Water goes bad... FAST

[JustSomeGuy]

Have a ten gallon fresh water tank.
Just got it.. A real newbie..
Two days later the water is murkey and smelly.
What am I doing wrong?

[blove]

probably overfeeding and put too many fish in the new tank at once.

"JustSomeGuy" > wrote in message
news:u3W_b.595963$JQ1.324671@pd7tw1no...
> Have a ten gallon fresh water tank.
> Just got it.. A real newbie..
> Two days later the water is murkey and smelly.
> What am I doing wrong?
>
>
>

[Keith J.]

Go here :
http://faq.thekrib.com

It has a lot of good information on setting up and taking care of an
aquarium.


"JustSomeGuy" > wrote in message
news:u3W_b.595963$JQ1.324671@pd7tw1no...
> Have a ten gallon fresh water tank.
> Just got it.. A real newbie..
> Two days later the water is murkey and smelly.
> What am I doing wrong?
>
>
>

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Water goes bad... FAST
>From: "JustSomeGuy"
>Date: 2/24/2004 11:06 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: <u3W_b.595963$JQ1.324671@pd7tw1no>
>
>Have a ten gallon fresh water tank.
>Just got it.. A real newbie..
>Two days later the water is murkey and smelly.
>What am I doing wrong?

First you need to post a LOT more information before anyone can know what
you're doing wrong.
What's in this tank?
How many fish?
What types of fish.
Did you use a water conditioner?
Is there a filter in it?
What's the temp?

[JustSomeGuy]

"TYNK 7" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Water goes bad... FAST
> >From: "JustSomeGuy"
> >Date: 2/24/2004 11:06 PM Central Standard Time
> >Message-id: <u3W_b.595963$JQ1.324671@pd7tw1no>
> >
> >Have a ten gallon fresh water tank.
> >Just got it.. A real newbie..
> >Two days later the water is murkey and smelly.
> >What am I doing wrong?
>
> First you need to post a LOT more information before anyone can know what
> you're doing wrong.
> What's in this tank?
> How many fish?
> What types of fish.
> Did you use a water conditioner?
> Is there a filter in it?
> What's the temp?

Its a 10 gallon tank.
Its got 4 small goldfish in it.
I did use a water conditioner. 2 Teaspoons, EasyBalance
Temperature is near room temp 20C.
Got a filter with the tank... 5-15 charcoal.
I've just changed the type of food from pellets to flakes and will
change the water again tonight because its stinking up the house.
Suspect over feeding with the wrong food.

[MartinOsirus]

You are probably over stocked with 4 goldfish in a 10 gallon. You will need a
lot of filtration and a lot of aeration to keep the tank going. Goldfish are
very messy and the tank can go bad very quickly.

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Water goes bad... FAST
>From: "JustSomeGuy"
>Date: 2/25/2004 9:02 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: <Xkd%b.616885$X%5.253937@pd7tw2no>
>
>
>"TYNK 7" > wrote in message
...
>> >Subject: Water goes bad... FAST
>> >From: "JustSomeGuy"
>> >Date: 2/24/2004 11:06 PM Central Standard Time
>> >Message-id: <u3W_b.595963$JQ1.324671@pd7tw1no>
>> >
>> >Have a ten gallon fresh water tank.
>> >Just got it.. A real newbie..
>> >Two days later the water is murkey and smelly.
>> >What am I doing wrong?
>>
>> First you need to post a LOT more information before anyone can know what
>> you're doing wrong.
>> What's in this tank?
>> How many fish?
>> What types of fish.
>> Did you use a water conditioner?
>> Is there a filter in it?
>> What's the temp?
>
>Its a 10 gallon tank.
>Its got 4 small goldfish in it.
>I did use a water conditioner. 2 Teaspoons, EasyBalance
>Temperature is near room temp 20C.
>Got a filter with the tank... 5-15 charcoal.
>I've just changed the type of food from pellets to flakes and will
>change the water again tonight because its stinking up the house.
>Suspect over feeding with the wrong food.
>
>

The reason it's stinky is because you have 4 Goldfish in it.
Being a ten gallon tank, you really should only have 1...at max!
Also...depending on the variety, such as the common or comet Goldie, you'd need
an even larger tank than a 10g PER Goldfish.

