Bowl or not yet cycled tank for goldfish?

Question

Will it actually harm goldfish to be in a tank will it's cycling? My only other option would be to put them in 1 gallon bowls. Which should I do?

I know now that you should definitely cycle a tank before adding fish, but I already have 2 goldfish. (shame on me I know). I have an in-water filter that's been running for 2 days and a new under gravel filter. And, I have to clean the whole tank and replace the gravel.

Answer 1

goldfish are pretty hardy. they will live in any condition. When i was little i had 3 or 4 goldfish in a 1 gallon bowl doing 100% water changes every 2 weeks to a month. And those goldfish lived up to i think about 5 years.

Answer 2

Gold fish in the wild are used to cold running streams and muddy banks. Tanks are great and ponds are better.  Your doing ok .. there's no need to take that much care in a goldfish unless its very old.

                                   (more than 20 years)  

               Can you try getting a 10gallon or 20 long. please ?

Have fun ...  

Answer 3

They are better in the tank, cycled or not.

The bowl has no filter, so it's constantly in an un-cycled state, and  because it's smaller the toxins build up faster. At least in the tank they are more diluted and the fish have more oxygen.

You should do some extra water changes during the cycling process, just like you would have to do in an unfiltered bowl. Yes it will slow the cycle process a bit, but your fish will survive.

After a few weeks the filters will start working and you can relax.

Ian

Answer 4

Goldfish are pretty hardy (meaning they will live in tougher conditions better than other fish).  Your fish tank will not fully stabilize until probably about a month after adding fish to it.  You can cycle the water all you want, but if no fish are in it the biological filter will not be established.  Therefore, you need fish in it.  Make sure you have added drops of the stuff that removes chlorine from the water, and cycled it at least 24 hours.  Then add the darn fish.  They should be ok!

The bowl will just be more maintenance as the water gets stagnant from lack of circulation and filtration.