New Coldwater Tank
- Thread starter evertonal
- Start date
Truck
UKAPS
your tank is too small for 5 goldfish!im guessing 60 litres? you would need a 220-250 litre tank for 5 fancy goldfish, if theyre commons they need to go in a pond
Hello and welcome to the forum. 
As truck mentioned, 5 goldfish need a bigger tank.They are big waste producers. General rule of thumb is that you need 20 gallon for a single goldfish and 10 additional gallons for each additional fish. So 5 fish need 40 gallons.
Fish hide when they are stressed. Most likely, your tank isn't cycled so the ammonia and possibly nitrite are very high with 5 big waste producers like goldfish. Do you have a test kit and have you tested the water yet? if you have 5-in-1 strips, they are pretty much useless for now as they don't test for ammonia and that is the most important thing you need to test for right now (strips are also terribly inaccurate).
How long has the tank been set up? If it's been over 5 days, then you need to start doing twice daily 50% water changes until you can test the water and find out what the ammonia and nitrite levels are. Read this thread below on cycling with fish. Also read the other articles in the Beginners Resource Center as they will all be helpful as you woork your way through the cycling process.
As truck mentioned, 5 goldfish need a bigger tank.They are big waste producers. General rule of thumb is that you need 20 gallon for a single goldfish and 10 additional gallons for each additional fish. So 5 fish need 40 gallons.
Fish hide when they are stressed. Most likely, your tank isn't cycled so the ammonia and possibly nitrite are very high with 5 big waste producers like goldfish. Do you have a test kit and have you tested the water yet? if you have 5-in-1 strips, they are pretty much useless for now as they don't test for ammonia and that is the most important thing you need to test for right now (strips are also terribly inaccurate).
How long has the tank been set up? If it's been over 5 days, then you need to start doing twice daily 50% water changes until you can test the water and find out what the ammonia and nitrite levels are. Read this thread below on cycling with fish. Also read the other articles in the Beginners Resource Center as they will all be helpful as you woork your way through the cycling process.
silverrabbit
Fish Addict
If they're hiding when you switch the tank lights on, then are you giving them time to adjust? I tend to have my room light on or curtains pulled open for half an hour so the fish aren't shocked by sudden light appearing.
If you can't get a bigger tank for them just yet, then it might be an idea to add on an extra filter - an external one would be better
Fancy goldies are great
If you can't get a bigger tank for them just yet, then it might be an idea to add on an extra filter - an external one would be better
Fancy goldies are great
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
Yes, agree with the above posts. You may be able to save the lives of these fish if you can perform the twice daily 50% water changes (with dechlor) until you can rehome most or all of them. If you need to stick with this size tank and if its too small for even one goldie/20g guideline, then going with tropicals may be the answer for you, its actually easier than goldfish.
~~waterdrop~~
~~waterdrop~~
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