Suggestions on cycling my new 20 gal aquarium

"Nikki" wrote in message
. ..
You can also give your GF
some pea's, veggies, ..........
==========================
I never saw GF being sold in Wal*Mart that were less than an inch long. I
think she/he may have gold or orange platys if they're that small and never
grew. I don't think a GF can survive to a year at that size as it would
literally have had to be on a starvation diet. Nutritional deficiencies
alone surely would have killed them by now.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

"Köi-Lö" $##$$@$##$$.#$$ wrote in message
...

"Nikki" wrote in message
. ..
You can also give your GF
some pea's, veggies, ..........
==========================
I never saw GF being sold in Wal*Mart that were less than an inch long. I
think she/he may have gold or orange platys if they're that small and
never grew. I don't think a GF can survive to a year at that size as it
would literally have had to be on a starvation diet. Nutritional
deficiencies alone surely would have killed them by now.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*


Yep, to be honest that was my thought also, but maybe he is wrong about what
size they are or wrote it wrong.
I have seen little feeder GF which were pretty small/young, I keep fancy GF
but I got four regular GF from Luke's school at the end of the school year
they did not know what to do with them over summer vacation so I took them,
the school got them in April, and these guys got pretty big and its only
been a few months now. I was surprised they are very pretty, bright
red/white.
lets see if he replies and ask him to verify that they are really that size.
platies and GF look very different ask him to look up a pic on google.
Nik

"Nikki" wrote in message
...
Yep, to be honest that was my thought also, but maybe he is wrong about
what size they are or wrote it wrong.
I have seen little feeder GF which were pretty small/young, I keep fancy
GF but I got four regular GF from Luke's school at the end of the school
year they did not know what to do with them over summer vacation so I took
them, the school got them in April, and these guys got pretty big and its
only been a few months now. I was surprised they are very pretty, bright
red/white.
lets see if he replies and ask him to verify that they are really that
size. platies and GF look very different ask him to look up a pic on
google.
Nik
=============
For the sake of the fish I hope they're platys and not GF. Healthy goldfish
that are well fed can easily grow 1/2" to 3/4" a month. I hear and see
advice online and in the shops where feeding GF once a day is recommended.
GF are not predatory fish, they're browsers or grazers and nibble all day
long. For proper growth they not only need space and clean water but
several meals a day, with variety. To put a pinch of flakes in their tank
once a day isn't going to get it. For example today my GF got Ichabon
pellets for brunch, Shrimp pellets for supper and a slice of fresh orange
around 9 PM.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

"Köi-Lö" $##$$@$##$$.#$$ wrote in message
...

"Nikki" wrote in message
...
Yep, to be honest that was my thought also, but maybe he is wrong about
what size they are or wrote it wrong.
I have seen little feeder GF which were pretty small/young, I keep fancy
GF but I got four regular GF from Luke's school at the end of the school
year they did not know what to do with them over summer vacation so I
took them, the school got them in April, and these guys got pretty big
and its only been a few months now. I was surprised they are very pretty,
bright red/white.
lets see if he replies and ask him to verify that they are really that
size. platies and GF look very different ask him to look up a pic on
google.
Nik
=============
For the sake of the fish I hope they're platys and not GF. Healthy
goldfish that are well fed can easily grow 1/2" to 3/4" a month. I hear
and see advice online and in the shops where feeding GF once a day is
recommended. GF are not predatory fish, they're browsers or grazers and
nibble all day long. For proper growth they not only need space and clean
water but several meals a day, with variety. To put a pinch of flakes in
their tank once a day isn't going to get it. For example today my GF got
Ichabon pellets for brunch, Shrimp pellets for supper and a slice of fresh
orange around 9 PM.
--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*



Yes i agree, I feed mine smaller amounts though out the day, and even after
they eat they are always still looking for something left at the bottom, and
it dont matter how much i feed them they can always eat one more time if i
let them.
Nik

"Nikki" wrote in message
...

