My fish tank pump is loud and making bubbles. Is my fish safe?

Thanks for reaching out about your fish and including photos. Water quality needs to be checked (pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) and corrected. Often high protein lead to increased surface tension of the water and the bubbles accumulating. This can also damage the skin and fins. Good luck.

Check the temperature and make sure the water is not too hot (heater defective?), check the pH and also the hardness and make sure they are within the parameters needed for your fish. Change 1/3 of the tank's water. Check the filter and make sure it is not plugged up with a lot of food and poop. Rinse the filter in warm water (same temperature as the water in the tank) so you do not kill off the good bacteria which keep the water clean. Check Nitrite(toxic) and nitrate (not toxic) levels. All this should help you ensure the perfect environment for your fish. If you do not have way to oxygenate the water you may want to extend the return pipe of your filter to the surface or above the surface of the water in order to make it integrate oxygen from the air.

Goldfish are surface breathers so seeing them up at the top is not unusual. They are also very dirty fish, so I recommend getting a small pump for aeration and doing a partial water change. There is usually a period of cloudy water after establishing a new fish tank until the bacterial balance is established and stabilized in the tank. I also recommend getting a siphon--type tank cleaner so you can use it to clean the gravel as you remove some of the water. It acts as a vacuum to pull out all the fish poo that settles to the bottom, and the water you remove from the tank is a great thing to water any plants you have with, as it also fertilizes them. Remove no more than half of the tank's water and replace it with clean fresh water that has had the correct amount of water conditioner for the volume you're adding.

Begin by submitting a water sample for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for that. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. Lack of oxygenation could be the cause of it. If water quality is good and there are no major imbalances, Bubbles should examined to look for any sign of bacterial/fungal infection and eventually water should be treated. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Im sorry for the loss of your fish. It could be, but without an exam it is difficult to say definitively. Some fungal or bacterial infections are contagious. Monitor the other fish for similar symptoms. Maintain pristine water quality and consider an "all-in-one" treatment if necessary. You can find these treatments in the aquarium section of the local Petco. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.

Remove them or provide more cover (plants and hides) for the other fish to hide or escape. When fish hang near the top, it is usually due to low oxygen levels, low water temperature or improper water chemistry. It could be related to the different filter or the water change. Confirm proper water temp and use a test kit to check water chemistry. Ammonia and nitrites should be at 0 ppm (parts per million) and nitrates should be 40 ppm or less. Monitor chemistry closely until you know how the new filter operates. Make sure it is rated for the size tank you have to ensure adequate filtration. Correct imbalances using chemical treatment and additional partial water changes using aged/conditioned water.

Thanks for reaching out about Nemo. Have you tested water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? Having difficulty breathing is a common cause for raising to the surface to breath. Gills can be damaged by poor water quality, disease (parasites, bacteria, viruses), toxins and more, so determining a diagnosis will help with a treatment plan. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Correct water quality, provide more oxygen via an airstone. Good luck.