I am a total fish-noobie. I'm interested in learning more and doing better with my tank so I decided to join and gain as much information as I can.
I bought a 2gallon tank from a pet store at the suggestion of my daughter's therapist. The fish were to be part of her therapy so I bought the 2gallon tank and threw in two
goldfish. I didn't really care about maintaining; I just was doing what the doctor said. The lady at the store told me goldfish only live for about 8 months. I figured I could hack it for that long. And I was like most ignorant fish people - grab a bucket of water, throw in the fish and wallah!
After two weeks, it was clear that the 2gallon was NOT going to work. I was cleaning that thing every other day it seemed like. As I read more about goldfish, I discovered just how dirty they are and how much their upkeep actually is. I decided last fall to purchase a 10gallon tank for the two goldfish with a filter system so that I didn't have to mess with the tank to much. These fish are STILL alive and it's now almost two years later. Obviously, the 8 month lifespan isn't true.
They seem quite happy with their 10 gallon tank and so far, I haven't noticed any issues or problems with them or the tank. I don't take readings and I'm not as careful about water changes as I probably should be. I do put conditioner in the water but I don't cycle the water. So far, my goldfish have withstood the test of time.
I have a friend who is a fishkeeper and after various conversations, I do actually think I could get into putting more effort into my fish. He recommended I purchase a bristlenose pleco for the tank as well along with some good hiding spots for it. Currently, I just have a couple of plastic plants. I'll be looking into that tomorrow.
I don't think, given my setup, that I need to go to far with the testing the water and temperature. My friend did recommend I go get a timer for the tank lights so that it only stays on a max of 10 hours a day. I think with a bit of effort, my tank could be a beautiful peice of art for my home.
I look forward to interacting with you all.
