Emergency Tank Setup Due To Cracked Pond

Hello all. I ran into an emergency situation Sunday night. I realized that the ice was lower then it was that morning, like half the water was gone. We are expecting another round of really cold and I was worried my last surviving fish would die. I ran to petsmart and got one of their 29 gallon starter kits.
A few hours later I had water in the tank mixed with the pond water and my 10 or so year old comet my buddy gave me years ago. I've had it for like 7 years. Yesterday everything was fine. This morning before work the fish swimming fine. I came home from work and it's slightly leaning over. I'm worried something I did injured him. Should I give him a few days to settle down or should I look into something else? Here is what I have.

 

I'm going to guess that the temperature and water parameters are not even close to what the fish was living in in the pond. Probably shocked it pretty good. Did you dechlorinate the tap water you used?

 

It's quite possible that the change in environment is causing the problem. You technically uprooted the fish from it's home that it's used to. Sort of like if you were to move from where your living to Beijing. Your body is used to clean air but now your breathing Beijing air...it's not the same.

It might have been used to the cold cold water and it's quite possible that it's feeling the affects of new tank that isn't cycled.

 

I'm not on public water and I would flush the pond two or three times between spring and late fall. So no chemicals in the water that he hasn't been introduced to before. I kept the water cold and let it warm up in the house. I kept the door closed to the spare room to keep the temp lower. I can understand the temp shock. I even brought some of the pond ice into the tank to slow the warming. I'm guessing I should give it a few days to see how it goes.

 

Since your farmiliar with your pond care I'm sure the goldfish is still fasting for winter. Sounds like the ice broke the pond liner maybe? I wonder about ammonia since its an uncycled tank. Do you know about the nitrogen cycle like new tank syndrome, cycling a tank? Keep the fish cold and fasting.

 

When I think of wintering fish I think of troughs in garages and 40 gallon trashcans in basements. What's the temperature like anyway?

 

Trying to keep it cool. Right now in the 60s. Going to add some ice when I get home from a fire call

 

I'm finally home. I noticed that leaving the room light off the fish is more active and floating more normal. I turned on the tank light yesterday and he freaked out so maybe it something to do with the light as well. I think I'm going to give it a couple more days to see how it acclimates to the tank.

 

Morning update.... he's more upright after being in the dark all night. Should be interesting to see what happens when I get home from work

 

Long term... that is an enormous fish for that tank. Water quality will be a constant issue and lots of water changes will be required. Make sure the ammonia\nitrites\nitrates stay in check or he will get sick.

 

This is only ment to be till spring arrives and I can rebuild this pond. Previous home owner installed the preformed pond. This spring I was already planning a major rebuild

 

Gotcha. Just saying that a fish that large is very messy and the water will degrade very rapidly (like within a week). I'd suggest at least 50% weekly water changes using dechlorinated water and when the pond is ready again, acclimating him correctly to his newly renovated home. Good luck!!

 

I'm hoping for a 10'x4' pond with about a 4 foot deep center. Just have to figure out the rest of the logistics

 

Well another update, hope you all can offer some suggestions. The fish is really leaning to the right, sometimes completely horizontal. When he swims from one side to the other it goes back vertical. Could this be a swim bladder problem? When I pulled him from the pond the very outer bits of his tail felt frozen. There was maybe a foot of water under the ice. Could the fish been on the border of "frozen fish stick" when I finally got it out of the pond? Here is a quick video of him swimming and resting.