55-60gal aguarium
6" comet(3yrs.), 3" common(2yr.), 3" Ryukin(1yr.), 2" Ryukin(3wks.), 1" oranda(3wks.), 2" moore(1yr.), 3" moore(1yr.)
Sand substrate
Aqueon filter(no other labels on it but VERY strong output) cascade filter (rated for 50gal)
2 air pumps with 12" air stone
Heater
Misc. fake decor and fake plants & some lava rock
Temperature: 82F(and slowly climbing)
No Natural sunlight really, lights are on 8-12hrs. a day
Current treatment being administered(heat and salt)
Daily food intake: 1" square dried seaweed,pinch of kelp flake, tsp. goldfish pellets, tsp. various frozen food(mainly blood worms), 1/2 algae wafer
API Master Liquid test kit
pH: 6.8-7.0
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 20ppm
This tank has only been running for about 2 wks. The 5 goldies I've had the longest were in a different 55gal about a month and a half ago and I had to stick them in a 30gal temporarily because I was taking the fish room down and their tank needed to be moved to a new room. Then I set up a newer(slightly taller then their old 55gal) tank for them a couple weeks ago. Their old filter media and some decor from their old tank was moved to the newly set up 2wk. old tank. However I did not transfer their old gravel substrate to the new tank I used sand substrate from a cichlid tank I had taken down. The two newest goldies were not QT'd prior to being added with my 5 goldies. Normally gravel vac and remove 5gals of water once or twice a week.
I do not think the ick infestation was caused from the new goldies(although still possible). The sand I used from my old cichlid tank may have had ick cysts in it. Right before my mom got sick and I decided to take apart my fish room I had bought a cihclid for the tank that ended up having ick. I was unsuccessful in treating the fish and it died. The cichlid tank had been running empty for about a month before I drained it and took out the sand. Before adding the sand to the new goldfish tank I put it in a bucket and rinsed it out with the hose until the water ran completely clear. Then I added it to the goldie tank. I'm not quite sure why it didn't occur to me that there was probably cysts in the sand but I didn't and in my haste to get the tank up and running again I stupidly added the sand to the newly set up goldie tank.
So everything was going fine for two weeks and then two nights ago I walked into the room the goldie tank was in to feed and play with them and that's when I discovered ick on my panda moore and the more I looked the more parasites I saw on all my other fish. I couldn't see any on the 1" oranda but I'm sure they're there. I immediately vacuumed out 10gals of water, refilled the tank and added 10tbsp. of aquarium salt. Then I reluctantly threw in a large heater. The temperature has steadily and slowly been rising from 65 degrees F to 82 degrees F since two nights ago and I am continuing to steadily raise it. Last night I again vacuumed out 10gals of water(I vacuum the substrate every time) and then added 12tbsp. of aquarium salt(2tbsp for the water I replaced + 10tbsp to raise the salinity to .2)
So this is where I'm at right now, totally freaked out and feeling helpless. I didn't want to add the heater because they are a cold water fish but I couldn't stand the thought of dragging this agonizing and possibly deadly process out for weeks. I'm going to add 12 more tbsp. tonight after their water change(to make the salinity .3). I'm not sure where to go from here and what to expect. I've read that it'll get worse before it gets better and I'm trying to prepare myself for it. I'm not sure if I should add meds(what meds) or continue with just heat and salt. I'd prefer to stay all natural with the heat and salt but I don't want to play games with my fishes health. What I'm most afraid of is losing my 6" comet Dennis. That fish means the world to me and he's the only reason why I still have fish and out of all of them he seems to be the one carrying the most parasites. He was acting a little lethargic last night but has perked up a little and my panda moore is acting really lethargic and her tail fins are slightly shredded. All of them are still eating. I haven't noticed any labored breathing. I plan on hooking up another air pump with an air stone tonight to increase the oxygen as the temperature increases.
What do I do? Are there foods that will help with the immune system? Like I said I'm terrified that my goldfish Dennis will die. Any advice would be so very much appreciated. I just want to fix the very very stupid mistake I made.
