dancinghotdogs89

*sigh*. So I have been wanting me some fish for quite some time. I know all about the dreaded nitrogen cycle, I've got the tank, I've got the decor, and I've got a bit of wisdom...although not nearly enough. I was thinking about buying some catfish and red tail sharks, when I was reluctantly forced to accept goldfish that someone didn't want...whoopee. Just what I always wanted. The options were I take the fish, or they flush them...I couldn't let them die!!!

Anyway, after receiving said fish, I realized. I don't have a thing ready. No tank set up, no decor, nuffin'. So, I went ahead and rigged up a 5 gal tank I had laying around but I'm scared to put the fish in. I don't want them to die, and although they're pretty hardy, I know better than to think they'll survive this tank.

Any suggestions good folk of Lore? I could definitely use it...I've exhausted all my options including the LFS which is horrid

Lucy

Hi dancinghotdogs89 welcome to Fish Lore

Good job saving the goldie. You sound like you've done quite a bit of research, so that's good.
What's the fish in right now? What size tank do you have? It might be a good idea to move him there if it's larger than the 5g. Goldfish are huge waste producers and will foul up the 5g very quickly.
Then just follow the instructions for cycling with fish. With water changes and using Prime as your water conditioner (it will detoxify the ammonia your fish produces through it waste, for 24 hrs between water changes.)

Again, wtg on the save.

Good luck

Edit: I forgot to mention, this is actually the wrong place for this question.
You can go here:
http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/
scroll down and find the appropriate place for your questions.

Barbrella

Not sure where you'll put the goldfish if the tank isn't cycled? How many fish are there? It might be better to take them to a petstore, since they need heavy filtration, and a cycling 5 gal. tank could kill them with the ammonia and nitrites.

What size is your other tank? If you decide to keep the goldfish, they'll need minimum 10 gallons each - no tankmates - depending on what kind they are.

Christian Patti

they might survive in the 5 gallon if you do a few waterchanges a day with prime.. but they really need a larger tank asap

Blub

You could always try calling at your LFS's to see if they'll take them. 5gal is not big enough for 3 goldies - you'd need at least a 40gal for the full grown fish as they get to about 20cm.

Red tailed sharks are to big for a 5gal .A betta would be very nice though!

dancinghotdogs89

Wow I got a lot of response to this!

There are 3 goldies. 2 stardard goldfish and one calico fantail. They're living in a bowl right now...poor babies...

I'm trying not to move them around too much because I don't want to stress them out. As far as the shark goes, I will definitely wait until I can at least get a 20 gal or more. The 5gal is all I have at the moment. I would implore the help of the LFS but again...they're God awful.

I went ahead and put tap water conditioner yesterday and about 1 hour later, I put in Cycle bacteria to get the process going. The little guy at the LFS told me that in about 48 hrs from putting it in, I should be able to put the goldies in...I don't know how much I trust that though...I might not have any other options

Christian Patti

the bacteria from cycle will die.. so you have to keep adding cycle... its a terrible product

dancinghotdogs89

BLAST! I can't win . I dropped a cool $100 on a few (emphasis on the "few") things for the tank, and the LFS dude assured me that Cycle was win. 'Twas fooled I see. It's ok though...I'm willing to risk it for the sake of fish!!

SkyCrystal

Bio-Spira is SO much better. If you can find it, it should also work faster to.

04_si

The most recommended product instead of Cycle is Stability by a company called Seachem. the bateria in cycle dies, so you need to keep adding it to keep their own so called 'cycle' going.

Bio-Spira, then Stability. sounds a lot better than Cycle and more Cycle.

horseyg

My roomie and I used Tetra Safe Start to get our tank cycling. It got the cycle going in about 3 or four days, and has the right kind of bacteria in it so you don't have to keep putting it in like cycle. It's very similar to Bio-Spira, but i think it might be easier to find, I know a lot of our LFS carry Tetra products.
If you LFS doesn't have it, you can order it online. Here is one site you can order it from.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/241333/product.web

dancinghotdogs89

*sigh* As if my problems weren't bad enough with these fish, I came home to find my pump just stopped...just STOPPED....


greaaaaat. It's a marineland Power Penguin 100 for my 5 gal tank...I made sure nothing was shoved in too hard, or blocking it up, or put in wrong...nope...it just stopped.

The LFS will have a piece of my mind tomorrow. Oh yes...oh yes..

Blub

This can't be good. Have you thought of returning the goldies to the LFS? They would need a much bigger tank (about 40gal) sooner or later anyway.

Lucy

Really sorry to hear about your pump.

I was under the impression from the first post that you had another larger tank since you said you 'rigged up a 5g'

dancinghotdogs89

Merh...I wish...though, if I do end up buying a bigger tank, it'll probably be for something like pictus catfish...or brackish for some puffers. Iz poor college student . I can't afford all the bells and whistles just yet. But there's hope!!!

christmas is near!!!!

Great news though!! I went to the LFS today and ze pump is back in business! I brought it (Marineland Power Penguin 100) up there, and the LFS lady told me that the manufacturer has been known on occasion to have a piece or two jammed in a bit tight. Like little motorized pieces that need room to move, and being in too tight can prevent them from working effectively. she giggled it a bit, and voila! It's-a-pumpin'!

I also saved a bit o' money (if any one is interested in hearing my shenanigans). After peeking a bit at my receipt, I noticed a suspicious charge of over $50!! Come to find out, they had actually charged me for a Penguin 100 AND a Penguin 350, which I didn't even get!! A 350 cleans up to a 75 gal tank!! Yargh! Well, needless to say, I was happy that I got some money back, and that my pump stopped working. If it hadn't, who knows if I would've ever found that charge!
Moral of story: always look at your receipt. ha.