newbie to goldfish - questions

[coolchinchilla]

Hi. I'm Linda. I've recently become enamored of fancy goldfish. I
have an empty 30 gallon (US) tank that I hope to put to use soon.
I've been searching all over the net for info on goldfish. I'm not
new to fishkeeping. I've had a freshwater tank for 18 months or
more, so I get the stuff about cycling, water changes, feeding, etc.
My goal with my fish is for them to thrive, not simply survive.
So I'm trying to do my homework first before I ever step foot in a
fish store.

1. I will cycle the tank (fishless) before I introduce anyone. I
know I need to be patient. I'd expect it to take 2+ weeks.

2. Size: Can I keep 2 orandas in a 30 gallon? Or is that pressing
it? I keep reading about how much tank volume goldfish need.

3. Filter: I have a whisper 20-40 gallon filter. Will that be
sufficient or do I need more filtration?

4. I like the red capped orandas the best. Are they fairly hearty?
Will 2 of them be buddies? Will one oranda get lonely if I can
only house one in a 30 gallon tank? Do I need to worry about gender
for two orandas?

5. How large should they be for purchase size for best chances of
survival?

6. Acclimation: I would put the fish in a bucket and drip water in
until the bucket is partly full, remove some water and drip more in.
Process takes an hour or more. Is this style ok?

7. Because the goldfish will be the only inhabitants of the main
tank, do they need to go into a quarenteen tank first?

8. Are there prophalatic things I should do with new goldfish?
(salt bath, treat with melafix & pimafix, antibiotics)



Thank you so much. I appreciate the help.
Linda and the zoo

[Koi-lo]

"coolchinchilla" > wrote in message
...
> Hi. I'm Linda. I've recently become enamored of fancy goldfish. I have
> an empty 30 gallon (US) tank that I hope to put to use soon. I've been
> searching all over the net for info on goldfish. I'm not new to
> fishkeeping. I've had a freshwater tank for 18 months or more, so I get
> the stuff about cycling, water changes, feeding, etc. My goal with my fish
> is for them to thrive, not simply survive. So I'm trying to do my homework
> first before I ever step foot in a fish store.
>
> 1. I will cycle the tank (fishless) before I introduce anyone. I know I
> need to be patient. I'd expect it to take 2+ weeks.

What are you using to cycle the tank? Pure ammonia?

> 2. Size: Can I keep 2 orandas in a 30 gallon? Or is that pressing it?
> I keep reading about how much tank volume goldfish need.

Two or three adult GF should fit nicely with good aeration and filtration.

> 3. Filter: I have a whisper 20-40 gallon filter. Will that be
> sufficient or do I need more filtration?
>
> 4. I like the red capped orandas the best. Are they fairly hearty? Will
> 2 of them be buddies? Will one oranda get lonely if I can only house one
> in a 30 gallon tank? Do I need to worry about gender for two orandas?

GF are happier when there is more than just one. Get at least two.

> 5. How large should they be for purchase size for best chances of
> survival?

Survival depends on too many things to suggest a particular size.

> 6. Acclimation: I would put the fish in a bucket and drip water in until
> the bucket is partly full, remove some water and drip more in. Process
> takes an hour or more. Is this style ok?

That's what works for me. :-)

> 7. Because the goldfish will be the only inhabitants of the main tank, do
> they need to go into a quarenteen tank first?

No, there would be no point.

> 8. Are there prophalatic things I should do with new goldfish? (salt
> bath, treat with melafix & pimafix, antibiotics)

Forget Melafix. You can treat them prophylacticly with Quick-Cure or
Aquara-Sol.


> Thank you so much. I appreciate the help.
> Linda and the zoo
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[coolchinchilla]

Koi-lo wrote:
>
>>
>> 1. I will cycle the tank (fishless) before I introduce anyone. I
>> know I need to be patient. I'd expect it to take 2+ weeks.
>
>
> What are you using to cycle the tank? Pure ammonia?

Yep, pure ammonia plus a seeded water filter material for a jump start.

>
>
> GF are happier when there is more than just one. Get at least two.

Yay! I wanted at least two.

Thanks for your help!
Linda and the zoo.

[[email protected]]

FISHLESS CYCLING OF TANKS
rather than getting the RIGHT kind of ammonia and getting the RIGHT amount in the
tank, a pinch of Hikari Gold fish food for a small tank up to a tablespoon in a 75
gallon can be tossed into the tank, the heat set to 82oF and plenty of aeration. In
3 days or so watch the ammonia. If no ammonia is seen add more food.

BTW, it is a good idea to put some of your fish food in a bit of water and do an
ammonia test to see if it releases ammonia. some do. Ingrid


coolchinchilla > wrote:

>Koi-lo wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> 1. I will cycle the tank (fishless) before I introduce anyone. I
>>> know I need to be patient. I'd expect it to take 2+ weeks.
>>
>>
>> What are you using to cycle the tank? Pure ammonia?
>
>Yep, pure ammonia plus a seeded water filter material for a jump start.
>
>>
>>
>> GF are happier when there is more than just one. Get at least two.
>
>Yay! I wanted at least two.
>
>Thanks for your help!
>Linda and the zoo.



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[coolchinchilla]

Ok... Food sounds easier to do. Thanks! :-)

wrote:
> FISHLESS CYCLING OF TANKS
> rather than getting the RIGHT kind of ammonia and getting the RIGHT amount in the
> tank, a pinch of Hikari Gold fish food for a small tank up to a tablespoon in a 75
> gallon can be tossed into the tank, the heat set to 82oF and plenty of aeration. In
> 3 days or so watch the ammonia. If no ammonia is seen add more food.
>
> BTW, it is a good idea to put some of your fish food in a bit of water and do an
> ammonia test to see if it releases ammonia. some do. Ingrid
>