"Köi-Lö" $##$$@$##$$.#$$ wrote in message
...
For the sake of the fish I hope they're platys and not GF. Healthy
goldfish that are well fed can easily grow 1/2" to 3/4" a month. I hear
and see advice online and in the shops where feeding GF once a day is
recommended. GF are not predatory fish, they're browsers or grazers and
nibble all day long. For proper growth they not only need space and
clean water but several meals a day, with variety. To put a pinch of
flakes in their tank once a day isn't going to get it. For example today
my GF got Ichabon pellets for brunch, Shrimp pellets for supper and a
slice of fresh orange around 9 PM.
=====================================
Yes i agree, I feed mine smaller amounts though out the day, and even
after they eat they are always still looking for something left at the
bottom,

Yes, they'll pick over the gravel for every last morsel that may have sunk
to the bottom.

and
it dont matter how much i feed them they can always eat one more time if i
let them.

And it wont harm them! :-)) They'll just grow faster and you'll need to do
a bit more maintenance on the filter and a few more water changes than if
you half starve them. If you don't mind the extra hassle and expense they
also love thawed bloodworms, tubafex, brineshrimp and glass worms.

--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

"Köi-Lö" $##$$@$##$$.#$$ wrote in message
...

"Nikki" wrote in message
...

"Köi-Lö" $##$$@$##$$.#$$ wrote in message
...
For the sake of the fish I hope they're platys and not GF. Healthy
goldfish that are well fed can easily grow 1/2" to 3/4" a month. I hear
and see advice online and in the shops where feeding GF once a day is
recommended. GF are not predatory fish, they're browsers or grazers and
nibble all day long. For proper growth they not only need space and
clean water but several meals a day, with variety. To put a pinch of
flakes in their tank once a day isn't going to get it. For example
today my GF got Ichabon pellets for brunch, Shrimp pellets for supper
and a slice of fresh orange around 9 PM.
=====================================
Yes i agree, I feed mine smaller amounts though out the day, and even
after they eat they are always still looking for something left at the
bottom,

Yes, they'll pick over the gravel for every last morsel that may have sunk
to the bottom.

and
it dont matter how much i feed them they can always eat one more time if
i let them.

And it wont harm them! :-)) They'll just grow faster and you'll need to
do a bit more maintenance on the filter and a few more water changes than
if you half starve them. If you don't mind the extra hassle and expense
they also love thawed bloodworms, tubafex, brineshrimp and glass worms.

--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*


I have been feeding them different kinds of worms, seem to like them. I have
also been checking out different kind of foods, i got the fancy GF sticks
last time and the round pellets bio stuff, they liked that also, stuff is a
bit expensive, but I only have six fancy's and four regular (what are
feeders called) so its not so bad, i buy their food twice as much as the reg
flake food for the other guys.
Nik

"Nikki" wrote in message
. ..
I have been feeding them different kinds of worms, seem to like them.

Small earthworms and grubs are also loved by GF. Just make sure the soil is
clean and not contaminated by anything.

I have
also been checking out different kind of foods, i got the fancy GF sticks
last time and the round pellets bio stuff, they liked that also, stuff is
a bit expensive, but I only have six fancy's and four regular (what are
feeders called)

From my experience they're comets/serassas. Some are quite beautiful with
long flowing fins. Feeding all mine is expensive. :-( I have quite a few
fancies in the house. Those outside get the Ichabon and Catfish pellets
plus small amounts of orange. They have more access to natural foods that
the indoor GF do not.

so its not so bad, i buy their food twice as much as the reg
flake food for the other guys.

Healthy GF can pack away the food. :-O

Nik

--
KL....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

"Nikki" wrote in message
. ..

"Osteole" wrote in message
ups.com...
I recently acquired a new 20 gal aquarium and transferred three small
goldfish and 1 male betta.

I know some of you will curse me for this combination, but I wanted to
get these fish out of their cramped old quarters and into a more
comfortable tank.

Fish are completely healthy and show no aggression towards each other.


