3 Goldfish 1 tank = lots of smell and cloudy water?

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a 10gallon tank (this is temporary!) that I have 3 goldfish in, a black moor & two pearlscales. They seem to be pretty lively, they don't act ill at all, but their water really worries me. It's quite cloudy and lately its begun to make my room stink. I've only had them for about 2 weeks now, there are 3 fake plants in there, with about an inch of gravel. I have a filter that was made for a 20gal tank along with a aeration tube. I've NOT tested the water (bad owner I know, I'm going to petsmart tomorrow), and I've read a lot online, so I've even done 2 30% water changes in the last 3 days. I kept the filter untouched, theres not much sediment or waste at all. Sorry to ramble, I just wanted to give you as much information as possible so I can help my fishies & my stinky cloudy water!

ANSWER: Hey Kerry,
I think your problem here is just the tank is new and is still cycling. Stinky water is definitely not a good sign, it could be ammonia buildup and pollution. With goldfish, only large water changes will work when there is a pollution problem. Small water changes like 30% often don't make a dent because goldfish are such messy fish anyway. I think with your situation, you'd have to do more than 50 to maybe even 90%. Draining the water just down to their dorsal fins or leaving just enough water to keep them comfortable. It won't hurt them and will immediately correct a current water quality problem. Testing the water would be good too. But for now just do the large water changes over several days. The tank's probably going to take a good up to 4-6 weeks to cycle. You can try buying bacterial additives to help the tank along. But nothing will help it more than water changes.

That's about the best advice I can give, keep up on those water changes!
With time, it will clear and the tank will get cycled and everything will be fine again.

I really hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Karen~

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, every other day water changes of 60% to 90% has kept it clean and smell- free, but now i have a NEW problem! One of my pearlscales shows no sign of illness but he has a black spot on him up near his dorsal fin (but not on it). To make things more...Odd, my bottom-feeder algae fish is following that pearlscale around, even trying to suck on him! It worries me, so if you have any answers, please let me know!
Thanks again,
Kerry
ANSWER: Hi Kerry, I'm glad to hear the water changes have helped!
The black spot on your Pearscale may be ammonia burn. Or it may be color change. Just keep a close watch it and make sure it doesn't seem to progress. It's likely nothing to cause alarm though.

There is a species of Algae eater that is well-known for the behavior you described. It's called the Chinese Algae eater, I'm not sure if that's what algae eater you have but you can look at this link for help.
http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_Gyrinocheilus_aymonieri.php

These can be terrible fish to have with broad bodied and slow-moving fish like goldfish. You'd be best to take the Algae eater out and rehome him (petstore may take him) Otherwise, I've heard some pretty bad horror stories about Chinese Algae eaters (and plecos also) rasping all the skin off of goldfish and eventually killing them. They also usually do most of this at night when the goldfish are especially vunerable. You better take action now before something bad happens.

I really hope this helps!
Best of luck as always,
Karen~

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Followed that link, mine looks similar, only orange/yellow colored and quite small. I've had this little fish for 2 weeks and hes never gone after the pearlscales before. Any reason its only going after that one in particular? Also, I just snagged the "black mark" one and compared him to my other pearlscale, and it appears his "pearls" are almost gone. My other guy is bumpy, pearly & fine! Sorry, I'm just in distress (it being so late and all) about leaving that algae fish in the tank with him another night. Again, thanks
ANSWER: Hi Kerry,
Could the algae eater not be getting enough food in this tank so his last resort is to scrape the slime coating off other fish? This is a high possibility. Make sure the little algae eater is provided with enough food. I wonder if your algae eater is in fact a "gold" chinese algae eater. A quick google image search for "Gold chinese algae eater" will help you identify him...

Try to work on figuring out about rehoming the algae eater and make sure your fish are in ammonia-free water at all times. Don't worry, all you can do is try your best!

Best wishes,
Karen~

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Karen,
Just wanted to let you know, yes he is a gold chinese algae eater. I know its not a food issue because i have algae thins/wafers I've been putting in the tank, and my other "sucker fish" (a hypostomus) is perfectly happy. I have rehoused that golden, no offense to his breed but after reading up on it I dont trust him with my pearlscales. I really hate it when people recommend things to "newbies" like myself and it's totally the WRONG thing to do! But thanks again for all of your help, you're the best. Clean, fresh smelling water, 0.00ppm ammonia levels, great nitrate/nitrate levels & PH levels now. Few more weeks and my tank will be cycled and life with my fishies (thanks to you) should be much less stressful!
Thanks bunches,
Kerry

Answer
Kerry,
I'm glad you got to rehome the CAE (chinese algae eater). These fish are not really good tankmates for any kind of fish, not just goldfish. I still don't know why people recommend them so much and dozens are sold at local petstores as well. It's worse that nobody warns that these algae eaters will just become more territorial and aggressive as they get older.

I'm really glad to help, you're welcome for everything! If you have anymore questions you can always feel free to write me again!
Karen~