Couple goldfish questions

[WhistlingBadger]

Hi, Jeremy.

I used to keep too many goldfish in a 55 gallon tank, and had the same issue. Question: Do your fish ever seem to be out of control depthwise, as if they have to work really hard to get to the bottom instead of just sinking via swim bladder? That indicates a water quality emergency, as I learned the hard way several years ago. Change water more frequently, beef up filtration, and probably most important, reduce the number of fish. Unless they are tiny, four goldfish in a 40g could be a pretty heavy load. Voice of hard experience, there...I tend to do things every conceivable wrong way before figuring it out.

Goldfish are a mess. Beautiful, but a mess. I finally put mine in my pond (where they live like kings on all the water bugs and moss, spawn like little bunnies, and occasionally provide a snack for a blue heron) and went tropical with the aquarium. :)

[Jeremy]

Thanks for the help guys

Well I spent last night and this morning on the phone calling local pet stores and the few places that just deal in fish around here and nobody has the API test kit. All they have is the strips. I guess they can make more money on the strips then kits. Some places want $30 for 25 test strips.

I have looked on the internet but it will cost me a arm and a leg in shipping to Canada. I might have to try outside the city but tomorrow is a holiday and I go to work on Tuesday. Should I just keep doing partial water changes every other day until I can find a kit?

[Honey Badger 1]

Try this site, http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/t-...+Test+Kit.html

[Jeremy]

Try this site, http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/t-...+Test+Kit.html

Thanks for the link, good price too. I might go with them. Has anybody ordered from them before? I see there in Canada which is good. Its good because I have checked with cities around me and nobody stocks it. One place that does have it has it listed for $45 but there almost two hours away.

Should I do a certain amount of water change each day until it arrives?

[HarryB]

Don't turn off your filter unless absolutely necessary for example when cleaning it (which is very beneficial to the efficiency of the filter as long as it is done in dechlorinated water). Within 2 hours of water flow stopping (e.g filter being turned off) all your bacteria will be dead and you will be starting a fresh cycle when flow resumes. The water flow brings the oxygen needed by the bacteria and also its food source (Ammonia).

[Cliff]

I have order from j&l many times. I would recommend them

As long as you filter media remains in old tank water, your bacteria will be OK for a long time. I have had my filters off for over 18 hours before with no noticeable effects