cycling new fish tank and adding goldfish?

Question

I just bought a 20 gallon tank for my common goldfish because the 3 gallon tank he is living in now is too small. I rinsed out the new tank, filled it with tap water, rinsed new gravel and added it to the tank, added a new filter, and put in half a cup of gravel and two cups of water from my goldfish's current tank. I added a dissolving tablet that is supposed to level out the pH and remove chlorine and give beneficial bacteria for starting tanks. I read somewhere that I can wait 24 hours and the tank will be cycled and ready to add my goldfish. Is this true? Or do I need to do a few more things? Please help, he is my only fish and I don't want him to die!

Answer 1

When I set up my FW tanks when I was 7-10 I just squirted some start right in and threw some fish in and was succesful now I don't reccomended that now but, I found this stuff caled bio-spira and it is refridgeerated so I would not reccommend buying it off the net, but you can call some pet stores it promises to make an aquarium safe overnight, now I use he Marine since I have saltwater, but there is FW also you need aout 1 oz. to treat exactly a 20g, now as you can see I use it for a Marien tank and it works great, now you need to remove all filter media but do not shut off the filter and if you have a bio wheel don't take that out! That is whatr I would do do be 100% safe!!
~Kyle

Answer 2

I am glad to see you care so much for your pet. Many different views on caring for Golds. Most are very good. My personal choice is to avoid substrate. Gravel is filthy most of the time despite its supposed ammonia and fecal breakdown capabilities. It also has to be replaced EVERY time you clean your tank or you're just asking for new load of algae. Here's my mix.....you pick what you like and leave out what you don't. My fish have lived over a year now and are growing like weeds.
1. Treat the water to manufacturers directions. Be sure to add salt. Be sure to STIR IT !!!! Chems have different weights and can lay in invisible pools. Test the Ph.
2. Beef up filtering. Add new charcoal and mesh at every cleaning. Have the water recycle more than needed. My water is filtered 2-3 times per hour. None of my fish are banging on the side of the tank complaining about the small increase in water current speed.
3. 3/4 water change every week....EVERY WEEK. Remember they live in their toilet.
4. The bigger the tank the happier the fish. No fish died of too much tank. Lots die from too little.
Thats just water info. There's a college of info on food, lighting, location, medicine and it goes on and on. You appear to be doing a great job. I hope your fish lives for years. I heard of a comet the other day that was 8 years old. Wow. How cool is that?

Answer 3

In my opinion, cleaner is not nesesarily better, I would have put in ALL the water from the previous tank,(stinky part too) this is what the bio bed is. There is a product called stresszyme, good stuff, cheap and easy to use. I also recommend salt, especially for gold fish. Salt imediately nutrilises clorine and is a good stress buffer for the fish. Goldfish are very hardy! when a goldfish goes belly up- it's not from one or two bad experiences, but many or a long period of poor water. I say add a whole cup of sea salt and toss in your fishy!! I have first and second place in Central Florida KoiShow, I wouldnt steer you wrong. Good luck!

Answer 4

cycling can take up to a month. you should also add some aquarium gravel from the old tank to give it a boost. goldfish tend to be able to handle conditions like that though so it should be fine.

i hope your planning on upgrading to a 75 in a few months. Common goldfish will reach over 24 inches and they should be in a 75 gallon with a canister filter.