peacemaker92

Hey guys... When I say, my tank (cool!!!) I mean literally cool! haha the water is so cold, which feels great and is in a good temperature of 27 degrees celcius. I've never felt this cold water in my previous tanks.

Anyways, FINALLY, I've had the time to set it up and fill the tank with good, pure and crystal clean water. It's currently being cycled and I've added anti-ammonia stones in my filter to make the process faster. It's been a week already since I set it up and it's looking great. I can't wait to put my 2 goldfish in it. Btw, I spray painted the stand and added some silver deco stars & fish. (mum's idea) cool huh? I think so =)

Just some suggestions though, should I put my 2 goldfish in a 55g tank? Then add more goldfish? Or just put other fish in without my 2 goldfish? I was thinking of this stock:
30 Neon/Glowlights, 2 Yamato/Cherry Shrimps.

If I add this stock, my tank will be a live planted tank. So no artificials at all. I need suggestions and quick so I can plan the layout! Thanks everyone! YOU ROCK!!!

bigreddog

Goldfish are cool water fish , I think there would be a conflict adding tropical fish with them. I would think just keep it all Goldfish.

Shawnie

I think using "anti ammonia stones" will starve the bacteria for the cycle process...if you have fish in that tank while its cycling, that is fine as it with daily water changes and some prime, will keep the ammonia safe for 24 hours until another water change

glowlights are tropical fish and prefer warmer temps..not to mention, your goldies will eat them so I wouldnt combine them

ABCDemily

Goldfish go in cold water, of about 24C MAX.

Tropical need 27C MIN to survive happily IMO, see they problem here? The two types of fish are different biologically, they might be fish but they do ot function in temperatures that aren't good for them.

Personally I think that four large fantails would look lovely.

*EDIT*

Goldies lurve to munch on live plants, just a warning, they also love to uproot and move around the decorations.

aquarist48

Hello Peacemaker. Your tank sounds like it's going to be very nice. I checked the conversion table at the bottom of this page and 27C = 80F That's a bit warm for Goldfish, although I'm sure they will be fine and they should adapt. As mentioned above, it isn't recommended to mix Gold fish with tropical fish. Too, so that you don't over stock, a good rule of thumb is 1 Goldfish for the first 20g's and 1 gold fish for each remaining 10g's. So the most I would recommend is 4 gold fish in a 55g tank. You may get by with 5 with pristine water conditions. They are big waste producers.

I'm a bit concerned about the anti ammonia stones? I assume you are talking about a filter media (called white diamond here in the US) similar to activated carbon, but it's white to absorb ammonia? If so, and I'm sure you'll get more responses on this, I wouldn't suggest using it during cycling. If you are cycling with fish then it may be a good idea to use some but then it may delay the cycle instead of speeding it up.
If you would be so kind as to tell us how you are cycling your tank, it would be a great help.

I hope you can share some pictures of your tank once it's up and running
Take care and have fun!
Ken

peacemaker92

I didn't mean mixing tropical fish with my goldies... I actually meant giving away my goldies and then, putting tropical fish alone in my 55g.

haha I didn't mean mixing my goldies with tropical fish. I thought of maybe giving away my goldies and then put only tropical fish in the tank. So I'm still stuck with making up my mind. You see, my goldies were given to me by my friend's dad and he gave me 3. Now that one died, I only have 2 and these kind of goldies are kind of hard to find in Malaysia, so it's hard to buy more of them unless I just leave the tank with only 2 goldies.


haha I didn't mean mixing my goldies with tropical fish. I thought of giving away my goldies then add tropical fish alone without the goldies. So, I'm still stuck with the choice of a tropical fish tank or a goldfish tank? The goldies were actually given as a gift from my friend's dad and he gave 3. Then one died and I'm left with 2, and these kind are hard to find in Malaysia, I hardly see these type I have in stores. So buying two of the same kind is really difficult unless I leave only 2 in the tank or buy another 2 goldies but different type and size.

Thanks for the advice on goldies eating live plants. I almost forgot about that part. I knew they like to move around decorations. The tank that they're in now is seriously in a mess. The gravel is everywhere and not leveled anymore, my decorations are here and there and the artificial plants I placed in there are in a mess! haha

haha I didn't mean mixing my goldies with tropical fish. I thought of giving away my goldies then add tropical fish alone without the goldies. So, I'm still stuck with the choice of a tropical fish tank or a goldfish tank? My goldies were given to me by my friend's dad and he gave me 3. Now that one died, I only have 2 and these kind of goldies are kind of hard to find in Malaysia, so it's hard to buy more of them unless I just leave the tank with only 2 goldies or buy 2 different types and size goldies.

About the anti-ammonia stones, yeah, exactly what you said. They're white in color and comes in a bag I bought from store (I think you call it LFS or something in the US). I'm actually cycling my tank almost the same way as in the articles I read for years in Fishlore. I DO check the readings, now is ammonia 2 (last week was 8.2), nitrites 5.7 and nitrates is 0. I've so far had 2 water changes in the past 1 week & a half, no fish in it. I did put a simple live plant in the tank. But it's slowly dying (thanks to the local store, all their plants were lousy). Erm... I think that's it.

peacemaker92

Okay. After visiting my local pet store, checking out and surveying some websites, I've made up my mind and changed my mind in two things about my new, running 55g. I WILL be putting tropical fish in my tank BUT I won't be setting up my tank as a planted tank. I visited my local aquarium store a few hours ago and found everything I needed but all at more than 150$ which is WAY above my budget and available spending money. So... Any other suggestions? Or can anyone spare me some extra substrate I need for my future plants because substrates here in Malaysia is so ridiculously expensive!

peacemaker92

I've got some more supplies, info and pictures. I know I messed up putting in water first instead of the gravel, decos and other stuff. I'm sorry. Well, it's because it would take me weeks to start up the cycle if I don't start now. I've had this tank empty about 2-3 months already and couldn't wait to keep it empty longer, my parents were also complaining why it's taking me so long to just fill it with water, plants and fish. haha

Anyways, I finally managed to get a cover and light for my tank. It looked beautiful! Then yesterday went out tank supply shopping with my mum and she helped me pay for the CO2 system I needed. Thank you mum! LOL And today, I went to a store so so so so far from my place and managed to get a better value gravel which I couldn't find in any other store near my place. My dad paid for the gravel too. So now, I just need the proper soil for my incoming plants, I already got a driftwood btw, and I also need some rocks to do the finishing touches of a 'look-alike' natural tank. And in a few weeks, my cycle should be complete. Then my tank should be ready to put my plants and install my CO2 system. Can't wait!

My dad also suggested to me to get several fish that look like goldfish (not sure) and some variety to put in my tank instead of just having 25-30 neon tetras and 2-3 cory catfish. He said to put variety into my tank instead of wasting the space for the same type of fish. I didn't know what to say, I mean he is true to put some variety into my tank. But I love neon tetras and they look so beautiful under the light and when they're schooling... Right now I'm hopeless in deciding what fish to put in now...