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Bump, I am curous as to the best time of year and minimum size goldfish need to be also. As I have mentioned before I am going to have to construct a pond by spring so this is something I would like to know.

If the fish do not seem ill or irritated in any way I would suggest that they are just male fish. Male goldfish get small while dots on their gill plates and down the front of their pectoral fins when they are sexually mature. If they have spots anywhere else, seem irritated, swim eratically...

Those readings are not OK. Your tank is not cycled yet. Amonia needs to be 0.0 There are threads on fish in cycling, please read them. The longer your fish stay in water that is not right the longer you risk sudden deaths, other illnesses and generally unhappy fish. Good luck.

Were you planning on building a much larger pond in the future for when the goldfish reach adolescence? They can grow to a foot long each (if you are talking about the standard shaped ones, fancy goldfish should not be kept outdoors to my knowledge). And yes, goldfish are heavy waste...

Do you have a test kit for the water quality? The fishes reduced apetite could be due to poor water quality. If the filter is spending periods of time turned off I'm not sure how that will affect the bacteria.

I would have thought the filter would be a must but that really is small, what were you thinking of keeping in there?

When checking the new post on this thread I just realiesed I'm a total numpty, my tank is 48" x 12" x 18" not 42"... So it is bigger than I wrote. They stll need the pong though. I guess that just means it is a little less urgent than I first thought. :) An thank you for the compliment. :)

I'm guessing cycling with a pond is much the same as cycling with a tank just on a larger scale. I've got the master test kit so checking the water quality will not be an issue. My water quality in my tank has been perfect for a long time other than slight ph flutuations occasionally. The...

I didn't mean the actual filters, I meant the sponge type stuff in them, as a temporary measure it can be transfered straight into the pond filter to speed up bacteria growth in the whatever stuff they are typically filled with. Sorry if I didn't word that well enough before.

In an ideal world I would have the time, money and space to have a huge natural looking pond, but practically speaking that is not going to be possible. I think a formal pond can still look just as nice. To begin with so long as it is safe for the fish and the kids I don't care what it looks...

Yes, it will have to have raised sides as I have 2 young children. I love my fish but no way could I risk one of them falling in. I intend to have something over the top to prevent that but still, I'd rather not risk having something too low to the ground just incase. I was hoping for...

I don't think practically I have space for something 10 foot by 8 foot. Depth wise I am not bothered, I wouldn't even mind going deeper than that, if that is possible/practical. If I have to rehome a few of my fish I will. Since most of them are still very small I think I shall build...

OK, the pond must be built, but money is a factor so initially I am not bothered what it loos like or where it goes exactly either. I have never built a pond before and money is tight so I need to know where the best place to look for materials, filters etc,... is. Appearence wise I can fiddle...

Butterfly plecs are a cold water plec, they need very good quality water, they grow to about 2.5 inches max. Their only draw back is the slightest change in ph or lowered quality and they keel straight over. I've had a couple, they do a lovely little 'dance' up the side of the tank eating the...

I think I might have made my mind up about the 2 foot... I would like just glow light tetras, with dark, maybe black gravel, and a black backing. Then a handfull of white gravel scattered across the bottom, pale, or white stone ornaments and some small live plants, with a bright green colour...

Thank you, your tank looks beautifull. I have no idea what the plants I've got in mine are even called! I just buy the ones the fish like the taste of from previous experience! LOL. I'm looking fiorward to thins actually now. I was nervous, but I'm sure everything will work out, it usually...

I'm guessing from what I've read that tropicals wouldn't have such an apetite for plants like my goldfish? I put a couple of live pot plants in there for them to eat rather than Decoration. Obviously if I go down the tropical route it will be to see fish not plants, but would I be able to have...

I might be barking up the wrong tree here, but did you buy a filter and heater with the tank? Or did it already have them? If not then you also need to get those as soon as possible.

Well, my goldies are going in a pond some time in the next 12 months, but I don't know what I am going to do with the 4 foot... The 2 foot I want in my bedroom. Ideas for the 4 foot once the goldies have been re-housed will also be much apreciated.

Honestly, my plans so far have been: 1) Build a pond, which I have and idea of how to do but not got a clue when it comes to filtration, what materials I'll use or anything like that. That was the first reason for joining, as I will need advice on how big it will need to be, I'm hoping to have...

Phew, just did the calculation thing suggested and although close it doesn't appear over stocked. :) They are all standard fish, the fancy ones have never apealed to me particularly. I am fond of the classic 'fish shaped' fish. That tank has been running with that exact set up for 4 years at...

OK, my fish now think I'm insane, I just did my best to guestimate their sizes better by getting them to play then slapping a ruler on the side of the tank LOL These are the best I could guess including tail fins Doctor Zoidberg 15cm Ra-Ra 14cm Winkle 12cm Trendier 10cm Finegan 9cm Wee-Willie...

There are 9 fish. Erm, litres wise I have to work it out every time, I can never remember. I know the tank is 42" x 18" x 12" but I don't have my little conversion chart thing up here... The fish also vary in size a lot. Just going to work them all out. I am in the planning stages of...

Thank you. That picture was taken a little while ago but it's the only one that shows the full tank. Heres a few more pics of my fish though. I just took them tonight. They are blurry unfortuately but then fish are not exactly famed for staying still while you take a photo... :) Ra-Ra, my...

I know I am a bit of a newbie round here but I've kept coldwater fish for over 6 years now. I started knowing nothing other than 'what the guy in the pet shop said' which I now realise is all about him making profit and nothing to do with keeping happy healthy fish... I know from personal...

Hi there, I have been keeping cold water fish for over 6 years now and have a 4 foot tank dominating my kitchen which I love. I think I will always be one of the few cold water fanatics at heart but I recently decided I would like to give it a bash with a smallish tropical set up. Obviously...

Hi, I am new to the forums and thought I'd introduce myself. I've been keeping coldwater fish for about 6 and a half years now. I have learnt a lot through trial and error I am afraid to say, but one of my goldfish, Ra-Ra I have had for over 5 and a half years now :) This is me and my fish