Upgrade advise - new tank and filter system

[Jon]

2 months ago I "won" a goldfish at a local fair, first few days he
lived in a bowl, nothing else. Few days later I got to like him, so
brought a new tank (about 30cm in length), filter (Fluval 1) and also
2 other fish.

Maybe it wasn't the best way to start fishkeeping, but I now want to
upgrade again to a bigger tank. My local store stocks the "Fluval
Aquarium Sets" in a few different sizes, I am looking at getting the
following (or maybe the next size up).

http://tinyurl.com/l0wp

With the above setup, I may also add a undergravel filter as well,
would that be worth it or would the filter which comes with that tank
(Fluval 2) do the job on its own?

Last time I had problems with the tank cycle, so this time I plan on
doing a fishless cycle and once I get a 0 ppm nitrites reading I will
add my current fish into the new tank, and then a week or so later
without any problems purchase a few new ones (adding 1 - 2 a week).

When buying new fish, would adding them to a "holding tank" for a
couple of weeks on there own show any health issues, or would that
time be too short for any problems to develop?

On last thing - when I do move my fish into the new tank, I would
imagine just putting them in is a bad idea - maybe placing them into a
bag with their tank water in, and leaving it to rest in the new tank
for about 30 minutes so any temperature change they can slowly get use
to it (maybe then before letting them go, slowly over time add the new
tank water into the bag also)?

Thank you for any kind of advice,

Jon.

[Sue]

"Jon" > wrote in message
om...
> 2 months ago I "won" a goldfish at a local fair, first few days he
> lived in a bowl, nothing else. Few days later I got to like him, so
> brought a new tank (about 30cm in length), filter (Fluval 1) and also
> 2 other fish.
>
> Maybe it wasn't the best way to start fishkeeping, but I now want to
> upgrade again to a bigger tank. My local store stocks the "Fluval
> Aquarium Sets" in a few different sizes, I am looking at getting the
> following (or maybe the next size up).
>
> http://tinyurl.com/l0wp
>
> With the above setup, I may also add a undergravel filter as well,
> would that be worth it or would the filter which comes with that tank
> (Fluval 2) do the job on its own?

The fluval two would be adequate for the tank if normally stocked with small
tropicals - that tank is only large enough for two goldfish if you want them
to develop properly.
Why don't you look at local classified & by a larger secondhand set up -
there have been some nice 3 -4 ft tanks & cabinets going for around the £100
mark on ebay recently. Buy the biggest you can fit/afford & keep it lightly
stocked especially with goldfish being such messy creatures.

>
> Last time I had problems with the tank cycle, so this time I plan on
> doing a fishless cycle and once I get a 0 ppm nitrites reading I will
> add my current fish into the new tank, and then a week or so later
> without any problems purchase a few new ones (adding 1 - 2 a week).
Good -remember you can use media from your existing tank filter to "jump
start" the new tank.
>
> When buying new fish, would adding them to a "holding tank" for a
> couple of weeks on there own show any health issues, or would that
> time be too short for any problems to develop?
Two weeks is about right. You need to keep the quarantine tank filter
primed -usually done by having it running in the main tank & moving it over
when needed.
>
> On last thing - when I do move my fish into the new tank, I would
> imagine just putting them in is a bad idea - maybe placing them into a
> bag with their tank water in, and leaving it to rest in the new tank
> for about 30 minutes so any temperature change they can slowly get use
> to it (maybe then before letting them go, slowly over time add the new
> tank water into the bag also)?
>
Yes, exactly the same as when bringing fish home.
> Thank you for any kind of advice,
>
> Jon.
Good luck
Sue

[Shane Zundel]

The first upgrade would be to get rid of the gold fish! They are trash
fish! They don't cause nothing but problems for your tank and other fish.
I am a believer of undergravel filters, I love mine, but I am also using a
powerhead to circulate the water, plus it gives more pull on the filtration.
Brings up the crap to get sucked up in my filter. But my tank stays
cleaner. I haven't heard of that brand of a tank, but the brand I prefer is
Eclipse. They are pretty nice tanks, but I don't know of any dealers in the
UK to get them.
If you are moving your fish to a new tank you shouldn't need a holding
tank. Once you get your new aquarium set up, give it a day or two to get
everything set up. After that just put your fish in a bag and let them sit
in the tank for 20 min or so to get accostumed to the new water temp. When
you do put your fish in the new tank/water make sure you don't just dump
them in, scoop them out with a net and add them in without using the old
water. There are a few things you can add to the water that will help
remove chemicles and help the fish's stress level, I use NovAqua by Kordon,
it removes the chemicles and helps add a natrual protective coating to the
fish so help with stress. It is good to add it once you set up the tank and
also once you add the fish, you can't put too much in, it isn't toxic to the
fish in anyway. After putting the fish back in I would let it sit at least
a week before putting any fish in there, just to make sure it isn't going to
cause any issues. As far as adding fish you shouldn't have to worry about
the limit of adding fish to the tank, depending on what type you add. I
have added up to 10 fish at once and they are fine, but they were
"schooling" fish and they took to the tank just fine.

Good Luck

Shane

[Shane Zundel]

Ok so you want the real feelings eh! I miss my little gold fish he died
when I was two and I had to flush him.

:D

Nah, I just don't like Goldfish, just like you said they are dirty and they
eat alot. I tried Goldfish when I first started my tanks and they seem to
be prone to disease too. Maybe it was because it was my first tanks! :D
They only place I will see a gold fish at my house is in a pond outside :D
Which in a way proves they are hardy fish and can take a beating. But I
don't like them in my inside tank.

See ya

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Upgrade advise - new tank and filter system
>From: "JEFFREY STREET"
>Date: 8/24/2003 10:42 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>I have to agree, I have 5 different types of goldfish in my office desk
>aquarium (in an eclipse 3) and they are aways there to greet me in the
>morning as they search for food...

5 Goldies in a 3g tank......
They won't be for long. = (

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Upgrade advise - new tank and filter system
>From: "Shane Zundel"
>Date: 8/24/2003 11:24 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>Ok so you want the real feelings eh! I miss my little gold fish he died
>when I was two and I had to flush him.
>

I hope you've learned since then *not* to flush any fish down a toliet.