consistently high.
Mommybaby 295 is spot on with the tank not being cycled. I would lay 90% of my money on that with a 10% side bet on what I mentioned.

Jackie Frost

[quote=mommybaby295;686148]2 degrees doesn't seem so significant to me. what if t your fish are listless for a different reason althogether? Could you please list your water test results I'm thinking maybe your tank isn't cycled, and the ammonia or nitrite readings are a problem.

Thanks guys! I went into this aquarium fish thing with my eyes wide closed. If I knew then what I know now, I would have waited a week to get the fish and would have gotten TROPICAL fish instead of goldfish since goldfish need so much more room.

The people at Walmart told me the fish tank would be fully cycled within three days. From what you guys said I have a feeling that's not true. As for my water test results they all were perfectly normal except for the pH and Alkanity. Those were quite high. I droped a ph tablet in the tank this morning, so hopefully that will help. But yes I was using those cheap dip sticks to measure water quality. Does that mean the results were all wrong?

Jackie Frost

Sorry about repeating this post. I looked around the forum and decided I posted my question in the wrong area. Then when I tried to remove the other one, I couldn't. Maybe an administrator could help ...

mommybaby295

what you want on your readings is 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 10-20 nitrates. any ammonia is bad and toxic for your fish.

the multi strips I have seen usually don't test for ammonia. do you have a test for that?

definately don't trust walmart for fish advice. blech. you should read up on the nitrogen cycle. it can take weeks, not 3 days! I really have a feeling your problem is ammonia, and not the temp. poor goldfish!

if i were you, I'd see if walmart will let you return the fish. here, they have a 2-week return policy, yours may too. then I would cycle my tank without fish (there is a page here you can read about that), and buy 4 guppies and 3 corydora catfish for my tank. i would also pick up an api test kit with the little bottles. at petco, it was 32, but i got it from amazon for 23 shipping included. i'd also buy some Prime water conditioner, and treat the tank with that whenever I had ammonia readings.


when you say your readings are fine, can you give us the numbers please?

edit: by the way, i am 2 weeks into this fish thing, messed up my cycle, and am now cycling with danios, corys, and guppies. I am using tetra safe start. so you probably want to wait for advice from someone more experienced than me.

Jackie Frost

The dip sticks don't test for amonia. The reason I thought it was the temperature was because Molly and Goldie (my fish names) were so happy and perky in the morning at 78 degree farenheit and then would become listless as the afternoon wore on. You're probably right. I will try to return the goldfish tommorow morning. (I don't want them to suffer.) and get an amonia testing kit.

mommybaby295

hmm, then maybe it is just the temp after all. do you have a tank thermometer?



oh, i missed where you said you dropped in a pH tab. I understand that most fish will adapt to your pH, fluctuations are very bad and stressful to the fish, and if you artificially mess with the pH, when you do water chaNGES, your pH will be all over the place.

can someone please confirm this advice

aquarist48

Hello Jack Frost and Welcome to Fish Lore.
Goldfish, Fancy Goldfish - Carassius auratus
Goldfish Caresheet
The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle <---crucial to fish keeping
I've provided you with some links that I think you'll find very helpful. Pay particular attention to the Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle link.
Best wishes for you and your fish.
I hope you enjoy the site!
Ken

Hello again Jack. Please do not create 2 threads on the same subject. I have merged your 2 threads. It can get very confusing to other members and it isn't necessary. Members will respond if they have the answer to your questions in time If you feel you've posted in the wrong section of the forum you can ask any moderator to move it for you. Too, if we see it's in the wrong location we'll move it.
Thanks!
Ken

Jackie Frost

Hi Gang! Thanks for all of your helpfull advice. The goldfish are doing a little better this morning (78 degrees according to my tank digital thenomete). They're acting perky, but I know that's going to change once the temperature rises again. I'm going to try and return them to Walmart this morning. (I don't want my money back. I just want them to take the fish back so they'll live.) If Walmart refuses then I will get a heater and keep the tank at a constant 80 degrees. (I know that's high for goldfish, but what else can I do? At least it will stop the flucuations.) I'll also get a an amonia testing kit. Wish me luck gang ...

Oh and thank you Aquarist for merging the posts.