A little about my tank, its a long 20 gal with Fluval 250. I use
Biomax media and carbon in the canister. Water is CRYSTAL clear and
the fish happily swim around. I feed once a day and only enough that
the fish eat. Hardly ANY food ever reaches the gravel.

In those 3 weeks I had changed the water once (50%) and rinsed the
components in the canister.

Using Jungle Quick Dip test strips I tested every other day or so for
three weeks
pH 6.8
KH 40
GH 150
Nitrites 0-.5
Nitrates 0


This past weekend I had to leave for 3 days. When I came back the
tests read
pH 6.8
KH 40 ppm
GH 150 ppm
Nitrites 10+ ppm
Nitrates 0 ppm

I immediately did a 50% water change and for the past week have done
50% water change very day. The Nitrites have gone down considerable
but still rest at 3.0 ppm

Is this okay? Will nitrates start kicking in soon? I am conditioning
the water with Amquel with all water changes. I added a small amount (
2 tsp) of Aquarium salt to help the fish with the Nitrite stress.

I need some comments from people who are experienced in cycling new
tanks.


Osteole....This is long sorry....

I know with every one yelling, its unlikely you are going to get what you
wanted to know, and I think from what you said you did not intend on
keeping these fish together long term but wanted to get them out of what
ever situation they were in before (which was what? asking because of the
size of the GF), in the mean time you are worried about the cycle an
nitrites being high because you don't want the fish to die, which is good.
Getting this out of the way first, Tynk keeps betta's and cares and knows
a lot about them ... just as Koi-lo keeps goldfish (all kinds) and cares
and knows a lot about them, which is the reason you got the reaction you
did from both of them, just to let you know. If you wanted to know
anything about either of those fish they would be the two you would talk
to.........
About the carbon, there is carbon that removes ammonia, which I use when
I set up a new tank, does it help, I don't know but I use it and it don't
hurt anything, most carbon is used for taking meds out of the water after
its been treated, if you have it in leave it there, it wont hurt anything.
Do you deal with a LFS or have a friend with a fish tank that has been set
up for some time, if so ask them for some filter media (floss) rocks, that
will help if your tank is not cycled.
I don't know about amquel helping, some say yes some say no, I use it in
my fry tank w/ water changes, but none of my big tanks. Some one was
talking before about it giving false readings I think on some test brands,
if you do a search you might be able to find the info.
I have fancy goldfish and regular feeder goldfish, koi-lo is right about
the size, I have had the feeders which I think is what you got, I have had
mine for six months and mine are huge way over 1 inch, if you have any
pics see if you can post them. One thing about Goldfish they are dirty, I
do more cleaning in my GF tank then any other tank I have, and I have
plenty of tanks, water changes help a lot when anything is wrong, so keep
doing them.
As far as the betta and GF, the main problem is water quality.....as I am
sure you know GF poop a lot, the water quality is not good for the betta
who will end up, maybe not right away but will end up with fin rot.
When you do take the betta out here is a couple ideas, at my local store
they sell critter keepers they are two and half gallons, cost about 8$, I
use a sponge filter which is about 5$, that's not a bad set up for them, I
don't use a heater because with out one the tank stays over 80 degrees,
but they have little heaters that are cheap for little tanks. They have
eclipse tanks that come with everything they are not that expensive
either. If you have any community tanks, betta's get along ok with some
fish as long as they share the same conditions, and that will some times
work also. One more thing as long as you have those guys sharing a
house/tank, watch because GF tend to eat fast and bettas eat slow, well
slower then GF, just make sure the betta is getting enough of the food.
You can also give your GF some pea's, veggies, maybe koi-lo can give you
some ideas as far as what else you can give them and help figuring out why
they are not growing as fast as they should be.
Please don't stop posting, for the most part people here are nice, they
will disagree sometimes but do what to help. I understand when you post
and everyone jumps on you its hard to take anything they say into
consideration, and its easy to get defensive I have myself when it has
happened
nikki


talk about good PR.
Who trained you in dealing with the general public nikki?
nice bit of reason and patience there