What are your water parameters GH, KH, pH, temperature, ammonia, nitrite and nitrates?
Test kit on order.
Describe your set up (size, height, filters and pumps, substrate, decorations)
20 gallon, 18″ tall, HOB filter, not sure what substrate is, two plastic plants, clay flower pot for the fish to hide in.
How many inches of goldfish do you have collectively?
6″ combined from nose to tail.
Is your fish house enclosed?
Did have a lid, but now removed.
What and how often do you feed?
I feed twice a day.
Describe maintenance routine.
I remove and replace 20% of the fish water once a week.
Have you used medications or salt recently?
I use MelaFix every time I change water.
Do you understand the nitrogen cycle?
I just read the 10 Steps, and realize I didn’t know what it meant. I wonder if this why my fish haven’t lived very long. I’ve never tested nitrates, but I ordered a test kit.
Describe behavior and or symptoms.
A couple of my fish spend a lot of time at the surface, and one spends most of her time on the bottom.
How long have you had your fish and or fish house set up?
I’ve had the aquarium set up for three years, but lost all of my fish over a year ago, and have replaced them.
I read the 10 steps to goldfish keeping, and was astounded at the stuff I didn’t know. I opened the top of my aquarium up so it is now getting air at the surface. I bought a pH test kit, and it says either 7.2 or 7.4 ppm. Is that okay? I ordered a test kit online for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I will test these when it arrives and post again. I’ve also bought a 150 pond pump online.
Thanks for any advice you can offer, Jenny