A few questions about fancy gold fish...I hate walking into pet stores not knowing anything?

Question

I currently have a small gold fish (about 2 inches) in a one gallon tank and I'm thinking about putting him in a ten gallon aquarium and adding a another fish. The general rule I've seen is that for every 1" of goldfish you should have 2 gallons. Right now I have a undergravel filter and a hood with a light. If I get a ten gallon tank will i need to purchase a small heater or will the fish be fine with out one? also, I've been looking at filters for a ten gallon tank and I don't know if I should get a power filter or an internal filter. I don't really want to stick with the undergravel filter because it doesn't work well. Next, I've been looking at hoods online and I can't tell if they have the appropriate opening for a power filter, do most of them have an opening? and lastly if I have a filter do i still need the pump and air stones so that my fish has bubbles? I don't know how essential the bubbles really are but for now it's just the filter system. It's alot I know. Thanks

Answer 1

In addition to tallisy77's answer, seriously consider installing a filitration system that will handle twice the amount of water your tank holds. Meaning, if you have a 10 gallon tank get a filtration system that will clean at least a 20 gallon tank. If you have a 150 gallon tank get a system that will clean at least a 300 gallon tank.

This is because goldfish are especially dirty - they poop a lot! To cut down the dirtiness feed them once a day. Resist the urge to feed them more than once a day. The water is their atomosphere and you want them to be healthy and live a long time but their poop increases the water's nitrogen and ammonia and obviously dirties the water.

If you install a filter system that processes the same amount of water your tank holds you will have more frequent water changes and filtration changes/purchases. Our 4 goldfish (2 ryunkin and 2 comets) are in a 50 gallon tank, average 4 to 10 inches in length and the oldest is 10 years old. We use a wet/dry bio-bail filtration system for a 150 gallon tank.

Bubbles oxygenate the water and as such is a must. There are air stones, air wands, bubble discs (what we have) and others, but what matters is that there is a large volume of small bubbles rather than large bubbles. Smaller bubbles produce more oxygen in the water and stay in the water longer than large, big bubbles that 'pop' when they reach the surface. This doesn't mean get small bubbler, just get one that produces lots and lots of small bubbles.

Finally, and firstly actually, choose a tank that provides a large water surface area because it helps the oxygenation of the water better than a deep tank with a small water surface area. A deep 20 gallon tank will offer less surface area than a long 20 gallon tank. You don't really want to go deep you want to go long. Goldfish don't like to swim deep they'd rather swim along a long length.

Good luck on your hobby!

Just saw other answers indicating you don't really need additional air. You absolutely need air stones or some other oxygen generator. Otherwise you essentially have a tank of stagnate water that has no air replenishment - regardless of if you use live plants which will not produce the amount of oxygen those fish will need. When the plants have been eaten where will the oxygen come from then? Think of the health of your fish and they will live a very long time!

Answer 2

The general rule is ten gallons per every one goldfish. A goldfish a full maturety can be 12'' long! I would actually go for a 20-30 gallon tank that way you can have more. They usually don't live long enough to get 12". So I would say you could have 4 or 5 in a larger tank. You don't need to purchase to heater goldfish don't require one. However I would throw out that undergravel filter because they aren't very affective. Buy a standard top filter for your tank size.Most modern tanks should have an opening, and you will not need to continue using air pumps and stones. Just make sure your tank remains only goldfish because they can't be with other fish.

Answer 3

If you want to add another fish get a 20 gallon, they will need the space once they start growing. I like Penguins and Aquaclears as far as filters go but you will need one that does at least 200 gph if you get the 20 gallon tank. Undergravel filters aren't good for goldfish since they are so messy so its good that you aren't putting that back in. You dont really need an air stone if you have a filter but its nice to have that in there to add a little more oxygen and it looks nice. Some fish even like to play in the bubbles. When you buy a new hood there is usually no opening but the back has a part where you cut the plastic to make a space for the filter, so you make it the size you need it to be. Since goldfish are coldwater fish you dont need a heater but during the winter if it gets too cold it would be a good idea and it helps keep the temp stable all year long.

Oh and the rule for goldfish is really 10 gallon minimum for fancy and 15-20 minimum for single tailed.

Answer 4

Two goldfish for a ten gallon tank are just perfect if that is what you want for now. The fish will have plenty of room to grow. Your under gravel filter should be sufficient for the tank but if you want to make it better, add a power head to each side. Just don't buy the cheap ones Wal-Mart sells. They don't last as long. Under gravel filter is still one of the most efficient around. If you don't like your current one, then get a Penn Plax, theirs last awhile and are cheaper. Don't need a heater or air stones. When the fish get larger you may want an air stone for the extra air. Add 1/2 tsp. aquarium salt per gallon of water. Feed fish once a day, only what is consumed in 3-5 minutes. If you want to put live plants in the tank , don't use a power head. If you decide to get live plants, the goldfish will enjoy eating them so get anacharis or horn wort. Both of these plants are oxyenaters and absorb nitrites from the water. When the fish have eaten the plant down to the stem, you can replace it.

Answer 5

1.) Goldfish are fine without heaters.

2.) I would get a power filter. And remember bigger is better. So if your tank is 10 gallons, I would buy a filter for a 30 gallon tank (or even a bigger one). Goldfish are dirty, so the bigger the filter you have the cleaner it will stay.

I have a 40 gallon filter on a 15 gallon tank and it's never dirty.

3.) Most tank hoods that do not have internal filters built in have appropriate openings for filters. All Top Fin's do.

4.)No you do not need an air pump. The filter will provide enough air into the tank.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Good questions all and about my favorite pets!! So far you are on the right track in going from 2 gallons to 10 gallons. You won't need a heater, goldfish like it cold, as long as the water doesn't freeze solid they are fine. Filtration on the other hand is a must in an aquarium. My own personal preference is a power filter because I like the "water fall" sound they make, but it's a matter of personal preference, just keep it clean as the directions tell you. Hoods come with an opening for the power filter that you punch out if you want to use one with that hood. Bubbles are necessary in an aquarium so that the oxygen gets into the water. Plus they are pretty. Get an air pump that says it's for a 10 gallon aquariun and an air stone if it doesn't come with one.
One last bit of advise, don't mix goldfish with tropical fish. Temperature differences make unhappy roomates. Good Luck. Have fun, pick mine as best answer :)

Answer 7

gold fish are coldwater species so no heater. A ten gallon tank will be ok temporarly, they will outgrow the tank, fancy gold fish max size is 6-10 inches. so whether they end up on the small size or large size a 10gallon will be to small. Undergravels are meant to be used in conjunction with another filter. In tank filters like Whispers versions suck, do not waste your money. I would go with a hang-on back filtrations system, preferably a bio wheel filter like a penquin 20 gallon made by marineland. The tank hoods have prescored backs so you can break them to add space for filters. The air stones are to add oxygen to the water, you definatly want to have a small to med size airstone for that size tank. good luck.

Answer 8

no need for a heater goldfish like their water cold 1 goldfish per 10 gallon is a good rule of thumb

Answer 9

you do not need a heater for goldfish.yes they have a opening for the filter