New Here, Need Help With My Tank

[OwenB86]

Hi everyone

I'm hoping to get a tropical tank later this year but I want to sort out my current tank first.

Here's my tank (sorry for the bad pic)

It's a 29l with a fantail and a moor goldfish, both are about 2" at the moment. Unfortunately I didn't know about cycling until after I'd bought the fish, so I'm having to do a fish in cycle as I don't have anyone I can give them to. I've bought an API water test kit and have been doing 2 or 3 30% water changes a day to keep the ammonia and nitrite below 0.25ppm.

I've recently learned that the goldfish can grow up to 10" and need about 60l each, so my main question is would this tank be ok to keep them in until they grow larger or will I need to get a bigger tank straight away?

Also, the rocks I've used in the tank are sandstone. I read here that some types are harmful, should I remove them?

Last question, my filter was very cheap internal one and I'm not sure if it's up to the job. It's rated at 200L/H but I doubt it comes close to that, if I keep this tank will I need a new filter?

Sorry for all the questions

Owen

 

[Noahs ark6]

Goldfish are very messy, and unltimately very large fish, they will soon outgrow your tank and will die premature deaths if you dont remove them. (give them back to your local fish store). It's reccommended that 150ish litres per goldfish will suffice with a pond being the best option. What i'd do is gut the tank, give it a good clean and start a fresh tropical tank, and do a fishless cycle first (there isn't really any type of goldfish that could comfortably live in thst tank, but some small tropical fish could). If the filter is less than 200lph i would say to get a new one. Pour a bit of vinegar onto a stone, if it fizzes, dont use it, if it doesn't, you can use it, however, as per the link, best not to use limestone.

 

[OwenB86]

Goldfish are very messy, and unltimately very large fish, they will soon outgrow your tank and will die premature deaths if you dont remove them. (give them back to your local fish store). It's reccommended that 150ish litres per goldfish will suffice with a pond being the best option. What i'd do is gut the tank, give it a good clean and start a fresh tropical tank, and do a fishless cycle first (there isn't really any type of goldfish that could comfortably live in thst tank, but some small tropical fish could). If the filter is less than 200lph i would say to get a new one. Pour a bit of vinegar onto a stone, if it fizzes, dont use it, if it doesn't, you can use it, however, as per the link, best not to use limestone.

It's been over 2 weeks since I bought them so I'm not sure if the shop would take them back now I'd be happy to give them away if anyone local wanted them who could look after them better. If I get tropical fish I would probably get a larger tank and use this one as a quarantine tank, and I will try that vinegar test tomorrow

Thanks for the help

Owen

 

[OwenB86]

Ok I did that vinegar test on the rocks and they didn't fizz so hopefully they should be safe, does anyone else have any ideas what I should do with the fish?

 

[fluttermoth]

Fantials and moors can't live outside, they need a minimum of a 120l tank for the two of them to live in, long term. Fish kept in tanks that are too small suffer from stunting which impacts their health and significantly shortens their lifespans, so it's best not to wait until they get too big, as they may never get too big, and by the time you realise they've become stunted, it's too late.

If you decide you don't want to keep them you could try ads in your local supermarket, Freecycle/Gumtree or whatever's active in your area, or you could ring your local fish shops and ask if they'll take them, some do. I think Maidenhead Aquatics will, even if the fish wasn't bought from them.

In the meantime, you'll just have to keep up the water changes; there's nothing I can suggest that will make things any better, apart from that, I'm afraid; unless you know someone else with a tank that would give you some already cycled media to put in your filter? That would help a lot.

 

[OwenB86]

Fantials and moors can't live outside, they need a minimum of a 120l tank for the two of them to live in, long term. Fish kept in tanks that are too small suffer from stunting which impacts their health and significantly shortens their lifespans, so it's best not to wait until they get too big, as they may never get too big, and by the time you realise they've become stunted, it's too late.

If you decide you don't want to keep them you could try ads in your local supermarket, Freecycle/Gumtree or whatever's active in your area, or you could ring your local fish shops and ask if they'll take them, some do. I think Maidenhead Aquatics will, even if the fish wasn't bought from them.

