Goldfish help please :)?

Question

I have two common goldfish (1 male, over 1 year, about 2 inchs.) and (1 female, 6 years, about 3 1/2 inchs) which I just got on Saturday from a friend. They are in a 10 gallon tank right now. I also have a 6 gallon tank which a male Betta is in now.

Questions:

1. I need a new filter, what are the best ones for a 10 gallon tank??? I think my tank needs more oxygen.

2. When doing a water change, how much should I do (15% - 30%) and how often???

3. If there is poo that I can get from the tank, should I take it out??? It's floating on the top.

4. How do I do water changes, seriously???

5. When doing a water change for my goldfishies can I place the goldfishes in the 6 gallon tank (which the Betta is in right now) and move the Betta to a smaller tank temporarily???
Basically, will it be okay to put the goldfishes in Betta fish tank water???

6. Should I remove and clean some of the gravel then return it???

Answer whatever you want. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

1) Any brand will work; Aquaclear is inexpensive and has a good sized filer media, so it provides good biolofical filtration, which the goldfish should have.

2) A change of 25% each week is best, unless you're water tests indicate that a change is needed sooner. Some people will suggest different amounts, and this can vary with the number and type of fish, type of filtration, and overfeeding, but I like the 25%.

3) yes

4) First you want to unplug the heater and give it a few minutes to cool - if you lower the water level when it's hot and plugged in, the glass cn shatter. Use a gravel vacuum to siphon the top of the gravel and to clean deep into the gravel right in front of the glass each time you clean as you're removing the water. Beyond that, clean 1/4 to 1/3 of the rest of the tank deeply. Alternate which part you clean each time. If you have algae growing on the glass, you should scrape it off before you siphon so this is also removed. Refill the tank with water that's about the same temperature with something to remove chlorine/chloramine. And don't forget to plug the heater back in!

5) Since you're not taking all the water out of the tank, it's best to leave the fish where they are. Moving them only causes stress.

6) no. The gravel is where the bacteria that convert the ammonia and nitrite (both toxic to fish) to nitrate live. You don't want to remove these.

Answer 2

OK you only need to do 25% water change every other month or when needed (looks dirty) Yes remove floating poop. No dont put in with betta or tranfer into betta tank, this is too much stress and can die. Golds have alot of ammonia and cannot mix with other fish or be in their water. They can stay in tank while you do water changes, just add a stress coat into water. I reccomend Aqua Plus for the stress and when you put new water in this will condition the water too (take out chlorine and hard water). You will need a filter thats approx 1 bigger than for a 10 gal tank Like maybe for 15-25 gallons. This will help with oxygen in the tank and you can add a bubbler with air hose this adds oxygen or live plants (anachris produces oxygen). Really you need a bigger tank, golds can kill themselves with the ammonia they let off. In the filter get one of the ones with bags you can put into the filter (ammonia and carbon bags/cartridges) this will help with ammonia levels. Dont remove any gravel, a water change is fine. You dont want to take out too much good bacteria in the tank cuz its established. If you need to clean gravel good then do it when you dont do a water change. Add cycle to the water this adds bacteria (good bacteria) plus water changes do clean gravel well. You will need a syphoner its a tube that has a hose on it and there is directions how to use it. Use a 5 gallon bucket to empty water you will change.

Answer 3

They say that a fish needs 1 gallon of water per inch of fish, so your tank size is food for now. I always purchased a filter that was the next size up from my tank, ie for a 2 gallon, i purchased a 5 gallon filter. It keeps things cleaner and gives more oxygen. always change 25% of the water every 2 weeks. Make sure the water you put back in the tank has set overnight to make it room temperature. You can always get a net and scoop the poo out. When you change the water, get a vacuum and it will suck all of the poo and junk from the bottom of the tank, also, it will clean your rocks etc. Then replace all of the water that was sucked out with the fresh water. You won't need to take the fish out, but definitely don't ever place them in the beta tank. If the tank gets scummy, you could get a glass scrubber. Also, you need to get water conditioner.

Answer 4

Those are TINY goldfish for their age. They won't live long if you don't get them into a bigger aquarium asap. Goldfish grow to one foot long, and if you don't let them grow that long, they will die, no question. If you give them space to become adults, they will live iwth you 30 years or more and be killer fish. It doesnt matter what filter you get for a 10 gallon, they wont make it.

The one inch rule works only for their ADULT size, your fish should be far larger by now, which means their organs are already growing bigger than the outside of their bodies. They should do fine if you transport them to a larger tank.

Answer 5

its ok to move your goldfish to a smaller tank while changing the water,its only a temporary action,it would affect much to the fish,you should clean the gravel once in a while

Answer 6

you can change as much water as you want but you have to use this stuff called pink-out. it adjusts the fish to the water, if you don't use it they can die