Hi

I've bought an all-glass tank (with glass lid). I've filled it with water and set it up ready for adding goldfish. There is condensation on the inside of the lid. Is this normal? Most tanks seem to have the plastic lids with the fitted light etc so I haven't seen many glass-lid tanks in action. It's in a room which is sometimes heated (just brielfy in the morning and at night) - is this the cause?

Also I plan to buy 2 goldfish and plants on the weekend. Can you tell if you're getting a male or female? Do people worry about this or hope that they don't breed? (because if they do my tank will be too small).

Thanks

Hi vic, do you know what the temp in the tank is as the water can condence on the lid, it happens in all tropical tanks. would be worthwhile getting a thermometer for it you will prob find when the heating is on the ambent temp inside the tank is enough for the water to condense.

how long have ou had the tank for ?? has it been cycled and have you tested the water stats to be sure it is safe for fish to go into ???

what size tank do you have as goldfish to require fairly bigger tanks than some tropical species and very good filtration as goldfish are messy things.

Scott

If you've only just set the tank up then it won't be ready for fish at the weekend - please check out the pinned topics at the top of the forum for information about cycling your tank (this does not mean 'letting it settle' for a week).

Condensation is perfectly normal.

How big is the tank, and how many litres or gallons does it hold? Goldfish grow very large, even the fancy varieties, and require large tanks with powerful filtration. The common or comet varieties are really only suitable for ponds.

You can only tell males from females when they are in breeding condition, which usually happens in the spring with fish over two years old or so. The males get small white bumps on the leading edge of the pectoral fins and the gill plates and display aggressive chasing behaviour, whilst the females may swell noticeably on one side where eggs are developing. Breeding in an aquarium environment is unlikely as the water temperature is usually too stable to spur them into breeding behaviour. It will be almost impossible to tell males from females in the shop, as most of the fish will be juveniles.

Agreed. Condensation is perfectly normal. I have a glass top. Just don't open it so quickly that it throws water drops at you.

And, yes, you need to set aside a month or two and fishless cycle your system. Otherwise you goldfish may get permanent gill damage from ammonia poisoning and/or suffocation damage from nitrite poisoning. (Telling you this in the shop tends to have a negative effect on sales ) If you're lucky, it may only take a few weeks.

You'll need to read carefully about it in the pinned topics and start out by getting a liquid-reagent-based test kit. Keep up your thread here and many members can help you out with the information. Goldfish need really huge tanks ideally. Breeding is almost never an issue.

~~waterdrop~~