180l Tank-want To Put Cheap Fish In It?

[KH225]

Not sure if I need to go through the whole cycling etc?
Also not sure if we'll be heating the water as most likely only going for goldfish (tank was free! could really have done with a smaller one!)
So wondering if I can just put the filter on, fill it up and put some fish in when the water is all settled? Or is the cycling vital even to goldfish types?
Thank you, sorry if this is too basic/what not!

 

[JustFrozen]

you'll have to cycle it still, but you can probably get away with a fish-in cycle if you dont add too many at once

 

[KH225]

ok, thanks.
We're only putting 2-4 fish in so should we start out with 2 and go from there?
Are there any handy guides to 'fish in' cycling?

 

[JustFrozen]

yeah there's a handy guide stickied at the top of this forum.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306

of course it would still be best to do fishless but it sounds like u want some fish in there asap. the rest of the questions someone else well have to answer, i'm still new and dont feel confident enough to give advice on them

 

[divegirl]

Hi and welcome to TFF

How big is your tank?
Goldfish produce a massive amount of waste and as such need 20 usg minimum for the first fish and 10 usg for every fish added after that.

See here.... http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=418

Also it may seem a cheap alternative to do a fish-in cycle, but please consider the following: fish can and do die [suffering a painful un-necessary death] during a fish-in cycle, if you decide that you do actually care for your fish you will need to do daily [sometimes twice daily...or three times!] to keep the ammonia levels at zero. Do you have a test kit? Fishless or fish-in you're going to need one!

Please have a good read through the Beginners section....then make your decisions.

Lisa x

 

[KH225]

I've had a decent read, the tank is about 3 and a half foot by 2.5ft by 1.5ft-180l.

 

[JustFrozen]

How big is your tank?

180l = 50 us gallons. i think he's good on that, as long as he doesnt put a bunch in

 

[divegirl]

Opps...missed the size in the title

Ok....so you can have 4 goldies max....well when I say max, it depends on the filtration.....I'm sure some mathmatical genius will be along soon to tell you waht LPH [litres per hour] you need soon.....I hate maths....probably why all my tanks have over kill filtration on them ....better safe than sorry

Lisa x

 

[Wills]

Hi there welcome to the forum cycling is really really important part of fish keeping - and its going to happen fish in or fishless if you do it fish in you will need to do water changes everyday of about 25 gallons (half your tank) or you can do it fishless and add in a few milliliters of ammonia to your tank for a few weeks and your sorted a filter does not just work because you plug it in it gradually grows a certain type of bacteria that removes the toxins your fish produce, but its up to you how you do it. If you just plug your filter in and chuck in some fish they might not last a week so at the end of the day you are wasting your time and your money, granted goldfish are hardy and could survive it but you have to realize the worst outcome. I'm just going to be honest with you if your not really into it dont start it because fish keeping is a hobby that requires a certain amount of commitment and if you cant give this then its not the hobby for you. But if you can make the commitment such as the cycling in either form and the necessary water changes then go for it, its a very rewarding hobby and goldfish make fantastic wet pets. As for filtration you should aim for a filter that can do 10x filtration on your tank so a filter that does 1800 liters of water an hour for your tank which will probably be an external or a few internals.

Also something else to mention, you would have to keep fancy goldfish like the fan tails and black moor etc as these get about 6 inches but not commons as they get to a foot long and need a big tank or pond.

I wouldnt be put off tropicals as all you need to add is a heater which for your size of tank would be about £20 (if you are in UK) maybe less if you get one off the net . A lot of tropicals are as easy to keep as goldfish and you have a lot more variety and often your tropicals are roughly the same as your goldfish in price.

Wills

 

[Haych]

hiya

if you didnt want such a big tank, why dont you offer a swap with some cash your way?

 

[Truck]

180 litres can only support 2 fancy goldfish, as long as external filtration is good.

 

[OldMan47]

As Truck said, a 180 litre tank is not a big tank for goldfish, it is a moderately adequate tank for small numbers only. Trading in that tank for a smaller one would mean that you could no longer have room for goldfish. Don't let any of us talk you out of fish that you like. We each have our own preferences but only goodeids are worth keeping. Everyone who keeps something else is just confused about what matters.

 

[JustFrozen]

if you do it fish in you will need to do water changes everyday of about 25 gallons (half your tank)

good point, i forgot about how large the tank is when i suggested fish-in cycle. the water changes would be a huge pain (and potentially costly), but then again would it really be every day? i mean one little fish is not going to raise the ammonia level of 50 gallons quickly. as long as you keep testing, i would think you would only need to do them when you detect the level getting too high or when the nitrite spikes (or is otherwise too high). same for nitrates too for that matter, likely towards the end of the cycle.

sorry if i'm not making any sense

 

[Wills]

if you do it fish in you will need to do water changes everyday of about 25 gallons (half your tank)

good point, i forgot about how large the tank is when i suggested fish-in cycle. the water changes would be a huge pain (and potentially costly), but then again would it really be every day? i mean one little fish is not going to raise the ammonia level of 50 gallons quickly. as long as you keep testing, i would think you would only need to do them when you detect the level getting too high or when the nitrite spikes (or is otherwise too high). same for nitrates too for that matter, likely towards the end of the cycle.

sorry if i'm not making any sense

I'm afraid not one goldfish can easily make all the waste by them selves they are little poop machines

 

[Haych]

i wasnt trying to get him to give up what he wants, in his 1st post he said he didnt really want 180l, so i suggested swapping for something he DID want