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worwood worwood
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 0:25
Yet more problems... #1
Right now I'm feeling pretty down about the whole fish keeping thing.

Getting the bigger tank was supposed to make my life and fish’s life easier; but instead almost 2 months down-the-line the original fish is dead and I have spent a lot of money trying to make the tank stable.

I have been thoroughly cleaning the gravel in order to keep an outbreak of Planaria under control which seems to be working as I am down to just the odd 1 or 2 Planaria visible.

The tank is a Rekord 70 and I have added to the filter additional fine and coarse sponges hoping it would eventually cope more efficiently with 2 fancy goldfish. I have in the tank at the moment 1 two-inch Ryukin.

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The tanks readings are as follows:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 15
pH: 8.2 (bringing this down slowly with RO water)

To me (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) this seems like everything is just right, yet my fish just isn't well. His fins are clamped, he either hides under plants, wedges himself in a corner or 'hangs' at the surface all the time motionless until he is fed, after which he returns to his sedentary state.

He was displaying this behaviour when I originally discovered the water pH was 9, and he started to be more active on the first addition of some RO water. A week later and he is back in this state.

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I feel at a loss to know what to do anymore; I seriously feel like I should just give up and give my fish to someone else as it upsets me watching him like this. I have another fish in quarantine waiting to be introduced to the tank, but obviously I want to have everything right before introducing him to the main tank.

Sorry to rant; I just feel like whatever I do, something else goes wrong
What can I do this time to try and help my fish?
TheDragonLord TheDragonLord
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 1:20
Re: Yet more problems... #2
in the filter have as follows, 1 fine blue sponge in bottom bracket, 2 fine blue and one course blue sponge in big bracket and place one poly pad on top

that is the most effective way you can have it IME

from what i remember planaria only come from over feeding, only feed once a day and only what the fish will eat in 2 minutes, if it takes longer then feed less

them tests are ok but theres loads of other things as well that are in the water

hopefully goldy will be on soon to say what she thinks about your goldfish
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Goldy Goldy
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 1:33
Re: Yet more problems... #3
Got to admit your fancy doesn't look too happy in the photo have you added any tonic at all, your ph is on the high side but wouldn't have thought this is the problem unless it fluctuates a lot, never used RO water but I think it is lacking in certain minerals the reason marine fishkeepers add something to their tanks water "Dragon would know more about this than me"
worwood worwood
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 11:40
Re: Yet more problems... #4
I know he doesn't look too good and it really upsets me seeing him like this.

The pH of the water from my Tap is 8.9, so on the advise of people here i've been using a small amount of the RO water every partial water change to bring it down. The first couple of times he perked up, but now he's like this again.

The only thing i have been using is Tetra Aquasafe and King British Safe Water (http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z111259.asp#product2529) everytime I do a partial water change.

What tonic would you reccomend?

At the moment I'd only be able to immediatley purchase Interpet Gold Disease Safe or Fish Safe (http://www.fishandfins.co.uk/images/interpet-gold-treatments.jpg), everything else i'll have to order off the internet. Would either of the Interpet Gold treatments be suitable?
cathie cathie
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 11:41
Re: Yet more problems... #5
oh dear he does look sad. how long have you had this one?
have you got an airstone running? if so you could turn it off as that might be raising the pH (though i don't know how significant the effect would be)
does he seem to have any extra slime on his body?
Goldy Goldy
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 11:45
Re: Yet more problems... #6
Quote:

worwood wrote:
What tonic would you reccomend?

At the moment I'd only be able to immediatley purchase Interpet Gold Disease Safe or Fish Safe (http://www.fishandfins.co.uk/images/interpet-gold-treatments.jpg), everything else i'll have to order off the internet. Would either of the Interpet Gold treatments be suitable?


Well as you are using the king british water treatments etc I would stick with their products, so you could try their King British Revitaliser Tonic, although not used this myself so cant say if it is any good

Do you have a jollyes superstore near you, as they sell King British stuff
Fishy-Fishy Fishy-Fishy
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 14:42
Re: Yet more problems... #7
I would get a full water report from your water company to check there is nothing else in the water. It's free, all you have to do is email your post code to them.
worwood worwood
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 15:42
Re: Yet more problems... #8
I'm unable to go to any specialist store today - I simply so not have the 3 hours it would take me to get there and back by public transport. The nearest pet shop to me is at the end of the road and only stocks the nterpet Gold treatments.

I'll make sure i make a trip to Crews Hill tomorrow which has a host of aquatic stores.

I've just contacted my local water authority for there most recent report as the one they have on their website is for 2004.

He doesn't have any excess slime on him that i can notice.
cathie cathie
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  • Posted on: 30/9/2006 16:15
Re: Yet more problems... #9
you have to ask thames water for the very detailed water quality report specific to your postcode, i cant remember exactly what it's called. something meaningless like Schedule 7 report, or they fob you off with something too general to be of use like the one on the website.
the only other thing to pass on is i have just read in one of my books is that the higher the pH, the more dangerous ammonia is (in my unscientific paraphrase). so even a trace of ammonia at high pH could be upsetting him which would not matter at a lower pH. though this doesnt really seem likely as your tank is cycled and he has plenty of room and your test is showing 0 ammonia. it just might be if TDL says planaria show up with overfeeding, just a little bit of extra food might have been enough to do it, that might be why he perked up with water change, and test kit is not sensitive enough to show it up, what do you think? - - so worth trying another partial water change - ? just a thought, you know i'm no expert
also have you got aquarium salt Goldy will tell you how to use that as tonic
worwood worwood
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  • Posted on: 1/10/2006 19:43
Re: Yet more problems... #10
I've added the ing British Revitaliser Tonic, but to be honest think it's too late He's lying lop-sided at the moment looking very sorry for himself.

I have an air pump but don't normally use it unless I add some treatment to the water or it's a really hot day, so it wont make much difference to the pH of the water.

I've spoken with a few people in the fish shops but they just said the high pH is standard for around here and that the fish should be fine with it.

I did a water change a few days before he went like this, but 'm reluctant to do another change incase i stress him out anymore.

Meanwhile the fish in quarentine is doing well - i just don't understand why i seem to be able to keep fish in small tanks fine, but in the 70L tank everything just goes wrong!