GOLDFISH SETUP - Am i missing something?

Question

I am going to walmart next year, and I am planning on how should I setup my goldfish tank just for 1 goldfish, okay I saw a huge wide container at walmart it looked like 40 gallons, and it costs 10 dollars, and i saw a power filter i think was 10 dollars, fish food, 3 dollars, fish, 14 cents, air pump 10 dollars ((( DO I NEED AN AIR PUMP )))

I am going to buy this so far

40 Gallon Tank - 10 Dollars

Power Filter - 10 Dollars

food - 3 dollars

Air pump - 10 Dollars ( please tell me if goldfish need this )

Answer 1

Your setup is more than good enough. 40 Gallons is overkill no matter how big it is (which isn't  a bad thing). 2 gallons per inch of goldfish (not including fins) is plenty.

On the Air Pump - An air pump will cause bubbles, which will agitate the surface, enhancing gas exchange. This will oxygenate the water more. Normally I would say you do need this. But with 40 gallons of volume for one fish, you will have plenty of oxygen even without it. You power filter will provide surface agitation as well. You don't need an air pump.

Get live plants for it (they eat waste products and exhale oxygen). Use pellet food instead of flake food (better nutritional value and doesn't pollute the water). Gravel has aesthetic appeal, but you don't absolutely need it.  

Answer 2

maybe some rocks for the bottom and plants

Answer 3

40 gallons is good..the power filter really needs to be 10 times higher rated than the capacity of your tank..in ur case..one recommended for 400 gallons...flake food is good..always soak flakes for 2-3 minutes before giving it to your fish...this will avoid swim bladder issues...Air pump..yes this is necessary...cos extra oxygen...good for goldfish..they need a lot of oxygen..no need for any rocks or gravel..they dont care for it..and when they grow they tend to swallow gravel which can be fatal..so maybe just a few gems here and there..no need for any plants or anything..they munch on most of them..besides I believe in giving them space to swim...you are doing good so far...for food I would really give him boiled vegetables like spinach, lettuce, carrots, zucchini, broccoli...all cut up bite size for goldies...this will promote growth and nice color...and bloodworms, or shrimp as treats...good job there...you gonna have one spoilt fish..LOL...

Answer 4

common goldfish need 50 gallons minimum but i think you could get away with this

i would get 2 fancy goldfish for this setup

also an airpump is not nesaserie but its a good idea

also i doubt a $10 heater is powerful enough

Answer 5

airpump you need for oxygen so yes, buy gravel and some fake or real plants. a testkit (ammonia nitrite nitrate alkalinaty pH hardness) fish gravel vacuum that should be it. cycle the tank first and then add your fishes. goodluck!!!!! =D

edit goldfishes need a filter and water changes since theyre messy fishes. also they produce alot of ammonia so thats why you should clean your tank and cycle it.

Answer 6

you seem to have most things but i would recommend gravel and some aquatic plants as well. also get maybe 2 or three goldfish because one will be shy and tired and lonely. u don't really need an air-pump, but it will keep your fish more active and will air-ate the water. also before you buy them think about freshwater tropical fish, they are practically the same but you will need a heater for about $10 but the tropical fish are so much more colourful. if i haven't supplied you with enough info, feel free to go down to your local pet shop and get some tips and advice from them.

- i hope this helped.

Answer 7

Do not listen to anna.  You are off to a good start here.  You'll probably need atleast a 55 gal tank for a full grown comet.  If it is just a container, make sure you will have a filter in there with a gph of 10x the gallonage to keep it nice and clean.  A filter for that will be more than 10 dollars.  You can just get a tank for a 55 gallon, and wait to get the 55 gal til later, then you can use the same one.  You don't really need an air pump.  you'll want to get some meds, since most goldfish from petstores are diseased.  Here is a good sit for lots of information.  Good luck and thanks for treating your goldfish properly.  (:

Answer 8

you got what is neede air pump is optional due to your filter.

kOi keeper & goldfish keeper

Answer 9

Well you do NOT need a 40 gallon tank, an air pump,or a filter! Goldfish are happy in in a tank about 10 times their size and if you get a tank too big they will grow to fit in it. I have a small goldfish and he is perfectly content in his 1 and a half gallon tank without a filter. He has some rocks on the bottom and a fake plant. I feed him goldfish flakes twice a day and change his water once a week. I have had him for a little under a year. Hope this helped, you don't have to spend so much money for one fish, a goldfish none the less!

Answer 10

Well the filter will provide the air so long as you have some breakage in the water's surface, so no you don't need an airpump so long as you have the filter.

You will need rocks, around 40 pounds of them. and decorations so your fish feels secure.

Since you called it a container, Im not sure if this is a container like a rubbermaid container or an actualy aquarium. But if it is clear, get a background for the tank. It helps your fish feel safe and his personality will really come out.

Hope this helps!

*EDIT* I dissagree with Anna, as a fish is a fish, goldfish or not. and I believe no creature should be kept in such a small space as a 1.5 gallon tank. It is cruel, a 5 gallon at the least. For a single goldfish though, a 10 gallon is enough, thought the bigger the tank the happier the fish. but wiht a 10 gallon it should be much cheaper that way, its only 10 pounds of gravel, and a smaller filter. but that is totally up to you.

Answer 11

maybe air pump but you need gravel or rocks

Answer 12

Although goldfish seem to be a very easy fish to keep they are actually quite messy.  By that I mean than they produce a lot of waste and need a proper aquarium setup to survive.  A goldfish bowl in itself is an oxymoron because a goldfish could not survive in a simple bowl without daily water changes.

10 dollars for a 40 gallon tank is a great deal and I would definitely buy it.  You could probably keep 2 goldfish in this tank as long as you maintain it properly.  The air pump would be necessary if you choose to also use an undergravel filter which will help with the bioload of the goldfish.  As I said, goldfish produce a LOT of waste.

I suggest you pick up a library book or a couple magazines on the subject.

Answer 13

gravle (not rocks)you can add rocks as decor but back to question you also need a huge filter akay a gold fish in a tank needs about twice the size of the  tank size yes you need two air pumps its not checp and as easy as that good luck if ur going to that just build a pond yes 40 gallon is good and yes you need a filter and plants to