I still need help with the ammonia and ph levels in our aquariums?

Question

We have a 55 and 75 gal. aquariums with ammonia levels at .025 and a little above not quite .050 and the ph is around 8. We are still doing water changes at 30% usually 2 to 1 well water and tap water with a water softner. The guys at the place where we bought them say's for right now it is ok, but needs the levels to come down more and still do water changes but to be careful of taking all the good bacteria out. Now I am having problems with 2 of the smaller gold fish, one is always laying on the bottom and the other one got some of her fins tore up and all she does is stand on her tail and look away at who knows what. In the 75 gal. we have the 5 females and the other take is the males, they were becoming quite nasty with the others so we moved them to the 55 tank, the rest of the gold fish seem to be ok except for those two, what could be their problem, maybe pregnant? All are fancy goldies.

Answer 1

My first question would have to be, why aren't you using all well water? this doesn't sound like a PH or an ammonia issue not, since gold fish can remain in ammonia water at 2 (I don't recommend it but they can). they are also very tolorent of PH flux's.

30% water change every week is fine. Honestly it sounds like they don't have enough Dissolved oxygen. The temperature in your tank is set at what? between 55-65 somewhere? Try droping the tank water 1/2 inch in each tank. This will give them the dissolved oxygen they need. It only enters the water thru movement against the surface. i.e. filters, powerheads, fountains, waterfalls waves. Also, mixing water softened water with hard well water reaks havock on your PH balance unless you are accurate in measuring the replacement water.

I would slowly back out of the soft water from your tap and go with all well water. I mix tap an well and rain water (can't help the later here) in my outside ponds. By the end of summer they are pretty much all rain water. Doing this slowly will allow your fish to adjust to the slight PH change and be easier on you.

Let us know how it goes. If you have any additional question feel free to email.

Answer 2

It sounds like they are having problems with ammonia toxicity. Some fish are simply affected worse than others. The high pH will contribute to that as well. The higher the pH in a tank the more dangerous ammonia becomes. Your tank should finish cycling in the next few days to a week, in the mean time keep up the water changes and keep the tank cool. The higher the temperature, just like pH, the more dangerous the ammonia.

MM

Answer 3

umm, hard to say, never owned a goldfish, i think they are filthy. They very well could be pregnant. To calm them down and heal them, the cut up one, get some aquarium salt. Thats all i can really say.