Adding New Fish

[GouramiGirl87]

Ok you guys, I started a Gourami tank a month or two ago, it was beautiful! Then one of my kissing Gouramis got ick, and even though I caught it quick, they all died. So now I'm starting over again. I currently have a chinese algae eater and a goldfish to work on the levels. How long should I cycle everything before I can start getting some "real" fish.
It is a 20 gallon with a penguin filter, (no bio wheel). Tank has currently been running for 2 1/2 weeks.
Thanks!

 

[Rooster]

Please please PLEASE read the pinned topic on cycling.... or you will just keep flushing fish !

 

[atmmachine816]

first of all chinese algae eater CAE lose taste for algae and attack fish and goldfish are coldwater Cae's are tropical two different temperatures and same with gouramis so you need to figure out first if you want goldfish or freshwater because you cant have both and do what rooster said

 

[dwarfgourami]

Cycling has been covered by previous posters, and the problems of coldwater and tropical. You will have to find a good home for your current fish at the end of the cycle- and add their replacements within 24 hours. The cycle is finished when ammonia and nitrites have spiked and gone down again and nitrates have gone up.

All fish will be sensitive to diseases and parasites, like ich, if the water stats aren't right, and the two things most likely to mess up water stats (apart from the process of cycling itself) are overfeeding and overstocking (keeping too many fish or fish that are too big).

As for size, with a 20 gallon tank you should really be looking at fish that don't grow much over 3-4 (not 10 inches, like kissing gouramis or Chinese Algae Eaters). So before you buy anything, you must go home and read up, check what it's adult size is going to be, also if it is a heavy waste producer, and whether it is a schooling fish. You can never do too much research! If it's gouramis you like, something like a trio (1 male, 2 females) of honey gouramis would be better for that tank.

 

[GouramiGirl87]

first of all chinese algae eater CAE lose taste for algae and attack fish and goldfish are coldwater Cae's are tropical two different temperatures and same with gouramis so you need to figure out first if you want goldfish or freshwater because you cant have both and do what rooster said

I'm actually hoping/planning on getting my goldfish his own little tank so he can have his own place, with the rest of my boyfriend's poor goldfish (left to fend with a jewel cichlid) and have my own goldfish rescue.
So yes, I am going to have a freshwater tank once it has cycled.
If/When I do move my goldfish, should I put him in warmwater conditions? or slowly work him back to coldwtaer?

 

[dwarfgourami]

first of all chinese algae eater CAE lose taste for algae and attack fish and goldfish are coldwater Cae's are tropical two different temperatures and same with gouramis so you need to figure out first if you want goldfish or freshwater because you cant have both and do what rooster said

I'm actually hoping/planning on getting my goldfish his own little tank so he can have his own place, with the rest of my boyfriend's poor goldfish (left to fend with a jewel cichlid) and have my own goldfish rescue.
So yes, I am going to have a freshwater tank once it has cycled.
If/When I do move my goldfish, should I put him in warmwater conditions? or slowly work him back to coldwtaer?

Slowly work him back to coldwater I'd say. You don't want to shock him, but in the long run coldwater will be better for him and he will live longer.

 

[emma12321]

And remember 20 gallons for the first goldfish and 10 gallons for each additional one. Please read the pinned topics in the coldwater section.

Emma