How To Keep A Goldfish Tank Clean?

[garf]

Hi guys,
I need some advice on how to keep a goldfish tank clean. I have a small glass tank that is about 35 x 22 x 27 (cm), and I'm just using a simple internal filter (some kinda white wool inside) with air coming in from a small external pump.

Inside the tank are 10 small goldfish.

I intend to have a slightly bigger tank (about 50cm long) and add a pair of small lionheads.

What kind of filter system should I go for, without spending too much, say less than $200? I just want to keep the water clean for as long as possible so that I only need to change water maybe once a month or once every 2 months.

[wombat1100]

G'day Garf,
if you intend on getting a bigger tank you need to get a filter big enough to suit the size tank you get.
For a 60cm tank I would use a external canister filter of about 1000 litre per hour, I have a 90cm tank and i use a 1200lt filter.
I purchased mine from ebay but I'm sure your LFS has a good range to choose from.
REGARDLESS you need to be changing 25% of your water per month or 10% per week is a even better idea.
This stops the build up of all the minerals and metals etc in the water that you would get if you just "topped up" your tank, the water evaporates but the nasties stay in the tank if you just top up and get more and more concentrated leading to fish losses.
Hope this helps, just keep posting questions and I'm sure they will be answered
Dazz

[sharkybubba]

What kind of filter system should I go for, without spending too much, say less than $200? I just want to keep the water clean for as long as possible so that I only need to change water maybe once a month or once every 2 months.
[/quote]


hey garf,

i recently just departed with my goldy however i had an undergravel filter in a 60 litre tank (2 ft) run off an outside pump, which i think keeps the water crystal clear however Dazz is right in that you will need to do frequent water changes despite what filter you use. also with an undergravel filter it is wise to invest in a vacuum (found in all aquariums) to ensure you get all the muck out from under the stones. another thing you'll find with goldfish is that they are quite messy, with both their food and the end result of eating :wink: , so cleaning regulalry will probably become a must-otherwise your water will start to smell :ohmy: . my undergravel filter set up was cheap as chips and would be quite sufficeint for your goldys! when you eventually do invest the aquarium will most likely give you pointers on good brands and what not for your pumps. good luck!

[garf]

Hey guys, thanks for the advice! :)

For the small current tank (35cm in length), suppose I use an internal cannister filter only, would the aeration be enough? Or I'd know the air is not enough when the fish keep coming up to the surface?

[sharkybubba]

Hey guys, thanks for the advice! :)

For the small current tank (35cm in length), suppose I use an internal cannister filter only, would the aeration be enough? Or I'd know the air is not enough when the fish keep coming up to the surface?[/b]

Hey garf,

yes it would be great for the circulation of the water but try not to rely to heavily on filters for supplying oxygen, the best way to put oxygen into your water is through frequent water changes, taking out 25% and adding some fresh water is a great way to give the goldys some oxygen. if your going all out and getting a light, there are some great plants out there that will do this for you too, but as a good option- fresh water! (make sure you invest in some water conditoner!) :biggrin:

[garf]

Hey Sharky, thanks for that!
I'd definitely add some plants in. But they're usually so expensive, and die quickly. So I suppose it was the lighting? I do put the roots into the gravel, but they usually just float up after a few days and die.

About the "water conditioner", is that those anti-chlorine stuff that I see at the aquarium shops?

[sharkybubba]

I'd definitely add some plants in. But they're usually so expensive, and die quickly. So I suppose it was the lighting? I do put the roots into the gravel, but they usually just float up after a few days and die.

About the "water conditioner", is that those anti-chlorine stuff that I see at the aquarium shops?[/b]

Water cond.- yes thats the stuff, really important for all tanks, so make sure you invest! (not that its expensive) most places will recommend a good brand to you as there are some shonky types out there!

also with the plants, i bought myself plant weights to hold them down, however i did recently stop that as it does constrict the plants roots and can end up killing them faster, but they are still an option.
-most plants will die quick without a light as it is their main source of life! ive also been recently told on here about special plant soil you can get, which was posted up by sloory, so if you were really keen on growing your plants this stuff may also help!

You can get ADA aqua soil for about $60 at Boronia aquarium. i find it awsome for the plants![/b]

:biggrin:

[sharkybubba]

i thought i'd better add that with the plant weights there are a few varieties- the most common being one that sort of looks like a hair pin (i was told these can be the most damaging!). the ones i was lucky enough to snag were rubber disks which dont think are as bad so if you find them they could be an option! the plants stems go through the cross in the middle, the outer circle has some sort of weigitng to hold it down once you have buried under the stones!

(btw, it was originally white :blush: )

[garf]

thanks sharky. ok one more question.. if i get the light, for how long should i keep it on each day/night?

[joz]

Hi guys! :)

With regards to oxygenating your tank.As a slight rule of thumb a lot comes down to surface area of the tank and also if you can hear actual water movement on the surface or say the sound of trickling water.
This is usually enough unless you have a densely populated tank.After which things like an air pump with some type of bubbler on it or a small trickle filter would do a great job.

With plants may I suggest a small rock to hold the plant down for a few weel until a roots system takes hold.

With lighting I would suggest a daylight tube in your flouro holder rather than say a Tri-phos or cool white.These work really well and I'd have them on about 8 hrs+ depending on how much if any other natural light they get.Many more alternatives out there aswell.
Then there are firtilizers,use these in densly planted tanks where the fish don't produce enough nutrients to feed the plants.You need firts because once all the nutients are absorbed your plants will all suffer.Then you can get into CO2 and substrate heating and and...............
Like all things in an artificial enviroment,we as keepers have to be diligent with supplying all the normal requirements for our little inhabitants, be they plants or fish.