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Water goes bad... FAST
>From: (MartinOsirus)
>Date: 2/25/2004 9:49 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>You are probably over stocked with 4 goldfish in a 10 gallon. You will need a
>lot of filtration and a lot of aeration to keep the tank going. Goldfish are
>very messy and the tank can go bad very quickly.
>

Also....they're one of the WORST fish for a beginner.

[coelacanth]

"JustSomeGuy" > wrote in message
news:Xkd%b.616885$X%5.253937@pd7tw2no...
>
> Its a 10 gallon tank.
> Its got 4 small goldfish in it.
> I did use a water conditioner. 2 Teaspoons, EasyBalance
> Temperature is near room temp 20C.
> Got a filter with the tank... 5-15 charcoal.
> I've just changed the type of food from pellets to flakes and will
> change the water again tonight because its stinking up the house.
> Suspect over feeding with the wrong food.
>
Have you cycled this tank? Does it have a mature filter?
Try not feeding them for a day or two (they'll survive)
and siphon all the debris from the bottom of the tank.
See if the cloudiness clears up. Oh--and do a partial
water change.

Also, my recollection is that EasyBalance does not
remove chlorine/chloramine--check the label. I think
you need a separate dechlorinator.

Finally, to paraphrase "Jaws", you're going to need a
bigger tank to house 4 goldfish when they grow up.
Or you could get 3 more 10 gallon tanks...

-coelacanth

[Rick]

"JustSomeGuy" > wrote in message
news:Xkd%b.616885$X%5.253937@pd7tw2no...
>
> "TYNK 7" > wrote in message
> ...
> > >Subject: Water goes bad... FAST
> > >From: "JustSomeGuy"
> > >Date: 2/24/2004 11:06 PM Central Standard Time
> > >Message-id: <u3W_b.595963$JQ1.324671@pd7tw1no>
> > >
> > >Have a ten gallon fresh water tank.
> > >Just got it.. A real newbie..
> > >Two days later the water is murkey and smelly.
> > >What am I doing wrong?
> >
> > First you need to post a LOT more information before anyone can know
what
> > you're doing wrong.
> > What's in this tank?
> > How many fish?
> > What types of fish.
> > Did you use a water conditioner?
> > Is there a filter in it?
> > What's the temp?
>
> Its a 10 gallon tank.
> Its got 4 small goldfish in it.
> I did use a water conditioner. 2 Teaspoons, EasyBalance
> Temperature is near room temp 20C.
> Got a filter with the tank... 5-15 charcoal.
> I've just changed the type of food from pellets to flakes and will
> change the water again tonight because its stinking up the house.
> Suspect over feeding with the wrong food.
>

I would suspect the overfeeding. I wouldn't be concerned at all with the
stocking level of 4 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank (unless they are very large
goldfish) however I understand where the other posters are coming from as
most recommend one goldfish per 5 or 10 gallons. Yes they are messy eaters
and create a lot of waste and you should do at least weekly 30% water
changes however 4 of those fish in the tank is not the reason your water is
going bad very quickly. If your filter has a combination of sponge and
carbon, remove the carbon and add another sponge and you will have double
the area for beneficial bacteria to grow on. I know people who have 2 or 3
small goldfish in a one or two gallon goldfish bowl and they live for years.