In the meantime, you'll just have to keep up the water changes; there's nothing I can suggest that will make things any better, apart from that, I'm afraid; unless you know someone else with a tank that would give you some already cycled media to put in your filter? That would help a lot.

Unfortunately I don't know anyone who would have any filter media My main problem with giving them away would be I'd want to make sure someone who knew how to look after them got them, chances are if they went on ebay or back to a shop they'd end up with someone just as bad as me.

I was hoping to buy and restore this tank for a tropical setup, would it be large enough for the goldfish? The dimensions are 36" by 12" by 15".

 

[fluttermoth]

It would indeed be large enough for your goldies It's at the low end of big enough, for sure, but it would be fine with decent filtration and plenty of water changes (and you'll be used to those now )

 

[OwenB86]

It would indeed be large enough for your goldies It's at the low end of big enough, for sure, but it would be fine with decent filtration and plenty of water changes (and you'll be used to those now )

Great so would they be ok in this tank for about 1 or 2 months until the new one is bought and cycled? Also what kind of filter should I get for a tank that size? (I'm clueless )

Thanks

Owen

 

[fluttermoth]

If you get that tank, or one the same size, I'd move the fish right away. It would be better for them, and you'd have to do less water changes (as the fish will producing the same amount of ammonia, but there'll be more water to dilute it).

You want the filter with the most space for media; high turn over and flow isn't necessary for fancy goldfish, but you do want plenty of media. Really, for goldies, you'd be best with an external canister filter; something like this; APS external filter, but I appreciate that not everyone can find the space for one (they have to sit under the tank to work properly), so something like this; internal filter would be ok (I have one of those, and it fits a 36x15x12 very nicely)

 

[OwenB86]

If you get that tank, or one the same size, I'd move the fish right away. It would be better for them, and you'd have to do less water changes (as the fish will producing the same amount of ammonia, but there'll be more water to dilute it).

You want the filter with the most space for media; high turn over and flow isn't necessary for fancy goldfish, but you do want plenty of media. Really, for goldies, you'd be best with an external canister filter; something like this; APS external filter, but I appreciate that not everyone can find the space for one (they have to sit under the tank to work properly), so something like this; internal filter would be ok (I have one of those, and it fits a 36x15x12 very nicely)

Space isn't really an issue so I'll probably go with an external filter if they work better, would buying a used one be ok or would it be best to get it new?

 

[Noahs ark6]

If you can find a used one in good condition, go for it

 

[OwenB86]

If you can find a used one in good condition, go for it

Ok I'll probably do that then

Also, I know this might be the wrong section of the forum for this, but what plants would work well in a cold water tank? The one I have at the moment has nearly doubled in size, but I have no idea what it is

 

[fluttermoth]

That plant is Egeria densa, often called by it's old name 'Elodea'. There are quite a lot of plants that will grow in cold water, but be aware your goldies may start to eat some of them when they get bigger (but, hey! It's good for them ); vallis, cabomba, Java fern and anubias all tend to do well; the last two need to be attached to rock or wood rather than planted, but they taste quite bitter (so I'm told, I haven't tried them myself ), so fish usually leave them alone.

 

[OwenB86]

Ok thanks again I'll probably go with a mix of those in the new tank. Would it be best to get a lighting system for the tank or could I get away without one?

Also, I know this is probably a stupid question, but would I be able to put a few of smaller fish in the new tank as well? I read that white cloud mountain minnows can mix well with goldfish.

 

[fluttermoth]

Most of those plants should be ok with the ambient room lighting, although they will grow better with a fluorescent tube fitted.

Adding WCMM is a gamble; the goldies might well eat them as son as they get large enough, but it can work. It's up to you if you want to try it or not.

Variatus platies are another temperate fish that could work, but the fancy goldfish often get out competed for food by 'normal' shaped fish, so again it's a bit of a gamble.

Personally I've always kept goldies in species only tanks.