I Think I May Have Too Many Fish In My 20L Tank-Please Help!

[pandamonium86]

hi all

i recently bought a 20l tank and 4 fish (1 black moor, 1 fantail goldfish and 2 fantails) at the recommendation of the acquatics guy at my local garden centre, but having done some reading up online, i am now worried that i have too many fish in my tank. could any more experienced fish owners please let me know your thoughts?

Im worried that i need to act soon if i need to buy a new tank as i dont want to lose any of my fish (I am attached to them already- they are such characters!)- bearing in mind the two different types should i upgrade to another 20l and split the pairs or upgrade to a 40l?

Will they be ok for a few days until i can sort this? or is there an urgency to the situation as im worried about them now. they appear perfectly happy and healthy and they have been in the tank 5 days (it was set up 14 days prior to this).

please let me know any advise from more experienced fish owners,

thanks,

 

[dappled]

20L or 20G?

Because even a 40L (litres) is tiny for a goldfish. whereas 40G (gallons) would be a good amount of room for them, but 50G would be even better.

 

[micko]

What I've read is conflicting in actual tank sizes. I've read some posts on various sites saying one goldfish/black moor/fancy goldfish per 10-50gallon and an extra 10 for every other one after that.
Regardless of this, you definitely need a much bigger tank. I would suggest doing this ASAP.

 

[cynic]

hi all

i recently bought a 20l tank and 4 fish (1 black moor, 1 fantail goldfish and 2 fantails) at the recommendation of the acquatics guy at my local garden centre, but having done some reading up online, i am now worried that i have too many fish in my tank. could any more experienced fish owners please let me know your thoughts?

Im worried that i need to act soon if i need to buy a new tank as i dont want to lose any of my fish (I am attached to them already- they are such characters!)- bearing in mind the two different types should i upgrade to another 20l and split the pairs or upgrade to a 40l?

Will they be ok for a few days until i can sort this? or is there an urgency to the situation as im worried about them now. they appear perfectly happy and healthy and they have been in the tank 5 days (it was set up 14 days prior to this).

please let me know any advise from more experienced fish owners,

thanks,

OOOps, never trust the LFS.

I have a 60x18x15 (inches) and that is big enough for what you have, 230litres of water including landscape and sand. Total volume of 260 something litres. Don't forget these are relatives of the carp and everybody knows the size some of those can reach.

Sorry..

 

[pandamonium86]

Hi there,

20l unfortunately not 20 gallons. i have bought a bigger tank today although i am waiting for delivery next week. i

 

[cynic]

With the small tank you will have to do lots of water changes, you will need to test regularily, like twice a week and keep an eye on the levels as they could easily shoot up in that amount of water..

Keep your gravel religeously clean too, poop in gravel can reach critical mass and start generating a lot of toxins aside from the amonia.

Goldies give off a hormone and depending how strong it is in the water that controls the growth of the fish, problem being if the growth is limited severly it plays havoc with their internals.

Those goldies of yours can be expected to reach at least 20cm in good conditions.

I'm not an expert, just found myself in much the same position a while back. Now have just the one goldie left as the other is now living the high life in a pond.

As to the ph, dunno. Unless your tap water is off? What is the general tonic? All i have ever used is tapsafe...

 

[pandamonium86]

general tonic is apparently used for reducing the levels of paracites and fungus and bacteria to reduce the likelihood of disease outbreaks in tanks. ya thats true about the small tank. im looking forward to the bigger one arriving and setting that up.aww thats cute about the one in the pond. my parents did suggest putting some of my 4 fish in their pond, but its a 2 hour drive and also its so cold out this time of year i just dont think that would be wise. hopefully the bigger tank will sort out all my problems. thanks for all the advise guys. i will double check ph in a few days again.

 

[pandamonium86]

the fish are in their new bigger tank now- and on the whole seem much happier- it is certainly easier to keep clean now and they have lots of fun with the toys and the air stone.happy fish!happy days!