Help Goldfish Problems! Fin and Tail Rot or Ammonia Poisoning?

Well the symptoms all point to water quality and we know there is ammonia.

If you moved them in the summer the tank should be cycled by now, and from what you described I'm suspecting that the various medications you have been adding have been killing off your nitrogen cycle bacteria.

All those ammonia neutralizing things you added just neutralize the effects, they don't remove ammonia so you will get a reading.

This may seem illogical, but I recommend you stop adding all the meds. and neutralizers. All those chemicals are probably weakening the fish to a point where they don't have a strong enough immune system to recover.

Do a 50% water change now and then 20% daily for a couple of weeks then 20% every second day for a couple of weeks, then 20% twice weekly to keep the ammonia below fatal while the nitrogen cycle recovers. Once it has recovered and the tank is cycled then 25%weekly.

For 3 fancy goldfish you should have at least a 55 gallon tank with filtration rated over 100gallon. Preferably two filters in the 50 gallon range each. Less than this and maintaining water quality with such high waste producers is always going to be a task.

What size tank do you have was the tank cycled before you added the goldfish?

That is an extreme case of Tail Rot stop using all the ammonia products All that does is neutralise the ammonia nothing else does not get rid of the problem you have in the first place.

YOu need to keep doing 50% water changes daily until the ammonia reaches 0 stop adding anything to the tank and keep doing the water changes

Hi Darren, Not sure what you mean about removing the ammonia-a healthy tank should not have any ammonia & regular partial water changes such as you do should remove it simply by dilution although I would suggest upping the amount you change weekly to around 33%. Regarding your specific problems I would simply add 1 tablespoon of salt per gallon & keep them in it for about 2 weeks-add the salt gradually over a couple of days until you have the right amount & when you do water changes only add salt tot eh new water because salt will not evaporate. In addition to aquarium salt you can use picking, sea, kosher or rock salt but NEVER use regular table sat as this contains poisons. When adding the salt take a little water from your tank in a jug, mix the salt until it has all dissolved before returning the water. After the 2 week period simply stop adding sat to your new water & the regular water changes will gradually remove it completely. Ensure Your parameters are spot on & the fish will be fine. Fell free to email me about this if you have any concerns or queries.

Ok Stop you are going insane....

Get rid of the salt salt is toxic to fish, Join our forum Let them know I sent you http://tbas1.com/

#2 Ammo lock will interfere with ammonia readings, Its in the bottles description

#3 Chemicals You are using are toxic to fish(Research your chemicals in the bottles

#4 Ammonia readings can be from a filter that is not maintaining a good bioload-Find a better one

#5 Ph below 6.5 will stop the nitrifying bacteria

#6 What kind of rocks did you get?

#7 Some well water do get treated so be careful....

Your fish look like they have been exposed to chlorine by a pool test kit that measures for chlorine.

#8 Did you age your water?

Dave silva

You're using way too many medicines. Your beneficial bacteria can't grow when you have all of these antibiotics in the tank. Plus all of these chemicals make sudden changes to the water chemistry and can shock your fish and make them constantly sick. I think you should drain most of the water and start over without medicines and just doing frequent water changes daily. Stop using everything but a basic dechlorinator if you need (one that does not add stress coat or change the ph or anything extra but dechlorinate).

try sprinkling a tiny bit of salt into the tank. Also, everytime you change the water remember to let the water sit out for atleast 24 hours