View Full Version : Weird Things I Don't Understand...
Hi! First off, thanks for this cool forum, I've been reading a lot and it's a bunch to take in. I am kinda paranoid about these new fishtank/fish I got from a friend. It's a 20 gallon tank with two plecos, a blue gourami, and a goldfish.
Recently, I have seen that my gourami has been lethargic and breathing in water from the top. Plus I've noticed it's eyes starting to get a small street of red on the iris. A friend suggested that it was also getting some rot near it's mouth. So I bought Maracyn2 and a syphon and cleaned out the tank and replaced 30 percent of the water, and added the medication in, which quickly turned my tank yellow. This is the second day of treatment, and my gourami is moving around much more and not so much breathing from the top all the time. I read that it could be ammonia poisoning, so cleaning it helped.
I am just worried right now because on day wo, I've noticed a lot of floating poop. In regards to food, the only thing I've done differently is began giving the plecos some algae wafers.
Am I going about things corrently? Please help. Thank you so much!
Rbishop
11-27-2009, 4:42 AM
What are the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings, by a good liquid test kit, on that tank?
unvmyplecos
11-27-2009, 10:30 AM
Hi! First off, thanks for this cool forum, I've been reading a lot and it's a bunch to take in. I am kinda paranoid about these new fishtank/fish I got from a friend. It's a 20 gallon tank with two plecos, a blue gourami, and a goldfish.
Recently, I have seen that my gourami has been lethargic and breathing in water from the top. Plus I've noticed it's eyes starting to get a small street of red on the iris. A friend suggested that it was also getting some rot near it's mouth. So I bought Maracyn2 and a syphon and cleaned out the tank and replaced 30 percent of the water, and added the medication in, which quickly turned my tank yellow. This is the second day of treatment, and my gourami is moving around much more and not so much breathing from the top all the time. I read that it could be ammonia poisoning, so cleaning it helped.
I am just worried right now because on day wo, I've noticed a lot of floating poop. In regards to food, the only thing I've done differently is began giving the plecos some algae wafers.
Am I going about things corrently? Please help. Thank you so much!
well the algae wafers shouldnt change anything. is it possible the goldfish or gourami might be eating it and it combines with their other food?
although to float something has to be less than 1 gram per CC of mass, (which is the density of water. although hard water might have a slightly different density)so that really wouldnt change much. maybe you have hard water.
KarlTh
11-27-2009, 10:38 AM
Density of hard water is negligibly harder than that of soft water. It's usually encased farts which make it float.
I imagine the floating poop is courtesy of the goldfish. It really should be rehomed if possible as they are messy and prefer warmer water than tropical fish.
Meantime I would continue to do water changes, twice a week would be a good idea, and definitely get water test kit. Ammonia and nitrite levels need to be at zero.
Taysius
11-27-2009, 1:53 PM
I imagine the floating poop is courtesy of the goldfish. It really should be rehomed if possible as they are messy and prefer warmer water than tropical fish.
The goldfish requires cooler water than tropicals. ;) Probably just a typo.
excuzzzeme
11-27-2009, 2:33 PM
Poop floats when it is full of fat.
What kind of gourami and plecos?
bushwhacker
11-27-2009, 5:30 PM
i was actually laughing about the encased farts..... and yes goldies need cooler water. water changes i do 50% weekly, its hard to gravel vac my tanks as they are well planted i get what i can
The goldfish requires cooler water than tropicals. ;) Probably just a typo.
Oops.
echoofformless
11-29-2009, 4:07 AM
Wait a second - is this tank even cycled??
The goldfish requires cooler water than tropicals. ;) Probably just a typo.
I don't believe so. Fancy goldfish actually tolerate warm water much better than temperature falling below 72 degrees. They are quite prone to health issues in cooler water so fancy goldfish are technically not coldwater fish. 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal but I would not advise going beyond it as that is extreme for them. A lot of fancy varieties are delicate. Pond types though such as hibunas and comets can withstand cooler temperature to as low as 55 degrees.
KarlTh
11-30-2009, 10:11 AM
Lower than that. In the UK most people leave the goldfish in the pond over the winter. Most winters will see -3 or -4 a few times and the odd day which remains below 0 (that's Celsius; can't get on with that weird Farenheit thing) and the goldfish generally survive fine.
jrawebb83
11-30-2009, 10:36 AM
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this, but gourami's are related to beta's right? They are at least in the anabantoid family. They have the ability to breath from the surface. So I wouldn't worry about the fact the gourami is doing that. As far as every thing else I'd say keep doing what you're doing. The water changes should definitely help. From my understanding goldies and plecos are poop machines, so frequent water changes would be necessary with your stock.
Hey thanks for all the replies!!!
I have gone through a week of Maracyn treatment and I have just done a quick (%25) water change and filter change. I had tested the pH and its 7.2 so it's not too bad. I will keep doing once a week small water changes.
I've noticed a lot more activity from all the fish, so I hope that is a good sign! :-)
Reframer
11-30-2009, 1:41 PM
Ok, big issues here! The most important is that the tank is WAY too small for the plecos and goldfish. You can keep the gourami. Either return the others to the store or get like a 75 gallon tank. The won't make it in that tank. They all poop a lot and grow to be almost 12 inches.