I think you can dose Prime safely up to 5x the normal dosage, that's for emergency situations (I believe it mentions this somewhere on the bottle).

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This website here, mentions about how Prime skews with test results. So I believe when using liquid tests, the idea is to check the colour straight away, as if you leave it too long, Prime will mess around with it. But as the website mentions, their test kit is supposedly the best one XD

Not too sure on KH/GH I'm afraid, I'm still learning about those one's myself!

Here is a guide to aquarium pH

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Hmmm but on the other hand, the fluctuating ph could be due to, too many water changes? Maybe you're not giving the water chance to settle? May I ask why your doing them twice a day?

I would wait and see what the others think as I'm really not sure myself.
It might be worth calling your water company and asking them about the PH, it could be something they're doing to the water that you don't know about?

If his bottom sitting then something's up, but if he looks healthy? Maybe it's just stress? Lucky started to bottom sit once because I took her air stone out of the tank and she also bottom sat when I had her temporarily in a bucket when moving her. So on those occasions I believe it was caused by stress.

Are you using stress coat and prime together now? Not sure if it's okay to do that, maybe one of the others here knows? OR when you say water conditioner's you mean the Stress coat and Stress zyme?

Sorry I'm asking a lot of questions and not really answering anything here XD Your tank is very confusing!
Hopefully one of the others will be along soon to help!

Yup I got the mystery tank 

Yes I added stress coat and enzyme together. But only started adding prime two days ago.  I'm confused too....should I only add prime?

I fed Bertie a pea and he gobbled it up.  So appetite is good.  I think he's stressed something is off and he's not happy.  The darting around has decreased.

I do two small changes....which total 25%. It started that way because I was too nervous to do a big one.  Now I'm too scared because of ph. 

I did a 2 gallon change today because ammonia was .5.  Worried about that rising.

Good news to report!!!! Just retesting water.....nitrates have a orange hue....not yellow but not the .5 range.  Could this possibly a good sign? I need one right now.

Gosh I feel so overwhelmed from this. I keep hoping that this will get easier but it's only getting harder. 

Thanks for words of encouragement. 

I didn't think about.  Learning fast and furious. 

No I haven't done water testing after a water change.  I did yesterday...so I'll add it to my steps. 

Bertie's on the mend today.  He came to the surface for food . Mommy's little piggy is better.

Question for the group....can I add another dose of salt without changing the water?

Thanks Nossie.

I didn't realize about the water conditioners, so I'll cut one out.  Though do I use prime with water changes while the tank is cycling?  Leave out my other API products?  I'm assuming that once the tank has cycled I leave out prime and use ONE water conditioner?

Glad to have guidance about all of this.....it's so confusing. It's like being back in school...lots of studying and getting "tested" when things don't go smoothly.

Will do.

I wish I had the time to start a blog about my goldfish journey.  I never expected to be here at this point.

(music note here) there's a story...of a lovey lady...who was bringing up five lovey dogs...all of them chihuahua...except the youngest was a mutt.

Here's a story...of a fish named Bertie ....who was busy swimming about....he's life at petco was ok...but wanted a home.

Til one day when the lady met Bertie...and they knew they was much more than a hunch...that this little family who somehow survive....that's why we're the 2 legged, 4 legged and 7 finned bunch...

Skwishee
I've already been searching Craig's list for a future big tank.  I figure by the time I see something a couple of months will have passed. 

I'm still impressed with your snail tank.....which has started me thinking. 

I think your brave to do a pond.  I would think outside elements would make this hobby even harder. This indoor stuff is already hard.

Aw thanks Sajacobs, I really like how the snails tank has turned out too

Well Lucky needs to have a pond, I've already stunted the poor thing with my lack of knowledge and so I don't want to keep her in a tank her whole life when I now know better, I am determined to have a pond by next Spring. If I can't, I will find her a pond and re-home her if I have too!

Yes there are a few more things to consider outdoors, but in all honesty apart from the normal aquarium things, it's only the weather and predators. Everything else (to me at least) seems the same. Weekly water changes, regular filter maintenance, etc etc. I already have various idea's in my mind on how to deal with things, so it should all be okay.
Although I must admit, I do have fears something will happen to Lucky in the pond but as long as I take my time to make sure everything's okay, I am hoping she can live a long life and I can finally get her some friends!!

Skwishee
I love your dedication too.  Lucky is very lucky.  One day he'll move up in the world.

I also admire your thoughtful answer on the pond thread. It shows your dedication to get lucky the right home.

Karma to you.

A friend of mine has a large above ground fish pond...the way he set his up is like a cavity wall..that is wrap in fibre-glass , then build a brick course around it

The pond tub I've been looking into, can be left free standing Nossie, so it doesn't have to be buried

Flexible pond liners are the easiest and cheapest way to build a pond, but sadly they're not very moveable XD Which is why I'm considering the pond tub for while I rent places, then when I have a place of my own, I can dig a pond to whatever size I'd like and have soooooo many fish  
Who need's a lawn when you can have a pond!

I'll see if my local library has that book though.... mostly I've sort of day dreamed the ideas in my head and given them some actual thought on how I'd do things, then I asked for some advice from a member on one of the other forums I belong to as he is the forums koi and pond specialist

So with research and a fish magazine that I've recently started to get had a pond article in last month's issue too, so I think I have the basics now, just a case of saving the money up and then getting it done!

That's an interesting way of insulating Scrivens, thanks for the suggestion, the only issue again is that bricks aren't very moveable XD

The jacket idea I had from this kind of product (Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.)
Except mine would be much bigger and with a polycarbonate lid as well, that I had planned, it should be nice and snug At least I hope? XD

I wish I could do it now and see how it is over winter without any fish in it  

I do re call looking at some aquarium books in the large library in the city centre and wanted to throw half of them out of the window as none of them gave correct advice on goldfish XD

I would quite like to bury the pond too, but if I move to somewhere that has say a court yard, then it will have to be free standing, I'm sure I can possibly but some nice fencing around it or something to make it look pretty

My only real concern currently if I build the pond, is cats. This months fish magazine had a little article about protecting ponds from predators and mentioned that cats can get under a fish net but not back out >.<
I do not think my house mate would be to impressed if her cat drowned in my future pond So I'm a little concerned there.... we have a few cats around here, so it's something I need to research as I hadn't really thought about it!

Speaking of metal pond covers.... check these out (Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.)
Oh my goodness are they pretty!!