Backyard Aquaponics
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One of my larger fantail goldfish started acting real slow and has red spots. I did a check on water levels in my tank and surprised. I do water changes close to every week and do a vacuum of the gravel also. Filter is a Fluval C4 with poly fill also added. I have not been checking levels because i have not noticed anything until now.


pH | 6.4
NH3 | 4 then went blue.
NO2 | .5
NO3 | 0

Temp - 78*F / 26 *C

This is not on a AP tank but had fish that I was planning to use next season.

44 gallon corner tank
2 large red fantail
2 plecos medium and small
12 comet goldfish

I know that the tank is a bit overstocked and have been feeding once a day and as little as they will eat without staying in the tank.



Doing a water change and will give a update in a bit.

Did about a 30% water change and still no changes after an hour after. I did salt the tank to 1 part per thousand/ ppt whaterver just to help everyone.

44gal to liters

167L to ppt

167ml

ml to g

167g of salt?

Might want to check your incoming water too. Maybe somethings going on at that end.

Ouch

Rechecked ammonia levels before leaving for work. Off chart but not blue.

..
STOP FEEDING until the issue resolved..

Not of any help in the short term, but try increasing the sand to a larger depth.. and I suspect, don't gravel clean too much
It would help with doing Anaerobic nitrogen conversion..

Otherwise just keep changing the water (correctly) until you get the level to a safer value..

I have said it B4 - I have a totally neglected Cichlid tank and it has not had its water changed for years.. Just top up with filtered water.. It seems the deep gravel helps control the ammonia better..
( and LOTS of Holy-Limestone )
..
.

I am keeping them off feed for now and did another water change today.

I'm thinking about using some lava rock and a air stone. kind of like one of those Kaldness bottle things. Its not moving but it may help with the beneficial bacteria more. I have a 1.5 - 2 L that has a wide mouth and should fit a bit of lava rock. lava rock is from my outside system bucket filter, its seeded but frozen from the cold here may take a bit.

..
Oops - no air-stone...

The bacteria need air to convert the Ammonia.. I wonder if you have caused harm to the bacteria population.. Others would know more about that - I'm no chemist..
""its seeded but frozen from the cold here may take a bit"" -- I would wonder what freezing does to bacteria..?
..
.

That lava rock is still moist from the outside system shutdown a few weeks ago, but the temps outside may have killed off most of the benificial bacteria.

Still doing water changes and not seeing a change in levels. Actually added some lava rock from my indoor AP system, just a few handfuls as the muck in the rock was making the water cloudy as I was adding it.


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I think your bacteria will suffer with temps much below mid 50's. Not 100% sure on the exact range, but warmer is better.

your bacteria is going to be inhibited with ammonia that high..

Well it has at least dropped down to 4ppm. Think this is the 6th water change now.

I'm thinking the issue may be Dropsy. The fan tail has gone a bit pinecone and maybe a loss. A fan tail is a bit bulbous in the body as is and this was not noticed until today. A bit sad to maybe lose a fish after a few years as a pet.

The fish is gone. None of the others appear to have issues as of now.