Rick

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Water goes bad... FAST
>From: "Rick"
>Date: 2/26/2004 9:04 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>"JustSomeGuy" > wrote in message
>news:Xkd%b.616885$X%5.253937@pd7tw2no...
>>
>> "TYNK 7" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > >Subject: Water goes bad... FAST
>> > >From: "JustSomeGuy"
>> > >Date: 2/24/2004 11:06 PM Central Standard Time
>> > >Message-id: <u3W_b.595963$JQ1.324671@pd7tw1no>
>> > >
>> > >Have a ten gallon fresh water tank.
>> > >Just got it.. A real newbie..
>> > >Two days later the water is murkey and smelly.
>> > >What am I doing wrong?
>> >
>> > First you need to post a LOT more information before anyone can know
>what
>> > you're doing wrong.
>> > What's in this tank?
>> > How many fish?
>> > What types of fish.
>> > Did you use a water conditioner?
>> > Is there a filter in it?
>> > What's the temp?
>>
>> Its a 10 gallon tank.
>> Its got 4 small goldfish in it.
>> I did use a water conditioner. 2 Teaspoons, EasyBalance
>> Temperature is near room temp 20C.
>> Got a filter with the tank... 5-15 charcoal.
>> I've just changed the type of food from pellets to flakes and will
>> change the water again tonight because its stinking up the house.
>> Suspect over feeding with the wrong food.
>>
>
> I would suspect the overfeeding. I wouldn't be concerned at all with the
>stocking level of 4 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank (unless they are very large
>goldfish) however I understand where the other posters are coming from as
>most recommend one goldfish per 5 or 10 gallons. Yes they are messy eaters
>and create a lot of waste and you should do at least weekly 30% water
>changes however 4 of those fish in the tank is not the reason your water is
>going bad very quickly. If your filter has a combination of sponge and
>carbon, remove the carbon and add another sponge and you will have double
>the area for beneficial bacteria to grow on. I know people who have 2 or 3
>small goldfish in a one or two gallon goldfish bowl and they live for years.
>
>Rick

Please don't give this person false hopes.
Yeah, 2-3 Goldfish living in a one or two gallon tank and living for years???
Sounds too "Fishy" for me!!!
Her tank smells because it is overloaded with the amount of waste coming out of
4 Goldfish in a newly set up 10g tank.

[Rick]

> >
> > I would suspect the overfeeding. I wouldn't be concerned at all with
the
> >stocking level of 4 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank (unless they are very
large
> >goldfish) however I understand where the other posters are coming from
as
> >most recommend one goldfish per 5 or 10 gallons. Yes they are messy
eaters
> >and create a lot of waste and you should do at least weekly 30% water
> >changes however 4 of those fish in the tank is not the reason your water
is
> >going bad very quickly. If your filter has a combination of sponge and
> >carbon, remove the carbon and add another sponge and you will have double
> >the area for beneficial bacteria to grow on. I know people who have 2 or
3
> >small goldfish in a one or two gallon goldfish bowl and they live for
years.
> >
> >Rick
>
> Please don't give this person false hopes.
> Yeah, 2-3 Goldfish living in a one or two gallon tank and living for
years???
> Sounds too "Fishy" for me!!!
> Her tank smells because it is overloaded with the amount of waste coming
out of
> 4 Goldfish in a newly set up 10g tank.
>

any response I give on any fish related group is either from personal
experience or knowledge. I repeat, there is no problem having 4 feeder or
small type goldfish in a 10 gallon tank. I donated 6 goldfish each about 3
inches long to a local Nursing Home 2 years ago (my Mother was a resident).
this was added to the existing 3 or 4 they already had in a 33 gallon tank
filtered with an AquaClear 300. Those fish are still there, the water is
nice and clean. I had those 6 fish in my own 25 gallon tank for over a year
filtered with an undergravel filter and powerhead., no problems at all. My
brother has an outdoor pond in the summer and keeps a number of large
goldfish and smaller Koi. In the winter they all go into a 90 gallon tank,
no problems. My Grand daughter has two small goldfish in a 2 gallon tank,
has had them, actually had 3 but one did die, after a year of so and they
are fine and I know for a fact that the water in that little tank does not
get cleaned very often however the fish are not fed regularly either.
Stocking density of the tank is only dependent on filtration and frequency
of water changes. Take a look at your local LFS and see how many goldfish or
feeders they have in a 20-30 gallon tank. Gold fish can withstand
unbelievable amounts of ammonia and nitrite levels as compared to tropicals
, that is why so many people use them to cycle tanks. My advice to the
poster is to feed the appropriate food in smaller portions, do regular water
changes and double your sponges if you can and you should be fine. Just MHO
as with everything in this hobby YMMV.

