HELP: Goldfish bottom sitting?

Hello.

Ive been battling this problem for three days and I just don't know what to do anymore.

I have a cycled 60 gallon tank with an AquaClear 110 running. There are 5 goldfish in there. One is approx 3 inches, two are approx 4 inches, and two are approx 1 inch.

Four days ago, I realized I had a .25 ammonia reading while nitrite is at 0 and nitrate at 5. Naturally, I did a 90% water change that day. Next day, one of my 4 inch goldfish is bottom sitting a little. But she starts swimming if I come close to the tank. If I sit next to it, she acts normal and doesn't bottom sit at all. But as soon as I leave, I will find her bottom sitting. I found .25 ammonia the next day so I did another 90% water change. Same behavior. The next day, I got another .25 ammonia reading so I did another 90% water change. Each wc I added Prime.
Same behavior today on her part (but she bottom sits a little after a while even if I sit bedide the tank) although two other goldies have started to act the same way. I tested right now and ammonia reads 0.
What is going on?
Theres about 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon in there right now. The temp is also at 86 degrees since I'm finishing up ich treatment (spot free for 2 and a half weeks). Is it the temp that is causing this? Ive started to lower the temp back down again.

Thank you.

 

Sometimes my goldfish starts bottom sitting...for weeks on end. Then one day it back to normal.

 

The temp is pretty high and could be stressing her.

 

Sometimes my goldfish starts bottom sitting...for weeks on end. Then one day it back to normal.

Really? Do they still normally and everything? Ive never heard of a goldfish that did that. Thank you!

And yes, I think so, too. Ive started to lower the temp. Hopefully that's it and it brings her back up

 

Lower that temperature goldfish aren't tropical fish and like water as low as 40 to 78 that's what I find. And never EVER EVER do a 90% water change, it destroys your filter bacteria. What happens is the bacteria that decompose things like ammonia and nitrite are in the filter and are very sensitive to new water, a 90% water change would shock the cramp out of your "good" bacteria cultures and result in killing much of your population. So let your tank Clyde again it'll be quick since you have some bacteria set up and also ammonia isn't all that bad at 0.25, it's only really bad at 0.6 ppm so Yeah. Sorry for the bad gramer and possible spelling errors or weird sentence structure. Good luck with your fish, he will probably be better with cooler temperatures.

 

Water changes don't kill bacteria. As long as the media is wet and not rinsed with tap water your good.

I agree, try to get the temp down to 72-74. Prolonged exposure to high temps shortens their lifespans and is most likely stressing your fish.

 

Sorry to say this, but I think the reason why your ammonia is showing up again is because you're overstocked.

 

As far as I know, as long as I'm not rinsing the media in straight tap water, water changes don't affect my bacteria... But thank you

Yes, I hope the high temps are the cause of it. Ive turned off the heater to let the temp go down but I'm not sure how long it will take... I believe the temp in my house is 78 degrees.

 

the tank IS overstocked, goldfish are nasty poopers(sorry for goldfish lovers!) and ammonia spike in such a small tank 5 is too small!

what type are they? do a 50 each day may help! and try to give out the fish? sorry~!

 

Piano guy I know a 60 gallon would be overstocked with goldfish if each of them where around 4 inches. Also the ammonia isn't that toxic at those levels for goldfish. They are notoriously hardy.

Water changes don't kill bacteria. As long as the media is wet and not rinsed with tap water your good.

Flowinf fins, if he does a 90% water change most of his water is tap water, so most of his bacteria would be in shock due to said tap water.

 

He should be dechlorinating his tap water before adding it, thus removing any problems.

And just because goldfish are "hardy" doesn't mean they should be exposed to ammonia. As the caretaker, you should be providing the best care for your fish. Not "oh, goldfish are hardy so they'll be fine"

 

Please do t use inch per gallon its outdated and false. You will continue to have issues with parameters. If it does cycle then your nitrates will be outrageous constantly And water changes will have to be multiple a week. Ntm Iits going 5o stunt their growth causing health problems. You should rehome or bulid a pond. What type are they?

 

Piano guy I know a 60 gallon would be overstocked with goldfish if each of them where around 4 inches. Also the ammonia isn't that toxic at those levels for goldfish. They are notoriously hardy.

