affanmala

can i keep a goldfish in an aquarium that is being cycled. Amonia in my tank is .25 right now, if i keep goldfish in it, is it going to die. Is there any special aquarium for goldfish or can i use a regular freshwater aquarium? Any suggestions about whats a good gold fish?

kra-z-fishmumm

Hi, You want at least a 20+g tank(the bigger the tank the better, they grow to be about 10"-14", some even bigger, but that was the biggest ones in my father-in-laws pond) for two. Goldfish are pretty easy, but huge waste producers, so you will want a good filter, heater (yes they can take cooler temps, but if you are gonna have them in the tank, why not do the best for them and maintain a nice tropical temp). What are you actually looking to put in your tank? I don't like to put the fish in before it is done cycling, it is hard on the fish and makes for more water changes. Just some thoughts.

BTW: what size is your tank? how old? water readings? etc...

bbfeckawitts

Debbie2, goldfish need colder water. They do not thrive in tropical temperatures. You do not need a heater, and you should not have one unless you put it on really low. And only if the room they are in has very fluctuating temperatures.

HatchetHaven

sirdarksol

Actually, I would not suggest putting a heater in at all.
Goldfish do not so much need colder water as they need changing water temps. Not rapidly changing, and not even changing day-to-day, but seasonal changes. Most people's houses are set to different temps during summer and winter (my house is 64 in the winter and about 80 in the summer), so this works out really well for the goldfish. A heater would maintain a more constant temperature, which might throw the goldfish's internal clock out of whack.

Edit: I agree with Debbie that you should have at least a 20g for a single goldfish. 30g would be better.
My personal favorite goldfish are the common and the comet (which are closely related).

COBettaCouple

If you're cycling with fish in the tank, I'd recommend treating your tap water with Prime and changing 25-40% of the water every day or 2.

kra-z-fishmumm

So, a Goldfish should or should not have a stable temperature?? I thought that they needed stable (- or + 2*) temperatures, that is why I suggested the heater. I didn't think about stating high or low setting,,, sorry

sirdarksol

Goldfish do not need a heater in the tank, unless the tank is going to be exposed to constantly changing temps (for example, if the air in the room, over the course of a day, ranged between 50 and 70.)

Goldfish can have a heater, set low, but it is advisable to change this a couple of times a year, ranging it up a bit over spring, a bit more over summer, then back down in fall and winter.

kra-z-fishmumm

got it,,, thanks