Rick

[Rick]

"Rick" > wrote in message
...
> > >
> > > I would suspect the overfeeding. I wouldn't be concerned at all with
> the
> > >stocking level of 4 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank (unless they are very
> large
> > >goldfish) however I understand where the other posters are coming from
> as
> > >most recommend one goldfish per 5 or 10 gallons. Yes they are messy
> eaters
> > >and create a lot of waste and you should do at least weekly 30% water
> > >changes however 4 of those fish in the tank is not the reason your
water
> is
> > >going bad very quickly. If your filter has a combination of sponge and
> > >carbon, remove the carbon and add another sponge and you will have
double
> > >the area for beneficial bacteria to grow on. I know people who have 2
or
> 3
> > >small goldfish in a one or two gallon goldfish bowl and they live for
> years.
> > >
> > >Rick
> >
> > Please don't give this person false hopes.
> > Yeah, 2-3 Goldfish living in a one or two gallon tank and living for
> years???
> > Sounds too "Fishy" for me!!!
> > Her tank smells because it is overloaded with the amount of waste coming
> out of
> > 4 Goldfish in a newly set up 10g tank.
> >
>
> any response I give on any fish related group is either from personal
> experience or knowledge. I repeat, there is no problem having 4 feeder or
> small type goldfish in a 10 gallon tank. I donated 6 goldfish each about 3
> inches long to a local Nursing Home 2 years ago (my Mother was a
resident).
> this was added to the existing 3 or 4 they already had in a 33 gallon tank
> filtered with an AquaClear 300. Those fish are still there, the water is
> nice and clean. I had those 6 fish in my own 25 gallon tank for over a
year
> filtered with an undergravel filter and powerhead., no problems at all. My
> brother has an outdoor pond in the summer and keeps a number of large
> goldfish and smaller Koi. In the winter they all go into a 90 gallon tank,
> no problems. My Grand daughter has two small goldfish in a 2 gallon tank,
> has had them, actually had 3 but one did die, after a year of so and they
> are fine and I know for a fact that the water in that little tank does not
> get cleaned very often however the fish are not fed regularly either.
> Stocking density of the tank is only dependent on filtration and frequency
> of water changes. Take a look at your local LFS and see how many goldfish
or
> feeders they have in a 20-30 gallon tank. Gold fish can withstand
> unbelievable amounts of ammonia and nitrite levels as compared to
tropicals
> , that is why so many people use them to cycle tanks. My advice to the
> poster is to feed the appropriate food in smaller portions, do regular
water
> changes and double your sponges if you can and you should be fine. Just
MHO
> as with everything in this hobby YMMV.
>
> Rick
>
>

I'll just add to my own message that I'm not disputing the source of your
info. I am aware of the recommendations for keeping goldfish due to the fact
that they are messy eaters and do create large amounts of waste and for the
original poster if your goldfish are larger than small comets or feeder
types then the 10 g will certainly become too small which was the reason I
donated my fish to the nursing home. Some recommend at least 10 gallons per
fish and more but in the mean time you can also add an airstone as goldfish
do require more oxygen than tropicals and keep up the water changes.

Rick

[JustSomeGuy]

What does cycle tank mean?
What kind of sponge are you talking about?

[Eric Schreiber]

JustSomeGuy wrote:

> What does cycle tank mean?
> What kind of sponge are you talking about?

From: "JustSomeGuy" >
X-Trace-PostClient-IP: 68.146.116.182
NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.71.223.147
X-Complaints-To:
Organization: Shaw Residential Internet

I'm about half convinced this is Kabatoff.


--
www.ericschreiber.com

[Keith J.]

And I repeat, Go here :
http://faq.thekrib.com

It has a lot of good information on setting up and taking care of an
aquarium.

People who open their mouths before their eyes irritate the heck out of me
....

"JustSomeGuy" > wrote in message
news:CMu%b.621804$X%5.572861@pd7tw2no...
> What does cycle tank mean?
> What kind of sponge are you talking about?
>
>

[TYNK 7]

Not even quoting this nonsense

>Subject: Re: Water goes bad... FAST
>From: "Rick"
>Date: 2/26/2004 12:02 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>

What a sad situation for those fish.
None will live as long as they should.
Some Goldies can live up to 20 yrs.
Not going to happen in 2 gallon tank.
That's simply wrong.

