On Saturday, I did a 25% water change. I did my normal rountine of adding salt and de-chlorinator to the water before adding it back to the tank. As I was adding the water my babies were a little freaked (they never are) and they were on the other side of tankk all huddled together. I gave them their dinner and decided to hang a Brussels sprout leaf in the tank. They started getting very skiddish, and I thought they were just opposed to Brussels Spouts so I removed it. Later as the evening progressed, I noticed the three of them were hiding under a rock structure I have. When I would walk to the tank, they would hide further back instead of how they always come out to say hi and to give me kisses. Finally when they did come out and I approached the tank, they bolted into hiding. I knew something with the water was up, but I didn't know what.

On Sunday around noon, it dawned on me, I normally put in 6 teaspoons of declorinator, but since I did a small change I only put in 3 tsp. I immediately put in 6 tsps. and within 3 hours they were back to normal (or so I thought). Last night, they started in hanging out under the rock structure and they would only come out for food. (okay, they're eating so I know they're going to be okay). they spent most of the evening under the structure and it looked like each one was nudging the others out. Today, they're looking better but they're still staying close to the structure. I'm grateful their alive, and still have their appetite, but I'm wondering if I've caused any permanent damage by exposing them to the small amount of chlorine.

Oh yeah, there was no labored breathing, no discoloration, just them acting out of the norm.

Glad they are doing better Remember to add the exact amount of water conditioner because as Minde said too much can be dangerous too! I actually read that water conditioner removes oxygen from the water for a little bit, so if you add to muh you could suffocate your fish. It happened to a person on another thread!

May I ask why you are adding salt to the tank?

Salt isn't necessary to add to the tank unless you're treating sick fish. Goldfish aren't brackish water fishes so they're not "designed" to live in that kind of water.
Did you test the parameters at all when you noticed that they're acting strange?

I read that you should add salt every  time you do a water change. I have got to tell you, there is so much conflicting information out there regarding the care of fish. It's like I don't know who and what to believe anymore.

I think you would be safe listening to US, because we have had all that load of conflicting info flushing on us too!
So we know what works and what doesn't through experience

But really, go test the water now, and post the numerical results.

Hana: It can hurt the fish  Read what I said but that was probably only true for vey sensitive fish, not goldies.

And the point Hanna made about the build up of salt is very important! This is why people who own salt water tanks have a little thing in their tank to constantly measure the salinity of the water. You probably have a horrible build up of salt in your tank 

Just to let everyone know, SOME water condtioners and medications, additives, what-not CONTAIN SALT.  sO READ YOUR INGREDIENTS aLWAYS!!!  BEFORE dumping it in your tank!!!!

Yeah 5 times more is safe and it has been made safe but what about ten times more? If you catch my drift  It just happened to another person on another forum so I'm just re-telling the story and there fish did suffocate because they added to much water conditioner. Sure there is safer ones then others but to overdose on any could be bad and obviously adding 5 times more with prime is not overdosing

Minde, thanks for that I didn't know.

Haha in this case? What do you mean by that? 

Yeah I forget the actual specifics of the story  I don't think they added that much more, just a tiny bit more and they owned sensitive fish and they died.

I dunno, as we've learnt from this forum people do some very st*pid things 

Well, were talking about PRIME which is a beneficial bacteria booster.
That's different.  However, adding too much water condtioner can deplete the dissolved oxygen in the tank.
You should only add the amount for the water you are replacing in the tank.  I guess a tsp or more wouldn't hurt but more than that your fish might show signs of stress because of depleted oxygen.

I must agree that the level of common sense can sway out there. Some believe that more is better I don't know why. That being said, I had no idea that too much water conditioner could deplete the dissolved O₂ as I have never seen any mention of it on the bottles. Common sense dictates that one doesn't overdo it. And often with conditioners, it is hard to get exact measurements when adding it to new water particularly if the amount is not greater than 10 gallons. I have used a sterile syringe (an extra one never used for medicine) that I got when treating one of my birds from the vet. It has much smaller measurements on it and I can adjust as closely as possible how much conditioner goes in.

Learn something new everyday thankies ladies

I use these small measuring cups, they can contain about 25ml of liquid, so I put the appropriate dose into every single one of the 16-17 buckets of fresh water I add to the tank xD
Those cups are used at mom's work (she's a nurse) to keep medication in, so she sometimes grabs a few of them for the fish since the cups are thrown away right after use anyway, why not save a few??

Most products come with a measuring cap.  At least the ones I use do.
I don't know what Prime and Stability are I never used the products.

Here they are, I hope the info may help other members too.

How awful Pappy, sorry to hear this happened Hugs ♥