Fancy Goldfish Tank Build

Okay so I went ahead and bought a 40 gallon stretch hex tank. I got the tank and the stand for $60, which is a steal in my mind! I also know the person who sold it to me so I am confident it is fine. That is always a nice feeling. Now my question is, I really really want to do a planted goldfish tank. I'm thinking I would like an Oranda, a Black Moore and a Ranchu. the filteration is going to be either a canister filter, (what type it is to be determined, I know someone who is selling a couple and I told them I wasn't going to be able to buy any until April) or a marineland 400 emperor hob filter that's rated for 80 gallons and a sponge filter rated for 60 gallons. I'm getting the marineland by trading some plants for it, and I already have the large sponge filter. That's probably the option I'm going with, but I'm not positive yet depending on how expensive the canister filter is that I might get from my friend.

**So here are my questions.**

Do I have too many fancy goldfish planned out despite the amount of filteration I'm adding? In my research it looked like it would be fine, but I would like to check.

I am very partial to Orandas and if I could I would like to switch it out to doing two or three Orandas, even though I'm going to guess that's probably not a good idea because they seem to get the biggest of the fancy goldfish. What are your thoughts?

What substrate would you recommend so the Goldfish don't choke?

I am planning on using terracotta pots to put all of the plants in so they can root in the pots and the Goldfish won't be able to pull them out as easily. I was thinking about sanding down some Driftwood and adding it too, so it looks a little natural but I don't want to compromise swimming space so I probably will lay it on the ground of the substrate. What substrate would you use in your terracotta pots underneath water to encourage growth? I am planning on doing Amazon swords, crypts, floating hornwort, floating duck weed and water lettuce. Any other suggestions of plants I should try potted? I don't feel like I have enough plants planned haha.



I think those are all my questions for now. Here's a picture of the tank that I am working on! I'm very excited for this project and I know it will take a long time during this crisis to get done because it's hard to get fish and plants right now. That's probably a good thing because it means I have to be patient.

 

Ooo I know nothing about goldfish so I can't help, but I'm definitely following this cause I'd love to do a goldfish tank someday (My tentative plans are in my signature, if you wanted to grab plant ideas from that)

 

I have a goldfish named Lucky. I would say depending on their size short term like a year or two its fine but once they start getting bigger you might need to get rid of one.

 

Three should be fine. I used to have four in a 40 gallon breeder, before switching them to a 55g. I'll try to answer your other questions, when I have time.

 

Knew you had to go for this! Good luck, I’ll be watching.

 

Ooo I know nothing about goldfish so I can't help, but I'm definitely following this cause I'd love to do a goldfish tank someday (My tentative plans are in my signature, if you wanted to grab plant ideas from that)

I just went and checked out your ideas and I love it! I forgot that you're the one who always draws up a plan on paper of what it's going to look like. I love your planning style! I might have to look into some of those plants.

I have a goldfish named Lucky. I would say depending on their size short term like a year or two its fine but once they start getting bigger you might need to get rid of one.

what kind of goldfish? Because I heard some of the fancy goldfish are totally fine in a 40-gallon. I know the Commons and the comets, the koi and shubunkin (I think that's what it's called?) Need a much larger tank. But Oranda, black Moore, and Ranchu are fine. I'm just curious what kind of goldfish you have and if you can elaborate for me.

Three should be fine. I used to have four in a 40 gallon breeder, before switching them to a 55 gallon. I'll try to answer your other questions, when I have time.

Okay I greatly look forward to hearing more from you! The biggest thing is I would really like three goldfish, I know that seems really odd, but I already know what their names are. I used to have three Orandas named Zhukov, Konev and Rokossovsky before I knew better than having three in a 20 gallon. They were very little and they all contacted ich and I didn't know enough to save them, so they didn't suffer from stunting or anything. But I absolutely loved them. I know I probably cannot have three orandas, (someone tell me if I can! I would love to!) that's why I settled with the idea of a oranda, a ranchu, and a black moore. What are your thoughts?

