Cold Water Tank

[brads]

Hi guys, not been on here in ages, looks all different as well.
Any way... I'm thinking about changing my tank form tropical to cold water.
Will my current tropical media and gravel be ok to use with cold water fish? Is it just a case of take out he heater and put cold water fish in?
How many cold water fish for a 42Gal tank?

 

[dave_oddballs]

your probably best posting this in the coldwater section as there is more of a chance somebody will give youi a good answer there, but yes im pretty sure it would just be a case of removing the heater, probably do a big water change and off you go.

 

[VaegaVic]

Just stay with tropical. Reasons are as follows;
- Very few choices in terms of fish except goldfish.
- Common goldfish need atleast 100L per fish,
- Fancy goldfish need atleast 50L per fish,
- That's 2 common or 4 fancies in your tank,
- Coldwater fish are alot messier than trops meaning more water changes and more cleaning,
- More emotional investment in each fish, if one dies, you're going to be distraught as YOU raised it.

Just stick with tropical and perhaps turn your tank into a biotope or a species only tank for something interesting E.g. Dwarf cichlids or Malawis?

 

[Honeythorn]

You will only be able to fit 1-2 goldfish in a tank that small, but you could try subtropical fish like zebra or leopard danios, and White cloud mountain minnows if you want smaller fish.

Coldwater is absolutely no easier in any way than basic tropicals by the way. The only main difference is the heater/temperature fish can be kept at.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

You'll be able to keep four fancies goldfish in there, but not much of anything else with them, or have one or two and find some other stuff compatible with them. Or, find completely different types of fish. Go to the coldwater section, there is a pinned topic on coldwater fish other than goldfish. What ever you do though don't get common goldfish or koi, they are pond fish, not tank fish.

Also, remember, there are sub-tropical fish that can go in lower temps or even be mixed with fancy goldfish, given it's done properly.

If you can find them, Rhinogobius Wui, neat little gobies that prefer unheated tanks.

 

[drobbyb]

Dojo loaches, white cloud mountain minnows, goldfish, sunfish, etc. Not all sunfish are temperate water fish, but I can go the the lake here and catch them all day long

It's true that you are limited to what fish you can keep though. It really is as simple as pulling out your heater though as the same species of bacteria breakdown the waste, but at a slower rate than in tropical temps. Your gravel doesn't need to be changed.