6" comet(3yrs.), 3" common(2yr.), 3" Ryukin(1yr.), 2" Ryukin(3wks.), 1" oranda(3wks.), 2" moore(1yr.), 3" moore(1yr.)
Sand substrate
Aqueon filter(no other labels on it but VERY strong output) cascade filter (rated for 50gal)
2 air pumps with 12" air stone
Heater
Misc. fake decor and fake plants & some lava rock
Temperature: 82F(and slowly climbing)
No Natural sunlight really, lights are on 8-12hrs. a day
Current treatment being administered(heat and salt)
Daily food intake: 1" square dried seaweed,pinch of kelp flake, tsp. goldfish pellets, tsp. various frozen food(mainly blood worms), 1/2 algae wafer
API Master Liquid test kit
pH: 6.8-7.0
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 20ppm
This tank has only been running for about 2 wks. The 5 goldies I've had the longest were in a different 55gal about a month and a half ago and I had to stick them in a 30gal temporarily because I was taking the fish room down and their tank needed to be moved to a new room. Then I set up a newer(slightly taller then their old 55gal) tank for them a couple weeks ago. Their old filter media and some decor from their old tank was moved to the newly set up 2wk. old tank. However I did not transfer their old gravel substrate to the new tank I used sand substrate from a cichlid tank I had taken down. The two newest goldies were not QT'd prior to being added with my 5 goldies. Normally gravel vac and remove 5gals of water once or twice a week.
I do not think the ick infestation was caused from the new goldies(although still possible). The sand I used from my old cichlid tank may have had ick cysts in it. Right before my mom got sick and I decided to take apart my fish room I had bought a cihclid for the tank that ended up having ick. I was unsuccessful in treating the fish and it died. The cichlid tank had been running empty for about a month before I drained it and took out the sand. Before adding the sand to the new goldfish tank I put it in a bucket and rinsed it out with the hose until the water ran completely clear. Then I added it to the goldie tank. I'm not quite sure why it didn't occur to me that there was probably cysts in the sand but I didn't and in my haste to get the tank up and running again I stupidly added the sand to the newly set up goldie tank.
So everything was going fine for two weeks and then two nights ago I walked into the room the goldie tank was in to feed and play with them and that's when I discovered ick on my panda moore and the more I looked the more parasites I saw on all my other fish. I couldn't see any on the 1" oranda but I'm sure they're there. I immediately vacuumed out 10gals of water, refilled the tank and added 10tbsp. of aquarium salt. Then I reluctantly threw in a large heater. The temperature has steadily and slowly been rising from 65 degrees F to 82 degrees F since two nights ago and I am continuing to steadily raise it. Last night I again vacuumed out 10gals of water(I vacuum the substrate every time) and then added 12tbsp. of aquarium salt(2tbsp for the water I replaced + 10tbsp to raise the salinity to .2)
So this is where I'm at right now, totally freaked out and feeling helpless. I didn't want to add the heater because they are a cold water fish but I couldn't stand the thought of dragging this agonizing and possibly deadly process out for weeks. I'm going to add 12 more tbsp. tonight after their water change(to make the salinity .3). I'm not sure where to go from here and what to expect. I've read that it'll get worse before it gets better and I'm trying to prepare myself for it. I'm not sure if I should add meds(what meds) or continue with just heat and salt. I'd prefer to stay all natural with the heat and salt but I don't want to play games with my fishes health. What I'm most afraid of is losing my 6" comet Dennis. That fish means the world to me and he's the only reason why I still have fish and out of all of them he seems to be the one carrying the most parasites. He was acting a little lethargic last night but has perked up a little and my panda moore is acting really lethargic and her tail fins are slightly shredded. All of them are still eating. I haven't noticed any labored breathing. I plan on hooking up another air pump with an air stone tonight to increase the oxygen as the temperature increases.
What do I do? Are there foods that will help with the immune system? Like I said I'm terrified that my goldfish Dennis will die. Any advice would be so very much appreciated. I just want to fix the very very stupid mistake I made.