Newbie Goldfish Issues

Question
Ok, so this question is actually several questions so forgive me for that. Also, I know that we (my husband and I) have done things the wrong way but we are trying our hardest to make it right so don't think too badly of us. I will try to make this as clear as I can.

First, the setup. I have a 30 gallon bow front tank with three goldfish-a Black Moor and a Fantail (both less than 2.5 inches) and an Oranda (probably around 5 inches. The tank has a decent sized airstone, an aerating ornament, and a filter made for a 45 gallon tank and thats all atm.

Ok, now the background, which is the troublesome part. Originally we had three goldfish-the fantail and the moor plus a tiny calico fantail- in a five gallon tank. After about a week I learned that that was NOT a good idea and rushed to get the bigger tank and was given the Oranda as a gift from my husband. That's when we made rookie mistake number two and immediately put all four fish into the brand spanking new tank after conditioning the water. The fish swam around for a few hours then all of them sank to one corner and just sat on the bottom. The next day (yesterday) they were swimming around fine but by afternoon the calico had died.

Now the questions.
1. The water in the tank (which was previously crystal clear) has gone terribly foggy. What can we do to correct it and is it extremely harmful?

2. The two smaller fish appear to have something wrong with them-they look almost fuzzy and have tiny string like things occasionally coming off of their fins and are not really swimming around much. The same string like things can be seen in the gravel. We took one of the fish to a pet store and it was diagnosed with ich. My question is that I thought that ich was white spots on a fish-does it usually manifest this way? and does that diagnosis account for the threads on the gravel as well? Also, could it have developed that quickly? Literally overnight? We have already begun treating the fish for ich (with the ich medicine and removing the carbon filter) but I am worried that I am treating the wrong disease and will not only loose my little fish but will loose my beautiful oranda who is only beginning to show the same symptom and has at the last feeding failed to eat.

3. My fish occasionally appear to be gasping underwater. They are opening their mouths very wide over and over almost as if they are eating though there is no food in the water. Is there not enough oxygen in the water or is that another complication of the sickness?

4. I know now that it was a terrible idea to put the fish in the tank before it cycled and am planning on monitoring the levels in the tank like a hawk for the next couple of months. We had the water tested when we brought the fish in and was told that all was fine except for ph which we raised by .2 today and will do another .2 tomorrow to get it right. What should I be checking for in the coming weeks? What should I expect? How can I get my fish through the cycling period if they manage to make it through this sickness? Any tips on getting the tank to successfully and quickly cycle?

Ok, I think that that is all of the concerns. Sorry there are so many, but I (obviously) have no clue what I'm doing but am trying to learn. I will greatly appreciate your help!

Answer
Hi there,  You have a lot of trouble with your tank but fortunately there are solutions to each problem and with the right care, your goldfish can recover fully.

Question 1. Answer-
Foggy water is very common in newly setup aquariums. It is due to a bacterial bloom from a sudden nutrient overbalance from the goldfish addition. Over time as your aquarium establishes, the bacteria will settle and the water will clear. *It's not necessary to use any water clarifying chemicals but only do water changes to help with the pollution.

Question 2. Answer-
Definitely doesn't sound like ich. It is most likely a fungal infection, which can develop in fish that are stressed or subject to poor water conditions. You can read about it more here-

http://thegab.org/Articles/DiagnosisChart.html#Fuzz

*My treatment methods for ich are quite different from most and even go against medication directions but it works well and I've never lost a fish from it-

~Medication used is- Fungus Clear made by jungle brand
Treatment involves-
*Daily 50% water changes and gravel vacuuming (which are needed anyway for the water quality issues associated with an uncycled tank)

*Redose fungus clear after each water change

*Aquarium salt (not vital but it helps discourage fungus...predissolve it first)

*Continue treatment for as long as symptoms last

Question 3. Answer-
Gasping like that is likely due to water pollution and/or stress from the sickness. Starting a treatment for the poor fellas should help remove some of the stress these fish are under. I doubt it is due to lack of oxygen.

Question 4. Answer-
Definitely don't bother with the pH at this point. It is really not necessary and puts more stress on the fish than if you just left it at its natural level due to the fluctuations. It is not harmful for the pH to be outside the normal range set for goldfish. There really is no rule as long as extremes are avoided. Anything from 7.0-8.0 is fine.

I think your main focus is to get your goldfish better of their fungal infection. The fungal treatment regimen I listed will also help get them through the cycling process, because otherwise I'd still advise large water changes to help them through. Medication usage will probably slow the cycle and you may have to wait until your fish are completely better. Then do water changes to get rid of the medicine and check your water regularly to make sure the levels are safe and the tank will begin cycling then. Water changes are your best defense against dangerous ammonia.

Best of luck and I hope this helps!!!!
Karen~