Lethargic Goldfish at Bottom of Tank (Dropsy? Constipation?)

Hey all,

I posted this on reddit, but I'm really worried about my fish so I created an account here to ask:

Day 1
I got my goldfish a few days ago (pearlscale, telescope butterfly, ranchu). I keep them in a 29 gallon tank and I use a Aquaclear 110 (rated 500gph). Yes, I know it's overstocked, but they're small now and I plan to readjust them once they get bigger. I've been checking the water parameters everyday and I'm always around 0/0/10-20 (I can't tell because the colors are too similar). The tank has been cycled. I feed them flakes, but today I started soaking them so they don't float anymore. I also started feeding them shelled peas every day. I've already ordered some sinking pellets. Water temperature is at ~74F.

Today, I noticed my pearlscale swimming about 1" from the water surface. It seems like when the pearlscale doesn't actively swim it starts floating up towards the surface. They are able to swim around and when I come to bother them they move around. The ranchu seems perfectly fine.
One thing I was wondering is if my filter is too strong for the fish? Generally they all hang out on the side of the tank away from the filter and sometimes it seems like the current pushes them around.

I got a picture of the pearlscale floating near the top and the telescope butterfly just chilling at the bottom:

Day 2
I came home today and found my pearlscale chilling at the bottom looking very lethargic. I got really scared and immediately tested my water parameters and did a 40% water change. The readings were 0/0/5ppm. At some people's suggestions, I went out and bought the lower rated filter and installed it. I took all the media/sponge/carbon filter out of my old filter and just dropped them in my tank while I start up the new filter. I also moved some of the bio media from the old bag into the new bag. I didn't want the high powered filter running anymore. Part of me feels like the pearlscale was just exhausted from fighting the current? I'm not sure though. It's strange because they're all still hanging out in the one corner on the opposite side of the tank. I also noticed that both my ranchu and telescope butterfly have been pushing the pearlscale up behind its butt. Should I just pull the pearlscale out and separate it for now?

I've uploaded a video of my pearlscale sitting at the bottom looking lethargic. You can also see the type of bullying the rachu does towards the telescope butterfly.
https://vid.me/yEEL

You can see that the dorsal fin is flat and it is very slowly moving.

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it!

 

Bump!

Thanks!

Ken

 

Thanks for the bump!

So here's a short update:

I went to my LFS and he suggested using epsom salt on the fish. I added it to the tank and all of them immediately perked up for a short while, but then after a while my fish was back on the bottom of the tank.

The next day I changed the water and came home to seeing my fish all perked up and swimming around! I thought everything was great, but upon closer inspection I noticed white dots on the fish and so I think the whole time she had ick (ich?).

Here's a video of my fish:
https://vid.me/C61H

I've already added salt to my tank, so I'm not sure what else I should do except hope that it goes away. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Do you have hard or soft water?

 

I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure it's hard water. I've showered before in soft water and it always felt like I had soap still on me, but I never feel this way with my shower.

 

Oh well, there goes that theory! Still think having a GH test might be helpful. Maybe adding an air pump and bubble stone would help?

 

Yeah, I'm planning on going to the pet store tomorrow to pick up an airstone and a water heater. I've read I should raise the temperature to 86F to speed up the life cycle, but I don't know what I should raise it to for my goldfish.

 

Mind you, I know absolutely nothing about goldfish but in the video it looks like her scales are pineconing some. ...she may just be bloated. Try fasting everyone for a day, then feeding a couple thawed, de shelled frozen peas cut up into bite sized pieces and see if there's any improvement.

Btw, if it's bloat or dropsy the salt may actually make it worse since it can cause them to retain excess fluid in their bodies, just a heads up.