Frequently Asked Questions Answered

You will still do well to use the site's search function as the fastest access to information you need most. But, these answers ARE organized into sections by type of question. Enjoy!

Questions about conditions of the fish

• Non Specific Symptoms, Isolation, Hiding, Lethargy in a fish
• Fish turns pink after injection of NuFlor
• Baitfish (Golden Shiner) with recurrent chronic Fungus infections
• Fish with swelling & raised scales behind the head, Dropsy? PineCone?
• Fish with heavy, heavy beige slime coating. Only one affected.
• Goldfish relatively happy, but with red spots on fins and skin
• I see holes in the scales, all in rows on the sides of the fish!
• My fish is losing scales in places. I see scales on the bottom.
• Fish with a single patch of scales falling out or missing
• White patches, frayed fin tips, surface posture?
• Fish with mouth rot in a well-doing pond with algae.
• Fish becoming covered with white flecks and growths in winter (With pics)
• Goldfish chasing and picking one another
• How fast will a tail regrow after it's been picked or rotten off?
• Cotton wool disease on the dorsal fins
• The fishes' eyes are starting to bulge out!
• My fish is scratching itself on the pond bottom
• Body and mouth sores, bloody patches
• My goldfish has black patches on it (or changed to black) suddenly!
• Goldfish showing up with welts, or blisters, and some ulcers

Questions about conditions of the water

• My pH is consistently high because of concrete in ornaments or stone grout
• There are black "eggs" in the water! What are these?
• My ph is consistently high and I can't bring it down!
• How often should I be changing water in my pond?

Questions about fish care and husbandry

• People lament about String Algae, is (string) algae bad for fish?
• Do minnows and mosquitofish carry disease?
• Can you feed Koi snails or other live foods?
• How should I feed the fish in wintertime?
• How should I control Heron predation?
• My Goldfish is laying eggs - she lives alone! What can I do?
• How fast can I stock my new pond?

Questions about the filter or water reuse systems

• Is there anything better than an airstone and airpump for aeration?
• How can I tell when my filter is "cycled" or "caught up"?
• Does the mulm trapped in a filter cause background pollution?
• How long does activated carbon last in the system?
• Should I run my UV all year round?
• How long to cycle my filter at different temperatures?
• What's this Barley Straw algae control system all about?

Questions about technology and diagnostics

• Is surgery the only treatment for Egg Impaction? (More)
• What microscope power is best for biopsies?
• How can I measure the salt level in my pond or tank?

Questions about use of medications

• Fish turns pink after injection of NuFlor
• Are injections the only real remedy for mouth rot?
• Should I use salt with all these temperature fluctuations?
• How much salt should I use for treating Anchor Worms?
• Can I use potassium permanganate in cold water during winter?
• How do you know when to re-dose potassium?
• Does salt hurt plants? I need more details
• How toxic is the potassium to pet dogs and cats, once it's in the pond?
• Are water changes necessary after Potassium treatment if I use peroxide?
• Should I use antibiotics like Tetracycline in the pond?

Questions that don't fit in other categories (Miscellany)

• My Orfe are dying!
• How should a person store food? I get conflicting information!
• How can you tell a boy Koi from a girl Koi?
• Koi and goldfish differ by their barbels, how early can you see them?
• How can I get rid of excess Duckweed in the pond?
• What should I know about introducing turtles in my pond?
• Can I use potassium permanganate as a pllant disinfectant?