help

[jojoisunbreakable]

hello, I have had Cloudy water for nearly 3 months now.
I've tried nearly everything.

Accu clear
Water changes
New filter.
Cleaning Gravel.

I have a 20 Gallon tank. i had a 10G tank but got a bigger one.
2 gold fish (1 small 1 large)
1 Black Moor
1 Pleco

The Pleco and Large gold fish I got in '09 from Walmart. the other 2 I got as a gift recently.

Also I think my Large Gold fish has Ick?

I have well water, and had it professionally tested.

I know my Ammonia is really high.

the temp of the tank is about 72

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Well, your water quality is almost definitely the root cause of the issues with the goldfish. They can't heal without good water quality.

What is your current water change schedule, and how did you clean the gravel?

The best way to reduce the ammonia is with a large water change. That will physically remove the ammonia. With 4 large fish in a smallish tank, you're going to be needing to do relatively frequent large water changes going forward as well. For now, change out about a good 75% of the water. You'll probably need to be doing something like at least 50% weekly forever, and probably more like 50% (or more) twice weekly until the ammonia is staying down. The waste from those fish is just not going to magically disappear otherwise.

It sounds like the tank may not be fully cycled at this point. Try not to remove any gravel or fully change out the filter until you're starting to get nitrate and no (or consistently low) ammonia. You can vacuum the gravel in the meantime, and swish the filter media around in used tank water to remove any gunk. Basically you don't want to remove the bacteria growing on the surfaces within the tank until the cycle is completed.

 

[SeantheCatfish]

You can also get a bacteria supplement. Some people don't like doing that because if you wait long enough, the bacteria will naturally form. I am not really that patient so when I'm cycling I usually use Stability by Seachem. It cycled my tank really quickly and safely. It was done in only a day or two. You can get it at petsmart for around 8$ but you should definitely change the water like CAPS LOCK recommended

 

[FreshyFresh]

Yep. 3 goldfish and a pleco is too many fish in too small a tank. I'm assuming 2 of the goldies are commons or comets, then a fancy, then a pleco.. which could be a common pleco that can get a foot or more long. I'd personally keep only the black moor in a 20g.

Comets or commons need a very large tank or a pond. For fancy goldfish, it's recommended 20g for one and an additional 10g for each additional fancy.

FWIW, I push the limits in my goldfish tank. I've got a 2yr/old comet and 3 fancies in a 55g.

 

[Nils Bastedo]

Question. Am a new fish owner myself and am reading up. When people refer to gallons, do they mean US Gallons (3.8 liters) or Imperial Gallons (4.55 liters)? I would assume US gallons.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I assume people usually mean US gallons for stocking guidelines, but then again I am in the US, so.....