I was wondering if anyone here can assist me with what seems to be an ongoing problem with just about every tank I set up and keep goldfish in...currently, I'm running a 60 gallon Marineland with adequate filtration (two large HOBs, an Aqueon QuietFlow 55 and AquaClear 110), I'm doing religious water maintenance (50% change every week plus a midweek 15-gallon exchange for extra cleanliness), keeping up on maintaning the filter media (rinsing them from time to time in removed tank water so not to strip the BB) and overall just keeping them healthy as best I could. The water always tests good via the API kit and it always looks crystal clear and smells "right" (the infamous pond-like scent). The ONLY aspect I don't keep on top of is regular gravel vacuuming due to the fact that this tank is so darn deep and tall and it makes it almost impossible to get to the bottom of...
That being said -- and my problem is more than likely something "growing" in the substrate because of my lack of vacuuming there, PLUS I'm beginning to see diatoms on my plants which usually indicates phosphates that cause them -- one of my three fancies, a common orange fantail, has developed what many other goldfish I have kept always seem to, which is a "bulge" from beneath the scales but which isn't protruding (yet) and which looks like an internal cyst. I have had a few fancies die on me from this "ruptured cyst" over the past few years and now it seems like it's happening yet AGAIN. The thing is, I don't understand where any of this is coming from -- the water parameters are right, the water is clear and smells good, the filtration is adequate...why do the fish KEEP getting these cysts over time?
I really don't want to treat with chemicals or medications as I have always felt fresh water is much better than dropping chemicals into the tank; I didn't have much luck treating with Maracyn during one of the last infections that wiped out my previous 60 gallon. I do want to nip this before I lose my beloved fantail though, so first I'm wondering what the CAUSE is and what the FIRST STEP should be for treatment -- should I be looking towards salting the tank? I do have API aquarium salt on hand, but I don't know how to dose it...it doesn't get dosed right INTO the water, does it? It needs to be "mixed" and dissolved into water before it goes in, yes? Can anyone walk me through this process?
Now, with regard to the CAUSE -- could the lack of maintenance to the substrate keep causing these cyst outbreaks? Is it like a bacterial infection they're getting from whatever is rotting in the gravel? Should I do an immediate deep gravel vac...and if so, should this at least relieve my goldfish a bit? If it isn't the substrate, what else could this come from? I feed them a mixture of Omega One goldfish flakes, New Life Spectrum pellets and peas (from time to time when there seems to be swim bloat issues)...could this be coming from the DIET? What about my filters -- could a bacterial infection be living in the media or exhausted carbon cartridges of my Aqueon HOB? I know some of these may sound VERY far fetched to many of the pros here, but I'm throwing everything out that I could think of...
If ANYONE could lend ANY insight or immediate help, it would be greatly appreciated -- and please let me know if you need any further information about the tank, conditions, etc. :help:
That being said -- and my problem is more than likely something "growing" in the substrate because of my lack of vacuuming there, PLUS I'm beginning to see diatoms on my plants which usually indicates phosphates that cause them -- one of my three fancies, a common orange fantail, has developed what many other goldfish I have kept always seem to, which is a "bulge" from beneath the scales but which isn't protruding (yet) and which looks like an internal cyst. I have had a few fancies die on me from this "ruptured cyst" over the past few years and now it seems like it's happening yet AGAIN. The thing is, I don't understand where any of this is coming from -- the water parameters are right, the water is clear and smells good, the filtration is adequate...why do the fish KEEP getting these cysts over time?
I really don't want to treat with chemicals or medications as I have always felt fresh water is much better than dropping chemicals into the tank; I didn't have much luck treating with Maracyn during one of the last infections that wiped out my previous 60 gallon. I do want to nip this before I lose my beloved fantail though, so first I'm wondering what the CAUSE is and what the FIRST STEP should be for treatment -- should I be looking towards salting the tank? I do have API aquarium salt on hand, but I don't know how to dose it...it doesn't get dosed right INTO the water, does it? It needs to be "mixed" and dissolved into water before it goes in, yes? Can anyone walk me through this process?
Now, with regard to the CAUSE -- could the lack of maintenance to the substrate keep causing these cyst outbreaks? Is it like a bacterial infection they're getting from whatever is rotting in the gravel? Should I do an immediate deep gravel vac...and if so, should this at least relieve my goldfish a bit? If it isn't the substrate, what else could this come from? I feed them a mixture of Omega One goldfish flakes, New Life Spectrum pellets and peas (from time to time when there seems to be swim bloat issues)...could this be coming from the DIET? What about my filters -- could a bacterial infection be living in the media or exhausted carbon cartridges of my Aqueon HOB? I know some of these may sound VERY far fetched to many of the pros here, but I'm throwing everything out that I could think of...
If ANYONE could lend ANY insight or immediate help, it would be greatly appreciated -- and please let me know if you need any further information about the tank, conditions, etc. :help:
