SteveV
07-21-2007, 06:29 PM
Hello everyone,
My name is Steve, and I've recently gotten 4 fantail goldfish. My new wife got them for use at our recent wedding. She placed them in 2 (large) bowls as you just started going up the steps to the church. She had thought that we would give them away to someone, but I've decided to keep them.
Now I'm in search of good information as to the proper care and housing of them. They are still in one of the large bowls, which is only about 3-4 gallons of water (about 11 - 15 liters). I know that is way too little water. But I've read different ways to determine how to measure the needed water.
One way was about 10 gals of water per fish (about 38 liters). Another way is 30 square inches of surface area per inch of fish (about 76 square cm per 2.5cm of fish). Even another way is a 4 inch x 4 inch surface area per inch of fish, which is 16 sq inches per fish (about 40.6 square cm).\
So I guess you can see my confusion. My first question is: Does having filtration (compared to not having filtration) make a difference is the size tank I will need?
The next obvious question is then: What type of filtration. I read somewhere that under gravel filtration is very good, but the guy at my local fish store didn't agree with that because the fish poop would just clog up the under gravel filter. He recommended a filter that hangs on the side of the tank, or both the under gravel and side hanging?
So I figure if I can get the answers to those questions, I'll be off to a good start. I need some answers soon, because I need to move the fish to a larger tank. I did invest in a small siphon that will clean the gravel for me, so I can make water changes easier, and more efficient, and healthier for the fish.
Any help anyone can give would be greatly apprciated.
Thanks
My name is Steve, and I've recently gotten 4 fantail goldfish. My new wife got them for use at our recent wedding. She placed them in 2 (large) bowls as you just started going up the steps to the church. She had thought that we would give them away to someone, but I've decided to keep them.
Now I'm in search of good information as to the proper care and housing of them. They are still in one of the large bowls, which is only about 3-4 gallons of water (about 11 - 15 liters). I know that is way too little water. But I've read different ways to determine how to measure the needed water.
One way was about 10 gals of water per fish (about 38 liters). Another way is 30 square inches of surface area per inch of fish (about 76 square cm per 2.5cm of fish). Even another way is a 4 inch x 4 inch surface area per inch of fish, which is 16 sq inches per fish (about 40.6 square cm).\
So I guess you can see my confusion. My first question is: Does having filtration (compared to not having filtration) make a difference is the size tank I will need?
The next obvious question is then: What type of filtration. I read somewhere that under gravel filtration is very good, but the guy at my local fish store didn't agree with that because the fish poop would just clog up the under gravel filter. He recommended a filter that hangs on the side of the tank, or both the under gravel and side hanging?
So I figure if I can get the answers to those questions, I'll be off to a good start. I need some answers soon, because I need to move the fish to a larger tank. I did invest in a small siphon that will clean the gravel for me, so I can make water changes easier, and more efficient, and healthier for the fish.
Any help anyone can give would be greatly apprciated.
Thanks