Just remember everythig has a specific requirement. :)

[garf]

Thanks Joz.. so I suppose it's about 8 hours of continuous lighting on the average, regardless of day or night, yeah?
If I don't have much plants (suppose just about 5 or 6 bundles), I reckon I can reduce the amount of lighting to just a few hours each evening, yeah?

[joz]

Hi garf,unfortunaterly lighting is not quantity dependant.
Whether you have one or one hundred plants,I'd suggest 8 hrs.

I have mine on a timer,set and forget :)

[sharkybubba]

I have mine on a timer,set and forget :)[/b]

Hi Garf,

Joz' suggestion for a timer is great, both my tank lights run off timers- you can get them for under 10 bucks at any generic superstore like kmart and targert-usually in the lighting or garden areas. at the moment my tanks have light for 10 hours each but, as Joz has said 8 hours is the suggested minimum! :biggrin:

[wombat1100]

Hi Garf,

Joz' suggestion for a timer is great, both my tank lights run off timers- you can get them for under 10 bucks at any generic superstore like kmart and targert-usually in the lighting or garden areas. at the moment my tanks have light for 10 hours each but, as Joz has said 8 hours is the suggested minimum! :biggrin:[/b]



Garf,
:excl: take into account the amount of natural light you have aswell. :excl:
My tanks are both on timers, 7am till 9am then again from 4pm till 10pm, Monday to Friday and 7 am till 10 pm on the weekends,that way they are on when i am home :biggrin: and off during the day when the natural light from my windows light up the tanks, and with this amount one of my tanks suffers from algae so be careful that you don't "over light" them or you will get another group of problems! :blush:
Dazz

[garf]

once again, thanks to you all for the very good advices. The tank is in the living room, but away from direct sunlight. So far all these while I don't have an algae problem. But I'd keep a lookout ;)

[sharkybubba]

hey garf, was wondering how it was all coming along? you got pics for us yet?
:biggrin:

[garf]

erm... here u go.. *blush*


my little tank (http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2505/rimg0071sf9.jpg)

[wombat1100]

Looking good Garf, :wink:
now all you need to do is get your head around the water conditions and keep up your water changes and you will enjoy that tank for years and years. :biggrin:
Actually if you are like all the people i know with aquariums you will just get a bigger tank and then a bigger tank and then a bigger tank!!!! :rolleyes:
Dazz

[garf]

Thanks Dazz..
It's just about 2 weeks into the new tank. I'd definitely change water diligently. It's going to be my new Saturday chore from now! Hm.. "chore".. what a word.. hahahah :)

[sharkybubba]

awesome looking tank! nice coloured fish you got there- really bright!

[garf]

it's the camera! LOL..

those comets have been with me (in the old small tank) for the last 3 years.. the 2 orandas (fan-tails) are the latest additions. Somehow i think it'd get overcrowded soon..

[silkieboy]

nice tank you got there. I keep goldies too and its running on a trickle system, canisters and sponge filters hehe. Waterchanges 3 times a week seems to keep the water clean too ^^

[wombat1100]

Wow Silkieboy, water changes 3 times a week , you must have a bit of time on your hands!
What size tank have you got? a post in the showcase with some pics of your setup would be nice too!
Dazz

[silkieboy]

They're in a 4ft tank. I'm getting a camera pretty soon so i'll be sure to post some pics :)

[wombat1100]

Look forward to seeing them mate.
Dazz

[garf]

hi silkieboy :rolleyes:

looking forward to seeing your pics!

[matt_Frontosa]

Hi Garf if you want your light on 8 hours a day and you want to keep the tank algae free I would just add a heater to that tank and put some kind of catfish in there to consume all the algae.
The heater will be fine with the goldfish as they come from tropical areas of asai so they will do just fine, just keep the heating at 25 degrees and they should be fine

[Sloory]

Struth i've come into this one late eh!

If you bought a heater you probly wouldn't be keeping the gold fish for very long.
Because that heater will open the door to far greater fish!! :biggrin:

[wombat1100]

Hey Dazz you do realize that there are some people out there that actually like keeping goldfish don't you!

[aquariumleasing]

Your tank looks great, Garf. A couple of points to keep in mind:

Water conditioner should include salts to increase water hardness (Gh) to 180ppm to 300ppm for goldfish (Melbourne water is very soft - about 40 - 60 ppm). Mix 1 part Epson salts to 2 parts Cooking salts and add about 1 handfull for every 100 litres of NEW water (Melbourne water) should get you close. Don't add salts unless you have physically removed old water - salts do not evaporate.
Goldfish will eat most plants. You anubias (LHS of you pic) look great and will do well with the right conditions (light, water and nutrients) but the other plant (cabomba?) will most likely be a good but temporary food source for your goldies. By the way, they LOVE duck weed if you ever see any.
....John

[garf]

hey guys, thanks for the comments and suggestions :)

John, yup I do put in some salt. Usually I'd put in the water conditioner and salt into the pail of "new" water that I was going to add into the tank.

Thanks for telling me the names of the plants. I've always wonder what they're called. I've been observing the fish, so far none has taken a liking to the leaf. So that's a relief! :) Anyway, I've discovered a new problem with the plants recently. I'd post a new topic on that.

[garf]

Time flies.. it's nearly 2 years since I posted this!
The plants (except the 2 on the driftwood) are all gone. I don't know if they have been eaten by the fish, or died from the brownish algae that had grown on them! The nice big leaves on the driftwoods have gone too. What's left now are little shoots, which I hope will grow some day...

All the comets have been given away (to a fellow forummer). The 2 fan-tails have now grown to twice the size, and have become big bullies to this little lionhead (they were living harmoniously for nearly a year, but lately they have been bullying their little cousin!)


erm... here u go.. *blush*


my little tank (http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2505/rimg0071sf9.jpg)