I just set up a 10 gallon tank with 4 fantail goldfish yesterday. I have gravel, plastic plants for them to hide in, and a filter. While researching fantail diets, I came across "cycling" - the process to build up the bacteria in the tank. I don't know what to do now that I have already placed the fish in the tank. Do I definately have to cycle the tank? Or will they be able to live happily and healthily without it? Also, I have already spent close to $ 80 on everything. Will I have to buy ammonia and a water tester? Or can I perform the cycling with fish food?
Hi Jessica -
I can appreciate your concern about your newly aqcuired fancy goldfish.
I have to say you have not educated yourself on how to care for your fish. It isn't as simple as most people think it is. First of all a ten gallon aquarium is much to small for 4 fantail goldfish. These fish grow to a very large size and require an aquarium no less than 20 gallons to begin with. Even that size will be too small within a few months. I have links to sites that will help you with educating yourself with the care and keeping of goldfish such as what size aquariums are suitable, efficient power filters, cycling your aquarium, and much much more.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
It is always best to completely cycle an aquarium before you introduce any fish. At this point it can go either way with your current goldfish. They could possibly hang in there and survive, or not. There is no reason to remove them and place them into another holding container because they will be in the same situation they are already in. You should invest in a test kit such as "Jungle Labs 6 in 1 Quick Dip Water Test Kits" - "Jungle 7 in 1 Quick Dip Complete Water Quality Test Kit "- and" Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 5-in-1 Aquarium Test Kit ". These kits test your aquarium water for Nitrate, Nitrite, Hardness, Chlorine, Alkalinity, and Ph. levels at one time. You should also buy an ammonia test kit as well. This should become a routine with your weekly aquarium maintenance.
No matter what size aquarium you have it is always necessary to completely cycle your tank. If you want to enhance your fishes longevity you need to understand a healthy aquarium isn't something that you can rush. (
http://www.aquariumguys.com/freshwater-a ... pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Cycling your aquarium is a process which helps your aquarium accumulate healthy bacteria growth in your filters and substrate (gravel or sand). You can cycle your aquarium without using any fish. This is called "Fishless Cycling". (
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fish ... The process begins like this: The "ammonia" levels will rise incredibly high (which is what usually kills your fish) until the healthy bacteria consumes the ammonia and turns the ammonia into "nitrites" (which is also very harmful to your fish ) which the bacteria manage to transform the nitrites into "nitrates". (Notice the difference of the letter "i" and the letter "a" in nitrites and nitrates. This is now called the "nitrogen" cycle. Do not add fish at this time! Your aquarium is not completely cycled! Water changes will reduce the nitrate levels as will live plants.
I will confess that you may go through some trial and error before you get everything right. You will loose fish occasionally. Even experienced freshwater fish hobbyist like myself loose a fish or two occasionally, as well as endure the occasional fish disease caused from poor water quality. Your aquarium water quality is what I consider the lifeline to everything in your aquarium. When your aquarium water quality is poor, the health of your aquarium is vulnerable to fish disease and fish loss, among others.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Feel free to email me with any questions.=O)
Enjoy your new hobby!
You should return those fish ... do not cycle your tank with fish food, that is the worst possible way to cycle the tank ... and not only did you not research cycling, you did not research fish ... 4 fantail goldfish in a 10 gallon, again, return those fish ... that is cruel and unusual punishment for those fish ... and the person who sold you all this needs a slap ... actually a well worded letter of complaint to the store and copied to the better business bureau would be a good idea too ... ONE fantail goldfish needs 20 gallons ... so for your four fish you would need an 80 gallon tank to accommodate their size when full grown ... goldfish also produce a lot of waste so i would not be surprised if the water is already going foul in tiny 10 gallon tank ... please return the fish, buy one small fish to cycle the tank for the next four to six weeks ... feed the fish sparingly and do 25% water changes with fresh dechlorinated water once a week ... after a month have the fish store measure your water parameters and if all is well you can add a couple fish ... wait two weeks and add a few more ... but there is no way you can cycle a 10 gallon tank with four goldfish without death and illness ... before you spend 80 dollars, you should consider some research before hand ... these are living creatures and do not deserve to suffer in your care because you were more interested in shopping than what the fish you were buying need ..,