Not trying to start an argument, but that doesn't really mean you should let them suffer. BlueMint can always dechlorinate her water.

 

I wasn't aware that my tank is considered overstocked since Ive heard 20 gallons for the first fish and 10 for each one after that. Theres one oranda and the rest are fantails.
Also, I don't add untreated tap water to my media; that's just crazy.

EDIT: I'm not rehoming. I am, however, getting another 60 gallon or a 120 gallon, in about two months.

 

Since they are fancies, you might be able to get away with it. Bigger is better though.

I wasn't accusing you of adding untreated tap water. I agree, that would be crazy.

Edit: that's awesome! You shouldn't have to worry about overstocking then

 

Piano guy I know a 60 gallon would be overstocked with goldfish if each of them where around 4 inches. Also the ammonia isn't that toxic at those levels for goldfish. They are notoriously hardy.

u really think so?

no u should not do that. even they are hardy why do u have to cruely kill the fish? they are ur pets that u should be responsible... like flowing fins said .25 is high! high enough to stress them out! stress are the number one fish killers...

that inch per STH is an outdated worse invention in the entire fish world, it is not accurate

Flowinf fins, if he does a 90% water change most of his water is tap water, so most of his bacteria would be in shock due to said tap water.

the bacteria is not gonna go into a shock dude, please read up nitrogen cycle before u post suggestions...

as long as the temp is the same and there's no issues.

He should be dechlorinating his tap water before adding it, thus removing any problems.

And just because goldfish are "hardy" doesn't mean they should be exposed to ammonia. As the caretaker, you should be providing the best care for your fish. Not "oh, goldfish are hardy so they'll be fine"

yes agree with u!



not trying to start a war here. so don't judge or anything for this post please thank you!

 

Hold up. Were people under the assumption that I had 5 common goldfish in a 60 gallon? ._.
Also, at this moment, there is 0 ammonia.

 

It would be a really good idea to try looking for another tank to divide your goldfish in, if you have anymore space.

 

Yeah, most people start with commons. Glad you have fancies!

That's great

 

Hold up. Were people under the assumption that I had 5 common goldfish in a 60 gallon? ._.
Also, at this moment, there is 0 ammonia.

lol sorry being a no brainer and a butthead!

great news there!

 

Oh, that would explain the panic. Sorry, I should have been more specific xD No commons here lol.

 

GUYS.
I think l the ich is making a come back... Yesterday, I noticed a single spot on one of my fish. Today, the spot is still there. Its on the fin. Also, another one of my fish has developed a white spot on its fin. And another fish has also developed one spot on its fin. What in the world. I thought the ich was gone since I haven't seen any spots in about 3 weeks.

 

Yea but poor water quality plays a part of it coming back. Id keep up water changes.

 

The first time he started bottom sitting, I was pretty worried about him/her, but my water parameters were fine and he had no visible symptom of any disease. It went on for quite a while, then all of a sudden out of the blue he was back to normal. Since then he/she has done it several more times. I could never figure out why he/she does it though.

My goldfish also will get a white spot on it's fins from time to time. It's not ich, since if it were it would cover his whole body, like he was sprinkled in salt. It's also doesn't seem to be a fungus. But eventually it goes away on it's own.

BTW, siad goldfish is going to be 8 years old in May. (actually I don't know how old it was when I bought it, but it was tiny. But it could already be 8 years old) I'm pretty sure he/she will outlive me at this point.

 

So... Are you saying to keep up water changes and it will go away? This is weird.

 

I'm saying it did for my goldfish...of course your results could be different.

 

Ah, okay. Thank you.

The temp this morning is down to 78 degrees. No bottom sitting whatsoever. All fish are acting like their normal happy selves! Hopefully it was the temp that was bugging them.

 

Thank goodness, your fish are feeling better!

 

Indeed! I really hope it was the temp and they don't start bottom sitting again out of nowhere... But for right now, the relief of seeing the goldies acting like their normal goofy selves again is immense
I will update again when I get home later today. Crossing fingers

Update: So I got home about 2 hours ago and so far all goldies are acting normal! Absolutely no bottom sitting. Guess it was the temp The spot is still there so Ill just keep an eye on that. Ill keep you all posted.