Getting an aquarium-wht is required in cleaning?

Question

im thinking about getting a 10 -20 gallon aquarium (havent decided yet) and keeping about 5-10 goldfishes in one tank or less depending upon the tank size.

I want to know wht is required in cleaning it. I heard about the gravel vacuum-does tht vacuunm suck the water out too or just the fish p**p and the gunk on the gravel.

And I really don't want to get plecos because im afraid its gonna grow really big so is it really required? i dont mind getting one...

Answer 1

honestly if you are afraid of plecos getting big u should be afraid of goldfish getting big!

meet bruce.....

http://cellar.org/2002/recordgoldfish.jp...

he is an oranda which is a type of goldfish!

one goldfish needs 20 gallons with a filter and a airstone or bubbler!

I would get the 20 gallon and one goldfish (fantail moore oranda lion head )

if you get the tank u would need

1 a gravel vac

2 water conditioner

3 aquarium salt to reduce stress

4net

here is a video of how great of pets goldfish are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUhgGhi7W...

Answer 2

The Pleco is not required at all, and it would really grow too big for this tank size.  Your 10 gold fishes would also grow too big for this tank size as well. However, you might be ok with a couple of them.  If you want a schooling fish for this size of aquarium you might want to consider some tetras or small tropical fish that like to shoal and don't grow too big.  You would also need a heater.

The gravel vacume sucks out water as you vacume, which is fine, because it's good to replace around 20% of your water once a week and also to vacume you tank regularly.. with water changes.  Then you can add some fresh water to the tank with a water conditioner which is sold at fish stores, even at walmart.  The water conditioner should be added with the water you add to the tank after every water change (and any other time you add water to your tank) because it helps to get rid of chlorine which is very harmful/poisionous to your fish.

It doesn't take much time to vacume and remove some water once a week but it is so important that you do this to keep your tank and fish healthy from disease and other things.

You will need to cycle your tank for a while (about 6 weeks or so) to ensure that you have the proper bacteria in your tank to support the health of your fish.  If you don't properly cycle it first, it can be a nightmare, with lots of fish losses.  Some people do cycle their tank with a goldfish while the bad bacteria builds up.. ammonia, and nitrites.  Finally around 6 weeks the poisonous ammonia and nitrites convert into nitrates, which generally protects your fish from any further build up of ammonia and nitrites. Then you can add more fish slowly and not overfeed (adding many fish too quickly and overfeeding would cause an ammonia spike again.)

It is good to purchase a testing kit to ensure that ammonia and nitrites are zero before adding anymore (or any) fish. And to continue to check weekly, so you can deal with an ammonia spike (daily water changes) before it kills your fish.

Some people do a fishless cycle where they take some gravel from a cycled tank, or some filter media from a cycled tank and add it to their new tank and allow the ammonia to convert to nitrites and then to nitrates.  Really, the levels of all three should be at zero, although some nitrates are ok.

Ohh and please don't toss out your filter media after 6 weeks like the box tells you to do, this will only make you have to go through this process of cycling all over again.  If you have to change something in your filter just change one part at a time. I rinse mine out lightly and regularly with tank water and I don't throw out that media/good bacteria unless it's falling apart!  And I add one part of the filter media and wait atleast 6 weeks before changing another part

I know this is a lot, but it gets much easier to deal with as your tank matures.  The worst thing is to keep losing fish to new tank syndrome when we don't have to (I think this is often when people give up what can be a wonderful hobby).  It's hard to be patient tho when we all just want some fish in our tank!

Sorry to be so long winded!  It is all about tank maintenance which is so important to your new fish :)

Good luck and happy fish keeping!

Answer 3

I just have to say this to you now, so that you don't make the same mistakes several of us have made in the past. If you want goldfish, it will require that you get at least a 15 gallon for one, and another 10 gallons on top of that for every one after that. So let's say for 5, you will want at least a 55 gallon tank. If you have never kept fish before, don't go with goldfish, they are not a good starter fish no matter what others tell you. I would like to recommend you go for the biggest you can possibly get, the 20 gallon would be an excellent starter tank. I suggest stocking it with some easy hardy fish like tetras to start, then getting into others as you go along. Guppies are easy, but they breed like crazy and you don't want that responsibility right to start.

You will want to cycle your tank before adding all your fish, and remember to only add a few fish at a time, overstocking a new tank too quickly can result in your fish dying. In the first few months your new tank is running it will be very important to remember these things to be successful. Here is a link on how to cycle your tank with fish http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php.

Now for cleaning. Yes you absolutely need a gravel vacuum. Get one that is suitable to the size of your tank. I suggest after your tank is fully cycled, do 10%-25% water changes once a week depending on how your tank is stocked. And yes the vacuum will get all the waste and suck the water out at the same time. If you're not heavily stocked you can get away with vacuuming the gravel once every 2 weeks. You just stick the siphon end into the gravel and let the water toss the gravel a bit, then move onto the next section, you will get the hang of it. Also you will not need to rinse or replace your filter media with every water change, Rinse media 1-2 times a month, in a bucket of tank water, and you should only have to replace everything but the carbon (replace with every filter cleaning) every 6 months or so.

You absolutely do not need a pleco, most species grow quite large, and they are big waste producers. You can try other algae eaters like otocinclus, siamese algae eaters, or bottom feeders like cory cats, shrimp etc. Good luck and I hope all goes well :)

Edit: If you are not using goldfish in your tank, do not cycle it with goldfish. They require much different needs than tropical fish. A common misconception because feeder goldfish are so cheap to buy. I would say get about 4 zebra danios if you are wanting to cycle your tank with fish. You can always return them to the store when you are done with them, and some stores (not usually chain stores) will give you a credit back for them.

As well a good tip for feeding, since many beginners (I was once there too) tend to over feed their fish. First off get suitable foods for your fish, and try to mix different varieties in there (don't think you would want to eat the same thing everyday) it will keep a well balanced diet for your fish. Feed them only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes, if there is any left over food, remove it with a net right after and feed them a little less next time. You will want to make sure you don't over feed, because this can lead to your water quality going down hill fast.

Answer 4

hi

20 gallons will hold 1 fancy goldfish

50 gallons will hold one common/comet goldfish

five fancy goldfish need 60 gallons

10 fancy goldfish need 110 gallons

add 30 gallons to each for common/comet goldfish

as for cleaning

do regular water changes

wipe down the sides

get a good filter (all fish need filters)

i would go for the 20 gallon and get 10-15 white cloud mountain minnows (coldwater)

need help

read my profile

good luck

happy fish keeping

edit: goldfish dont make good first fish

they are messy and big