What Can I Do To Improve My Goldfish's Life?

[KatieD]

I must begin by saying that I realise I am VERY ignorant to the needs of my fish and would very much like to drastically improve his life.

I own a lone 20 year old "Sarsara Comet", called Big. A few weeks ago, Big's companion (Little) died due to a swim bladder problem. I've had Big since I was 5 and he's never really grown, probably as a result of my ignorance to his care - he and Little were prizes from the fair.
Big and Little had always lived in a 60l tank with an air pump and attached sponge filter that I rinsed out in tank water. I've always used water conditioner.
In the past, I had tried to introduce other Sarsara Comets to Big (I went to a national chain who recommended I try introducing 2 smaller Comets) and on both occassions my old fish Little (who was a lot bigger, I was being an awkward little madam when I named them) attacked and killed them.
I realise now that 60l wasn't anywhere near big enough for 4 goldfish and feel very guilty about this.

I spoke to a close friend who breeds goldfish who has given me a new tank:
This one: http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...ver-p-1535.html
which I believe is 80l as she felt it would give me more room to introduce 2 more fish. She has also said that she doesn't think Big is a Sarsara Comet at all, but actually a stunted Wakin Big is a pearl colour. She's suggested I introduce 2 Moors as she says these are better suited to life in an aquarium than normal goldfish who like the space that ponds offer.
Would 80l and a surface area of 455mmx490mm be sufficient for 2 more fish? Big is only about 7cm long.
What would you recommend I introduce to give Big some company?

My friend told me to 'establish' the new tank by putting a generous cup of water from Big's tank into my new aquarium and running it until I got 0's on the ammonia and nitrite tests - I started doing this this evening and she said to do my first tests on Saturday. Is this 'fishless cycling'? If not, what else do I need to do?

Am I doing the right thing? Help!

Finally, would it be ok to use Big's old rock decorations in the new tank? One of them is hollow and I am not sure whether these are suitable as I have read that water can stagnate inside and cause problems so I removed it.

In all honesty, with my complete ignorance, it is nothing short of a miracle that the very tough Big has survived this long, but I also hope that by educating myself and getting him some friends I can make amends and give him the old age he deserves.

Many, many thanks for any advice you can offer.

Katie

 

[LukeFishwalker]

Yeah, what you describe is a sort of fishless cycling. You are essentially adding ammonia into the new tank via the water in the old one. You are just waiting until enough bacteria build-up to "eat" the ammonia and nitrite. Since most bacteria accumulate in the filter, you can drastically reduce your wait time by using the filter media from your old filter in the new one.

Here is a really good link for cycling.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Hi Katie, well done for deciding to get your fish a bigger tank! I am sure Big will appreciate it. I got a goldfish when I was five too although he only lived to be fourteen years old... You should post some pics!

Adding the tank water is not the same as fishless cycling... it *may* have added a bit of good bacteria but unless you are also adding a source of ammonia / food then these will just die off. Please read the thread that LukeFishwalker recommended carefully for an explanation of how fishless cycling works. I found it really helpful when I was doing mine!

Since you already have a filter running in your old tank, you should be able to do a very quick fishless cycle by transferring part of the the old filter media into your new tank (I think this is called "cloning" a filter) so you shouldn't have to wait too long before Big is swimming around in his (her?) new home.

There is a coldwater subforum with lots of good info on Goldies -- you might want to post there for more advice on tankmates and stocking. Good luck!

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

My recommendation is simply to transfer both the old fish and the old filter to the new tank. It's filters that cycle...not tanks, and there is no harm in running both filters on the new tank. Eventually you'll have two cycled filters and you can remove the old one after a few months if you like. Just be sure to properly acclimate the fish to the new tank water.

 

[KatieD]

Just a quick update really, I have put one of the filter sponges from my old tank into my new one and added 'cycle' to both tanks. I'm also monitoring my new tank carefully so I can be sure it is ready for Big before he moves.
This is his new tank in the process of cycling