New Tank Dilemma

[LyndseyB46]

I have recently bought a new 14l tank for my daughter and set up as per fish shop instructions (no cycle etc) we added 1 goldfish and now nitrate and nitrite levels are very high. Did partial water changes daily because test kit said the levels were so high it was necessary. After lots of reading on the subject ( become a little obsessed!) decided that a bigger tank would be far better for the fish and and subsequently purchased a 64 litre tank? Tank is now set up! Everything washed, de-chlorinated etc. Added tetrapet filter start and now water cloudy.

Now here is the dilemma. The smaller tank with the fish still has very high levels of nitrates/nitrites. The fish shop told be to stop doing daily water changes as this will do the fish more harm than good. I wanted to do a fish less cycle in the new tank to avoid the same problem. However, I am very worried about my fish in the tiny tank! Especially as I have been told to stop doing the partial water changes.

The question is this.... Do I abandon old small tank, move fish to new tank and do a fish in cycle? Or do I continue with daily partial water changes in small tank to try and reduce nitrates etc and carry on fish less cycle in the new big one?

Obviously I wish I had done so much more research before purchasing fishy! But want to make the right decision as to which option is going to cause him least amount of distress. The fish seems very happy! He's alert and happily swims around ( but that might be because my six year old daughter has called him Diggy-Dig!!)

Any help would be much appreciated.

Lynz

 

[Aquascaper]

Firstly, carry on doing water changes to keep the parameters in check as best you can regardless of what the LFS told you whilst you decide. Water changes are the only way to maintain good water during a fish-in cycle.

I personally would move the fish and do a fish-in cycle on the new tank. As there's more water volume it should be a bit easier to keep things in check.

The other option, doing a fishless cycle on the new tank while the old one carries on fish-in, may take a month or so to finish and this would probably harm the fish more being in that small tank whilst cycling for that long.

 

[LyndseyB46]

Thanks so much for your help! Couldn't decide which would be the best thing to do! But had sort of come to the same conclusion. I do plan to get one more fish, but will wait until the cycle has finished?

 

[Aquascaper]

Cycle the tank and see where you go from there.

I will point out (before anyone else jumps on you for this) that goldfish are not best suited for aquariums and the recommended tank size for one is 30g so you will find that trying to add anything else will be frowned upon.

The reason for the large tank size requirement is that goldfish have a massive bioload (in other words produce a lot of waste) and small tanks usually fail to maintain water quality because of it. Also, some types can grow well over 8" so really belong in a pond (those termed 'fancy' goldfish are more acceptable but are still poo factories).

The ideal scenario would be to return the goldfish or rehome it somehow (friends pond, etc.) as this would allow you to have a larger number of small fish in the new larger tank once cycled. I understand this would be hard to do with your daughters obvious affection for it so it's maybe not an option but worth bearing in mind should the goldfish not survive the cycle process. Should the worst happen and the goldfish succumbs to the cycle process please dissuade your daughter from getting another one but try and steer her towards something like platys, guppys, etc. (livebearers) as they are bright, colourful and they will breed in the tank which is exciting in itself

 

[LyndseyB46]

Cycle the tank and see where you go from there.

I will point out (before anyone else jumps on you for this) that goldfish are not best suited for aquariums and the recommended tank size for one is 30g so you will find that trying to add anything else will be frowned upon.

The reason for the large tank size requirement is that goldfish have a massive bioload (in other words produce a lot of waste) and small tanks usually fail to maintain water quality because of it. Also, some types can grow well over 8" so really belong in a pond (those termed 'fancy' goldfish are more acceptable but are still poo factories).

The ideal scenario would be to return the goldfish or rehome it somehow (friends pond, etc.) as this would allow you to have a larger number of small fish in the new larger tank once cycled. I understand this would be hard to do with your daughters obvious affection for it so it's maybe not an option but worth bearing in mind should the goldfish not survive the cycle process. Should the worst happen and the goldfish succumbs to the cycle process please dissuade your daughter from getting another one but try and steer her towards something like platys, guppys, etc. (livebearers) as they are bright, colourful and they will breed in the tank which is exciting in itself

Is it too cold to put a goldfish in an outdoor pond in England this time of year? Have a huge pond in parents garden!

 

[Aquascaper]

If you acclimatise it properly by floating it in a bag for 30mins, then add some pond water to the bag and leave for another 15mins it would do just fine. This time of year ponds and lakes are at their warmest due to being heated all summer by the sun. As the water temperature drops the fish will adapt as well.

Just to clarify though, is it a 'fancy' goldfish (long wavy tail sort of thing) or a 'normal' fish shape? Do you know the name of the type? The reason I ask is 'fancy' goldfish are not as hardy.

 

[LyndseyB46]

No it's a normal goldfish not an Oranda etc. he's a hardy little thing!

 

[LyndseyB46]

If you acclimatise it properly by floating it in a bag for 30mins, then add some pond water to the bag and leave for another 15mins it would do just fine. This time of year ponds and lakes are at their warmest due to being heated all summer by the sun. As the water temperature drops the fish will adapt as well.

Just to clarify though, is it a 'fancy' goldfish (long wavy tail sort of thing) or a 'normal' fish shape? Do you know the name of the type? The reason I ask is 'fancy' goldfish are not as hardy.

Now that we have decided to put 'Diggey-Dig' in the pond. After my new 64 litre tank has cycled, how many guppies/platys would you suggest?

 

[Aquascaper]

Congratulations, I'm sure the goldfish will love being in a pond

As for stocking your 64l.....we have 5 platys in ours along with 3 dwarf frogs as an idea.

General guideline is 1" of fish per gallon so I would say 7 platys or guppys which will allow a little room for any fry that survive.

Best thing to do would be take your daughter to the LFS armed with your new knowledge and look for things you like. As you'll have a few weeks of fishless cycling to get through you'll have plenty of time to read up on them and propose stocking ideas for feedback on here.

 

[LyndseyB46]

Congratulations, I'm sure the goldfish will love being in a pond

As for stocking your 64l.....we have 5 platys in ours along with 3 dwarf frogs as an idea.

General guideline is 1" of fish per gallon so I would say 7 platys or guppys which will allow a little room for any fry that survive.

Best thing to do would be take your daughter to the LFS armed with your new knowledge and look for things you like. As you'll have a few weeks of fishless cycling to get through you'll have plenty of time to read up on them and propose stocking ideas for feedback on here.

Brill ! Thanks so much for your help. I'm sure you (and people like you) must get so bored answering all the newbie questions!!!

 

[Aquascaper]

I'd be lying if I said no but it makes a nice change to have someone take heed, research themselves and do everything correctly