Help! Need tips on goldfish!

[RokuShabu]

I just bought a goldfish tank and filter since my goldfish has been living in a gallon container for 8 months *Im a child, couldnt get enough money* I just need anwsers on these questions:

1) Does a filter clean out all the fish waste, if not, how do i clean the tank?

2) What other equipment should i buy for the fish?

3) What's cycling and how long is it? How should i introduce my fish to cycling?

4) Should i buy another goldie for a companion for one lone goldfish?

[Bettachris]

well.... a single goldfish is too much fish for any tank under 75 gallons.

it might be hard to imagine,
-but koi are the largest of all goldfish reaching over 36 inches.
-common feeder fish are the second largest goldfish out there, over 24 inches given u dont stunt them and kill them faster.
-fancy goldfish are smaller, but will reach about 12 inches.

so really goldfish are not good for new fishkeepers, just because of lack of education.

With a filter, it really depends on what type it is, most filters will not be able to filter a goldfish tank, as goldfish are really messy fish.


just because u have a filter, doesn't mean that u dont have to change the water. weekly water changes are a must for goldfish or any fish.

u need to tell us the type of filter.
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cycling is the process of adding amonnia to a tank, since it is not a community tank u really dont need to cycle.

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leave the goldfish by himself, u really aren't fit to take care of most fish even more so with goldfish, b/c lack of resoruces. so i wouldn't get anymore goldfish.

[RokuShabu]

My filter is an aquaclear power filter, got it for like...17.50? My parent's friends recommended it so i got it.

[RokuShabu]

Does that also mean i dont have to wait 4-6 weeks and can just put my goldfish in the tank now?

[Bettachris]

no b/c u really dont need to cycle a goldfish in a tank as it isn't a community tank, also goldfish tend to be more hardy than most fishes.

also u don need to cycle, b/c u won't be adding any other fishes to the tank.


sounds likea HOB filter, or hang on back filter. change the cartige every week and change the water every week.

[Amber23]

What size is your new tank? Also what type of goldfish do you have?

I do not agree that you need a 75 gallon tank for just one goldfish but you will need a large tank.

[Bettachris]

in fishkeeping a bigger tank size is always better, and easier to take care of.

with goldfish since they are messy for the best conditions it is important to give no less than a 75 b/c of the waste produced and prue size. certainly a 75 is not large, my pond is over 2000 gallons, while it holds more than 1 goldfish the potiental size of these fishes is a great one.

[curtis20]

10 character

[RokuShabu]

My new tank is 19.5 in length and 10 in wide. I filled it about half way since i couldnt carry it to the place i wanted it to be. I dont know how many gallons that is, but if anyone could tell me if the water is les than required, i'll fill it up more or less. My goldfish is a common one.

[curtis20]

You have yourself a 10 gallon tank, unless it is taller then 1 foot and a half high?

[RokuShabu]

the tank is 1 foot, and i filled it up with more awter last night, at least 75-85% of the tank is filled with water and the filter is cleaning it since last night.

[Bettachris]

certainly u now have a stocking problem. like i stated b4, common feeder fishes are the second largest goldfish out there. while u can keep them small, this is a process called stunting. which the fishes health will decrease, life span decrease, and the size will stay small. this is what u are looking at, when stocking a common goldfish in a 10 gallon.

water conditions is going to be a big issue. again goldfish are messy and a common goldfish will produce alot of waste and for a small 10 gallon it will become an issue..fast.. so a great filter and strict weekly water changes are a must.

i would consider upgrading asap, again really a 75 isn't that big and u can house a goldfish in there for about 2-3 years b4 it would need to be moved again, and dont forget if u decide to contuine with ur fishkeeping career than a bigger tank is always easier, and all around better.

[cstrohmeyer]

Besides your HOB filter I would recommend an extra filter for bio filtration, as HOB are good mechanical & chemical filters but poor bio filters (everytime you change the cartridge you loose beneficial bacteria). A sponge filter costs only $4.99 & up and are excellent bio filters.
A good quality food will help with less polluting waste (Do NOT feed TetraFin).
Do Partial water changes regularly.
For more info about water quality, please read this blog:
http://aquariumwater.blogspot.com/

Carl
Aquarium Design and Maintenance since 1978
http://americanaquariumproducts.com/...mProducts.html

[Goldfishlove]

I think goldfish are companion. I raised 2 of them together and they like each other. Its up to you if you want to do it or not. You dont have to take anyone's advise. I have 4 fancy goldfish now. 2 are babies and there in a 55 gallon tank. But I will tell you they get dirty fast. I have to clean my tank once a week. I put them in a big bucket and take all the water out and clean the rocks and plants. But If you really want to get another goldfish I say go ahead. But thats up to you.

[Bettachris]

it may alsao be hard to picture, but goldfish tend to be aggressive. i have my own experience in testing aggression in goldfish as well as other fish keepers.

if u have a goldfish for years and it has established it's territory, than adding a smaller goldfish will result in a threat, the first goldfish will usually chase the others and eat their fins till they can swim(much like how a red belly pirhana will attack a goldfish)


while it usually doesn't happen it is possible.

again really it doesn't make sence to house more fishes in a tank than it can handle. but it is ur human right, but fish rights -the fish should have enough room to grow and not be stunted.

[Goldfishlove]

well I have never had a problem with my 2 big goldfish. they never have been aggressive towards each other. maybe they were not babies when you put them in the tank. My 2 were rasied together. And yes it is up to Rokushabu. If they want to get another goldfish then let them and dont make such a big deal out of it. I think its kind of ridiculous just to put one goldfish in a 75 gallon tank when you could have more than one. That is just wasting money on fish tank stuff. But that is just my opinon , its your choice on what you want to do.

[Bettachris]

yea thats what i meant, the goldfish weren't raised together, kinda like if u had a house to ur self for many years, and another body just showed up.

this is an issue of fish rights not human rights which u are comparing it to. yes human rights u can get anything u want, but it wont work. with fish rights, stunting is not good and it will occur,

please tell about this as it never meant any sence, why do people feel bad and make a big deal about other animals like dogs and cats when they aren't taken care of right or housed right, but when it comes with fish people dont care about their needs?

o thats right, it is only a fish and i guess it is just add water and fish.... unfort that is a shame as fishes are more complicated than that, and it is also a shame when people just dont know.