ignorant question

I haven't had time to research this yet, just noticed the stuff this morning
& I have to go to work, so sorry if it's obviously all over the place & I
don't know it ...

Anyway, I have a two month old 12-gallon tank (yep I'm a newbie) and all
I've got is one goldfish in it. When I woke up this morning, there was a
cloudy white substance on the bottom that's a bit see-through.

It looks like mold to me, but what do I know?

The tank stays around 75 degrees w/o a heater, it is an eclipse system,
biowheel seems to function fine. I've been doing partial water changes -
just did one last weekend and replaced the filter cartridge 1.5 weeks ago.

Fish seems fine but definitely shows a lack of appetite. I'm worried I did
something wrong.

Any ideas for me to work on tonight when I get home?

Thanks so much,

Mary

"Mary" wrote in message
...


Anyway, I have a two month old 12-gallon tank (yep I'm a newbie) and all
I've got is one goldfish in it. When I woke up this morning, there was a
cloudy white substance on the bottom that's a bit see-through.

It looks like mold to me, but what do I know?


Without actually seeing it, I'd have to hazard that it's uneaten fish food,
and it is rotting. Remove as much of the debris as you can, and do an extra
water change, using conditioned water.
Then, drasticly cut the amount you feed your fish. Once per day, no more
than the fish will completly consume in 2-5 minutes.
What kind of filtration do you have on the tank?
Also, you should be aware that a 12 gallon tank is too small for a
goldie, and his growth will eventually be stunted, and he will likely die.

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin.html Beginner's fishkeeping FAQ.

hth

billy

errr 12gallons is fine for 1 goldie, assuming its not a Koi, Oscar or Comet.

How often do you do a water change?

Like Dinky said, probably rotten food. If you have a gravel vac, vac it up.
Either way, get it out quick!

Quoth "Mary" on Wed, 10 Mar 2004
05:25:48 -0500,

Anyway, I have a two month old 12-gallon tank (yep I'm a newbie) and all
I've got is one goldfish in it. When I woke up this morning, there was a
cloudy white substance on the bottom that's a bit see-through.

Can you get a picture?

Regarding the food theory, how much and how often do you feed?

12 gallons should be fine for fantails and such. The long-bodied
singletails would eventually need more swimming room.

The tank stays around 75 degrees w/o a heater, it is an eclipse system,
biowheel seems to function fine.

I hope "seems to function fine" is based on water tests e.g. 0 ammonia,
0 nitrite.

Without any better idea of what the white stuff is, my impulse would be
to remove as much of it as possible. I'd be wary of doing another water
change if I'd just done one, but I might try to use a slow siphon to
suck the white stuff off and then top the tank up with treated water at
about 75 degrees.

With a goldfish, I would also add a little salt; two tablespoons of
aquarium salt or any pure salt (NO idiozed salt, NO anti-caking agents:
table salt is out, but pickling and canning salt works as does kosher
salt. read labels). Big chunky salts like aquarium salt, add to a small
covered container with holes in the lid (the cups pet stores use for
bettas are great for this). Fine granular salts, dissolve in tank water,
slowly -- you don't want the fish to swim into a high-salt area, and you
don't want to add salt directly to the filter. "Light salt" is often
used as a sort of fish tonic with goldies -- small amounts can't hurt
and may help when we can't identify the problem.


-----------------------------------------
Only know that there is no spork.

Yeah, I agree with you guys. I think it must be the food, too. I feed him
twice a day, very little - because of the lack of appetite he's had lately.
He's probably not eating any of it

I do a water change 1.5-2 weeks and also vacuum the gravel. Like I said,
just did it this past weekend, but I'll suck up the yuck and hope it doesn't
show up again.

Thanks for all the help!!

Mary

"Geezer From Freezer" wrote in message
...

errr 12gallons is fine for 1 goldie, assuming its not a Koi, Oscar or
Comet.

How often do you do a water change?

Like Dinky said, probably rotten food. If you have a gravel vac, vac it
up.
Either way, get it out quick!

Subject: ignorant question
From: Geezer From Freezer
Date: 3/10/2004 10:04 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


errr 12gallons is fine for 1 goldie, assuming its not a Koi, Oscar or Comet.

How often do you do a water change?

Like Dinky said, probably rotten food. If you have a gravel vac, vac it up.
Either way, get it out quick!


Well..it would be ok as a bare minimum size for a fancy Goldy..no Comet or
common or Koi of course.
But think about it..a fully gown fan tail in a 12g tank? Not much room at all.
No swimming around...more like turning around.
It's fine for now...but in the long run it's just not much room.

"TYNK 7" wrote in message
...
Subject: ignorant question
From: Geezer From Freezer
Date: 3/10/2004 10:04 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


errr 12gallons is fine for 1 goldie, assuming its not a Koi, Oscar or
Comet.

How often do you do a water change?

Like Dinky said, probably rotten food. If you have a gravel vac, vac it
up.
Either way, get it out quick!


Well..it would be ok as a bare minimum size for a fancy Goldy..no Comet or
common or Koi of course.
But think about it..a fully gown fan tail in a 12g tank? Not much room at
all.
No swimming around...more like turning around.
It's fine for now...but in the long run it's just not much room.

Thanks for the reply - I see you also hit on my '12 gallon perfect fish'
post, so you probably know I've taken the goldfish to a neighborhood fish
store and plan to 'shop' this weekend

Subject: ignorant question
From: "Mary E. Hill"
Date: 3/18/2004 11:36 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


"TYNK 7" wrote in message
...
Subject: ignorant question
From: Geezer From Freezer
Date: 3/10/2004 10:04 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


errr 12gallons is fine for 1 goldie, assuming its not a Koi, Oscar or
Comet.

How often do you do a water change?

Like Dinky said, probably rotten food. If you have a gravel vac, vac it
up.
Either way, get it out quick!


Well..it would be ok as a bare minimum size for a fancy Goldy..no Comet or
common or Koi of course.
But think about it..a fully gown fan tail in a 12g tank? Not much room at
all.
No swimming around...more like turning around.
It's fine for now...but in the long run it's just not much room.

Thanks for the reply - I see you also hit on my '12 gallon perfect fish'
post, so you probably know I've taken the goldfish to a neighborhood fish
store and plan to 'shop' this weekend


Yeppers. = )
I read and reply without reading ahead.
I usually don't do that when I've not read the board for a few days....sorry. =
)