Can I do water changes for goldfish every 4 weeks?

I unfortunately have my goldfish in a 6 gallon tank, but there’s hope! He is 3-4 inches and I am transferring him to a 20 gallon high tank. I am a new goldfish keeper and I am eager to learn, so my question is that is it okay to do water changes every month if I have proper filtration? I know that it should be every week but i still live with my parents and they won’t allow it.

 

Umm so ya ull want to do water changes every two weeks or so how big is the new tank

Oh no, ya ull need a bigger tank and Chang the water every 2 to 3 weeks

Because goldfish can grow to be like 15 inches

 

The new tank is 20 gallons.

 

I hate it to be the bearer of bad news.

I know that it should be every week but i still live with my parents and they won’t allow it.

Either make it clear to your parents, that this is not feasable or you will have to rehome the fish. Weekly waterchanges are the least necessary. In case of a goldfish in a 20, you will soon be at the point of 2 50% waterchanges a week.

 

does it make the situation any better if I mention it’s a fancy goldfish since it is smaller than a common or a comet goldfish?

 

while the goldfish is still small it is ok to change the water 2 times a month but convince your parents to let u Chang in 1 or 2 times a week when it gets bigger this or get a bigger tank
Fancy goldfish are pretty durable but it’s not the filters prob it’s the anomia and nitrit that builds up in the tank

I hate it to be the bearer of bad news.

Either make it clear to your parents, that this is not feasable or you will have to rehome the fish. Weekly waterchanges are the least necessary. In case of a goldfish in a 20, you will soon be at the point of 2 50% waterchanges a week.

I don’t think a 50% every tree days is nessesary but two or three 50% a month would be ok until u convince your parents
It is however better to do 2 times a week your fish would love it I personally do 20% a day

 

does it make the situation any better if I mention it’s a fancy goldfish since it is smaller than a common or a comet goldfish?

Not really, still a fast growing eating and pooping machine, just not as mobile. And I still have to be adamant, that it takes a weekly waterchange.

 

Wow I’ve never been on a fish forum of any kind and the first time I am I got replies so quickly. I really appreciate the help! I will try to convince my parents to allow me to do weekly water changes and if not I will unfortunately rehome my goldfish.

 

Wow I’ve never been on a fish forum of any kind and the first time I am I got replies so quickly. I really appreciate the help! I will try to convince my parents to allow me to do weekly water changes and if not I will unfortunately rehome my goldfish.

You're doing the right thing. Good luck.

 

In the case of a large fish growing up in smaller tanks follow this basic idea: test your water, start out testing weekly.
Set a threshold to trigger a water change, I would change if you hit any of these:
Nitrate 20-40ppm
Nitrite -0
Ammonia .25
Any drop in pH.

Once you get to the point that the fish is causing this to trigger twice a week, buy him a 40-50.

 

Wow I’ve never been on a fish forum of any kind and the first time I am I got replies so quickly. I really appreciate the help! I will try to convince my parents to allow me to do weekly water changes and if not I will unfortunately rehome my goldfish.

Welcome to Fishlore You will find there is normally someone here any time of the day or night and everyone will do their best to help you out.

Maybe if you point out that doing a 50% water change each week will only be using 40 gallons of water each month. Maybe to make up for the extra water usage you can shorten your shower time. I know water is more expensive in some places than it is for me but the extra 120 gallons I use each month really hasn't affected our water bill enough to matter.

 

Okay so I convinced my parents to let me do a 25% water change every week for my fancy goldfish it is about 3 inches will that be good enough? I also have a Ziss fluidized moving bed filter knock off will that help with the ammonia?

 

The only thing that will help with ammonia is cycling the tank or water changes. Once enough bacteria grows to take care of the ammonia 25% weekly is better than just once every 4 weeks. I am sorry you are being put in this position and are not allowed to take care of the fish as well as they should be taken care of. I do fear the fish may suffer ammonia burns or worse if you aren't allowed to do the water changes needed to keep it down until enough bacteria grows to take care of it.

Is there any way you can get some bottled bacteria to help the cycle grow faster? If at all possible I will recommend Fritz-Zyme Turbo Start 700. It is the same bacteria we are growing in our tanks so should help cycle this tank much quicker.

 

That should be ok good luck