Fish Bowl Setup And Help

[Calvert86]

I have a gold moor and black telescope in a 25l fish bowl...

Doing my research after purchasing the fish I now realise they are fairly messy and require regular water changes!!

I'd like to add a filter to the tank...I was thinking a external filter would be easier to hide for the fish bowl does anyone have recommendations for setting this up? Best filtration suggestions for bowls?

In addition I'd like to add some foliage to the tank to add some colours and somewhere for the fish to hide...I'd like some whispy grass of some sort of people have recommendations??

Basically looking for some tips to help improve my setup and maintain the bowl...don't mind spending money to create a tank which hopefully becomes a main feature in our home!

Thanks for any help

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi there, and welcome to the forum
 
I'm afraid I'm going to start by giving you the bad news; goldfish can't be kept in a small bowl like yours. Thy need a tank that is at least 100l, if they are to grow properly and stay healthy.
 
If you follow this link; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/417799-goldfish-for-beginners/you'll find a beginner's guide to goldfish that might help make things clearer.

 

[techen]

Goldfish are massive fish, They start tiny...
 

 

[Vethian]

DIY sponge filter until you can get a larger tank.  
 
[youtube]https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMaRucQYFM[/youtube]
 

 

[Calvert86]

Thanks for the link Vethiam much appreciated.
At this stage I just don't have the space to get a larger tank setup so will have to try make the most of a bad situation until I decide where I could place a larger tank.
In the mean time I'd like to look at filtration and understand some more about what is required. Adding some plants would also hopefully make it a more pleasant environment until the bigger upgrade.

 

[Vethian]

I put one of the filters together just now.  I used a PVC pipe and end cap.  I drilled a few holes in the top.  I also drill a hole in the side to feed the tube (kept floating out if not) and another hole for a suction cup. 
 


Make sure you feed the air line to the bottom of the pipe.  the bubbles flowing up create a vacuum and draw water through.  I had everything but the filter sponge...a two count cost me about $2.50

 

[fluttermoth]

You really need a bigger tank as a matter of urgency; even a large plastic storage box would be better for your fish than staying in a tiny tank like that; I really can't emphasise that enough.
 
If you don't get them into a decent volume of water very soon, they'll start suffering from all sorts of health issues, any one of which could be fatal.
 
Next most vital thing (in some ways even more vital than a filter) is getting yourself some test kits. Fish produce ammonia in their wastes, which is extremely toxic to them, and you need to be able to test for that, so as to be able to keep the levels as low as possible.
 
Once you've got a filter, that will slowly be colonised by friendly bacteria, which turn the ammonia into nitrite. Nitrite is also toxic, and needs to be kept as low as possible. Eventually the bacteria will start to turn the nitrite into nitrate, which is only toxic at relatively high levels.
 
If you have a read of some of the threads in the 'Cycle your Tank' sub forum, you should get an idea of how everything should work.

 

[Bubbelzzz]

I'm sorry to say that I would also suggest that you buy a  bigger tank for your fishes. Goldfish become very large and can reach lengths of more then 20cm (8inch) and they will grow fast. If you don't get a larger tank quickly than your fish will all ready start suffering. This suffering will probalby not be reversed.
 
For these fish I would suggest a tank of at least 1 meter (3ft).
 
For now you could add an above mentioned DIY sponge filter. Further you could do more regularly water changes, preferably once a day till your tank is properly cycled.