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Water goes bad... FAST
>From: "Rick"
>Date: 2/26/2004 12:23 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>"Rick" > wrote in message
...
>> > >
>> > > I would suspect the overfeeding. I wouldn't be concerned at all with
>> the
>> > >stocking level of 4 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank (unless they are very
>> large
>> > >goldfish) however I understand where the other posters are coming from
>> as
>> > >most recommend one goldfish per 5 or 10 gallons. Yes they are messy
>> eaters
>> > >and create a lot of waste and you should do at least weekly 30% water
>> > >changes however 4 of those fish in the tank is not the reason your
>water
>> is
>> > >going bad very quickly. If your filter has a combination of sponge and
>> > >carbon, remove the carbon and add another sponge and you will have
>double
>> > >the area for beneficial bacteria to grow on. I know people who have 2
>or
>> 3
>> > >small goldfish in a one or two gallon goldfish bowl and they live for
>> years.
>> > >
>> > >Rick
>> >
>> > Please don't give this person false hopes.
>> > Yeah, 2-3 Goldfish living in a one or two gallon tank and living for
>> years???
>> > Sounds too "Fishy" for me!!!
>> > Her tank smells because it is overloaded with the amount of waste coming
>> out of
>> > 4 Goldfish in a newly set up 10g tank.
>> >
>>
>> any response I give on any fish related group is either from personal
>> experience or knowledge. I repeat, there is no problem having 4 feeder or
>> small type goldfish in a 10 gallon tank. I donated 6 goldfish each about 3
>> inches long to a local Nursing Home 2 years ago (my Mother was a
>resident).
>> this was added to the existing 3 or 4 they already had in a 33 gallon tank
>> filtered with an AquaClear 300. Those fish are still there, the water is
>> nice and clean. I had those 6 fish in my own 25 gallon tank for over a
>year
>> filtered with an undergravel filter and powerhead., no problems at all. My
>> brother has an outdoor pond in the summer and keeps a number of large
>> goldfish and smaller Koi. In the winter they all go into a 90 gallon tank,
>> no problems. My Grand daughter has two small goldfish in a 2 gallon tank,
>> has had them, actually had 3 but one did die, after a year of so and they
>> are fine and I know for a fact that the water in that little tank does not
>> get cleaned very often however the fish are not fed regularly either.
>> Stocking density of the tank is only dependent on filtration and frequency
>> of water changes. Take a look at your local LFS and see how many goldfish
>or
>> feeders they have in a 20-30 gallon tank. Gold fish can withstand
>> unbelievable amounts of ammonia and nitrite levels as compared to
>tropicals
>> , that is why so many people use them to cycle tanks. My advice to the
>> poster is to feed the appropriate food in smaller portions, do regular
>water
>> changes and double your sponges if you can and you should be fine. Just
>MHO
>> as with everything in this hobby YMMV.
>>
>> Rick
>>
>>
>
>I'll just add to my own message that I'm not disputing the source of your
>info. I am aware of the recommendations for keeping goldfish due to the fact
>that they are messy eaters and do create large amounts of waste and for the
>original poster if your goldfish are larger than small comets or feeder
>types then the 10 g will certainly become too small which was the reason I
>donated my fish to the nursing home. Some recommend at least 10 gallons per
>fish and more but in the mean time you can also add an airstone as goldfish
>do require more oxygen than tropicals and keep up the water changes.
>
>Rick
>

An air stone will not help them when they are dying from being poisoned by
their own waste.

[Rick]

"JustSomeGuy" > wrote in message
news:CMu%b.621804$X%5.572861@pd7tw2no...
> What does cycle tank mean?
> What kind of sponge are you talking about?
>
>

take Keith's advice and visit the Krib site. Many of us learned the hard and
incorrect way in this hobby and not knowing what tank cycling means or
filter sponge is a pretty good indication that you need to do some reading.

Rick

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Water goes bad... FAST
>From: "Rick"
>Date: 2/26/2004 9:30 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>"JustSomeGuy" > wrote in message
>news:CMu%b.621804$X%5.572861@pd7tw2no...
>> What does cycle tank mean?
>> What kind of sponge are you talking about?
>>
>>
>
>take Keith's advice and visit the Krib site. Many of us learned the hard and
>incorrect way in this hobby and not knowing what tank cycling means or
>filter sponge is a pretty good indication that you need to do some reading.
>
>Rick
>
>

I totally agree with Rick, 100%!!