Cylcing Tank With Comet Goldfish

[jordan.m]

Hey all,

I've recently set up a 20g tank and I plan on having tropical fish in there. I purchased some comet goldfish for 26 cents a piece, but the woman at PetSmart said using them to cycle a tropical tank is not a good idea because the ammonia levels would be "messed up". Is this true? I thought ammonia was just ammonia...

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

It will be difficult to cycle it with a single comet goldfish, cycling with fish takes months and if you don't have any intention on keeping the fish in the long, it isn't really fair to buy it just so you cycle a tank with it. You may also make the fish sick from the stress of the cycling process, although comets are hardy fish, they are not invinceable and can be affected by the same problems as any other aquarium fish.
Fishless cycling (cycling with no fish in the tank, just pure ammonia) takes a lot less time to do and you can stock the tank a lot quicker and fuller when it is completed and won't have to worry about rehoming any unwanted fish or fear making any fish sick or dead from the cycling process. In any case, you will need some accurate test kits (the Master ones are good) for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
How much do you already understand/know about how the water chemistry works in your tank?
Here is a link on how to do a fishless cycle;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365

Link to beginner pinned articles of all sorts, very handy info in here;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=88643

Will you be keeping the comet at all in the long term and do you have any other tanks?

 

[jordan.m]

I have a planted 10g tank with three guppies, a platy, and a black molly. I also have one of the 5-in-1 or whatever test kits that does everything.

I understand what you are saying about buying fish for the sake of cycling a tank - that's just cruel. I actually bought four of these guys, and I plan on keeping them. I just want to make sure that I will be able to add tropical fish in the future!

Jordan

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I have a planted 10g tank with three guppies, a platy, and a black molly. I also have one of the 5-in-1 or whatever test kits that does everything.

I understand what you are saying about buying fish for the sake of cycling a tank - that's just cruel. I actually bought four of these guys, and I plan on keeping them. I just want to make sure that I will be able to add tropical fish in the future!

Jordan

You will be able to add tropical fish to the tank after it is cycled, however you won't be able to with the comets- comet goldfish are very much coldwater fish, while tropical fish are tropical (if you keep the fish in the wrong temps, they will suffer in the long term for it health-wise). The other problem is that comets will eat any fish that fit into their mouths, and these goldfish can grow to over a foot long given the right conditions.
Having said that, the comet goldfish will outgrow a 20gal very quickly, for a group of 4 you are looking at a minimum of an 80gal tank due to the size these fish grow to and their high activity levels. An easy way to house comets is to dig yourself a pond with a minimum of 3ft depth, comet goldfish are very suited to pond life (as long as the pond is filtered) as they can easily tolerate freezing temperatures during the winter times.
When you take the comets out after the cycle is completed, make sure you replace them with some tropical fish ASAP as the filter bacteria will start to die once the ammonia source (i.e. fish poop/pee) is removed.

 

[InaneCathode]

That and most comets are festering disease bags (the 26 cent ones are probably feeders..)

 

[gsta13]

I have a planted 10g tank with three guppies, a platy, and a black molly. I also have one of the 5-in-1 or whatever test kits that does everything.

I understand what you are saying about buying fish for the sake of cycling a tank - that's just cruel. I actually bought four of these guys, and I plan on keeping them. I just want to make sure that I will be able to add tropical fish in the future!

Jordan

An easy way to house comets is to dig yourself a pond with a minimum of 3ft depth, comet goldfish are very suited to pond life (as long as the pond is filtered) as they can easily tolerate freezing temperatures during the winter times.

lol they can survive freezing temps but cant surrvive slighty warm temps crazy.......
well thats evolution for ya...

 

[jordan.m]

Sooo the people at PetSmart lied to me when they said comet goldfish could live in waters up to 76 degrees Fahrenheit...

 

[Kyrielle]

Sooo the people at PetSmart lied to me when they said comet goldfish could live in waters up to 76 degrees Fahrenheit...

It's probably possible, but not good for the fish in the long term. Just have to remember with these franchise-type stores that they will try to say something they don't know is true or not true (a mark of ignorance more so than deception) if it will get you to buy something.

 

[InaneCathode]

I have a planted 10g tank with three guppies, a platy, and a black molly. I also have one of the 5-in-1 or whatever test kits that does everything.

I understand what you are saying about buying fish for the sake of cycling a tank - that's just cruel. I actually bought four of these guys, and I plan on keeping them. I just want to make sure that I will be able to add tropical fish in the future!

Jordan

An easy way to house comets is to dig yourself a pond with a minimum of 3ft depth, comet goldfish are very suited to pond life (as long as the pond is filtered) as they can easily tolerate freezing temperatures during the winter times.

lol they can survive freezing temps but cant surrvive slighty warm temps crazy.......
well thats evolution for ya...

Whats even more crazy is, when the water drops below a certain temperature most goldfish go into a state of suspended animation where they dont have to eat, and barely move. (cant remember what the temperature it is, but somewhere around freezing.