Goldfish and Tankmates

[AAJ]

I have a 10 gallon freshwater tank with 2 quarter size Goldfish and eight 1 inch Zebra Danios.

My first issue is that of ammonia buildup. I find myself doing a water change several times per week as the levels rise to 0.5 quite quickly. I've taken the advice of our local pet shop and added BioSpira to help speed up the development of the biological filter but it hasn't seemed to help. What should be my maintenance schedule and what activities should I be performing?

Secondly, the pH of our town water is always 7.0 and the tank initially appeared to hold this pH. In the last few weeks, the pH has droped to 6.4 dispite all attempts to hold it at 7.0 I know that Goldfish prefer a pH higher than 7.0. How do I correct this situation? Should I correct this situation?

Thank you for any advice you can offer to rectify this situation.

AJ

 

[ramboy]

well i have to tell you this the tank you have is over stocked which is raising the ammonia and other stuff

 

[Fish Buddy]

You will be over stocked in the future when the goldfish get bigger and I would recommend a tank of at least 30 gallons for just the two of them (they should get at least 8" long).
What kind of filter do you have and what media do you use?

 

[AAJ]

I have one of the new "in-tank" power filter models from the Whisper Line, (specifically the Whisper 10i). Not much room in it for any other media than the Carbon. the Bio filter looks a bit small as well.

 

[Fish Buddy]

I am not framilliar with the Wisper brand...you could try investing in a filter that has a sponge or filterfloss compartment- I find that is really all you need in a tank.
I like Hagen's Aquaclear line (all you would need is a mini)- they are around $20 though...

 

[tank212]

Good filter or not eventually your zebra danios are gonna die from the goldfish waste cause goldfish do get big besides the fact that you are overstocked which adds to the problems. You might want to think about getting another tank or taking back the goldfish if you can or the danios. Just trying to help

 

[AAJ]

I have an extra 5 gallon. Should I move some of the fish into that? If so, Who?

Regarding the filter replacement advice, which do you find are the best. The number of options regarding filter models on the market makes is quite confusing, especially for a beginner. The LFS just want to sell what they stock. I've already purchased more products than I originally intended.

I've heard that Aquaclear has problems not starting after a power failure. Is that true? Also, why do they make these typer of filters with the floss, carbon and bio media when just the sponge type are sufficient?

Thanks again for your advice.

 

[Fish Buddy]

My personal favourite is the Aquaclear. A 10g would need the smallest one available- a mini
I have had my filters not work after I turned them off to clean them but all I do is bank them and they work again.
Each filter media does a different thing. If you have many polutiants in your tank then you sould have carbon, ammorex is a mineral that supposidly removes ammonia. And the filter floss or sponge is a home for the good bacteria. the bacteria breakes down the amonia so...y do you really need the ammorex?

 

[AAJ]

I purchased a carton of AmmoCarb to replace the minute amount of carbon that comes with each filter cartridge for the Wisper 10i. I thought the ammo remover would help with the ammonia problem but no such luck.

 

[Torrean]

ammo remover? Does it remove the ammonia or does it lock it up so that it's no longer harmful. I'm not sure about this but it seems to me that if you remove the ammonia your bacteria will die. Therefore your tank would become dependant on the ammonia remover. Go for a slow fishy cycle or preferably a fishless cycle.

 

[AAJ]

The AmmoCarb is a mixture of carbon particles and resin particles of about the same size. The carton states that the resin is an ammonia remover.

I tried reading up on the a "fishless cycle" issue but the link to this site is not presently working. Are there any other links that you suggest.

 

[Synirr]

The only long-term solution is to rehome some of those fish, the goldies in particular, or get a bigger tank for them. That tank is going to be way too small for those goldies in the long run, and they produce so much waste that they could probably make you ammonia levels high all by themselves, even without the help of the danios.

 

[The-Wolf]

danios should not be kept in a 10 gallon tank.
yes they are small fish, but they are extreamly active
and need lots of swimming space.
also keeping any tropical fish with goldfish is dangerouse
1) because glodfish slime coats are toxic to tropical fish 2)
anything a goldfish can get in its mouth will be food.
so the danios will become lunch, if they don't die earlier, when the goldfish grows.

 

[Fish Buddy]

glodfish slime coats are toxic to tropical fish

I do believe that this is one of those unproven fish myths...
I have also kept goldfish with tropicals and have read of others doing so in tropical fish magazines with out any problems

 

[pica_nuttalli]

glodfish slime coats are toxic to tropical fish

I do believe that this is one of those unproven fish myths...
I have also kept goldfish with tropicals and have read of others doing so in tropical fish magazines with out any problems

oh? what fish and for how long?

not all fish typically sold as 'tropicals' really belong in a tropical set-up. different species also have different needs and sensitivities. every situation is unique; there is no debate however that this particular situation is overcrowded and detrimental to the fish. (er, that sounds a lot harsher than i want it to but i can't think of a better way to put things...)

the best thing you can do AAJ is give away the goldfish to either the LFS or someone capable of housing them properly. then you can start to worry about your danios.