Knew you had to go for this! Good luck, I’ll be watching.

Yes I had to, haha. I do not like spending money at all, so I have to convince myself via other people encouraging me to go for a good deal. Thanks also for sharing my thread on the random trilogy! I appreciate it!

 

EmiliyaCossack I honestly don't know what he is XD I originally got two black moors and two of whatever he is. Both black moors and the other died the first week of quarantine.. Cue the name Lucky. Here's pics from back then I don't have a camera to get a update pic but hes probably nearing triple the size of when I got him 2 and half years ago. I don't even know if he is a he or a female XD

 

I just went and checked out your ideas and I love it! I forgot that you're the one who always draws up a plan on paper of what it's going to look like. I love your planning style! I might have to look into some of those plants.

Yeah that’s me I just like seeing where I’m going lol

 

Okay I greatly look forward to hearing more from you! The biggest thing is I would really like three goldfish, I know that seems really odd, but I already know what their names are. I used to have three Orandas named Zhukov, Konev and Rokossovsky before I knew better than having three in a 20 gallon. They were very little and they all contacted ich and I didn't know enough to save them, so they didn't suffer from stunting or anything. But I absolutely loved them. I know I probably cannot have three orandas, (someone tell me if I can! I would love to!) that's why I settled with the idea of a oranda, a ranchu, and a black moore. What are your thoughts?

I definitely prefer three instead of two. Goldfish are domesticated from gibel carp, a shoaling fish. And mixed or all orandas doesn't matter as much as people think. I lean towards all orandas because they're generally hardier.

For substrate I prefer sand, but not something too fine. Goldfish like to forage and will swallow and spit sand out constantly, looking for food; and you don't want something light enough to get sucked into the filter intake, while they do this. This happened to me and when it came time to clean out my canister filter, I found about half a cup of sand in there. Never going back to fine sand again! Medium grit or larger would be perfect. You could also try small pea gravel. Currently, my tank is bare bottom.

Potted plants might be problematic. As I said, goldfish like to forage, which means they'll probably move whatever substrate you have out of the pots. You could instead try Java fern and anubias. Floating plants might work, like Amazon frogbit and water lettuce, but that's dependent on the individual fish. I have two that will relentlessly tear and chew them apart, and smaller floaters like duckweed, as prolific as they are, won't stand a chance. Even a small goldfish will devour incredible amounts like you wouldn't believe. They digest easily and seem to come out the other end almost as quickly as they're swallowed. Definitely plant ahead of time and let them become well-established before adding any fish.

That's all I have for now.

 

I definitely prefer three instead of two. Goldfish are domesticated from gibel carp, a shoaling fish. And mixed or all orandas doesn't matter as much as people think. I lean towards all orandas because they're generally hardier.

For substrate I prefer sand, but not something too fine. Goldfish like to forage and will swallow and spit sand out constantly, looking for food; and you don't want something light enough to get sucked into the filter intake, while they do this. This happened to me and when it came time to clean out my canister filter, I found about half a cup of sand in there. Never going back to fine sand again! Medium grit or larger would be perfect. You could also try small pea gravel. Currently, my tank is bare bottom.

Potted plants might be problematic. As I said, goldfish like to forage, which means they'll probably move whatever substrate you have out of the pots. You could instead try Java fern and anubias. Floating plants might work, like Amazon frogbit and water lettuce, but that's dependent on the individual fish. I have two that will relentlessly tear and chew them apart, and smaller floaters like duckweed, as prolific as they are, won't stand a chance. Even a small goldfish will devour incredible amounts like you wouldn't believe. They digest easily and seem to come out the other end almost as quickly as they're swallowed. Definitely plant ahead of time and let them become well-established before adding any fish.

That's all I have for now.

Thank you so much for all of your advice! It really really helped me make decisions! As I began to look at the costs of finding a plant light that would fit that tank, the cost of plants and terracotta pots, not knowing if all of my plants would be ripped to shreds, a special substrate for the plants, root tabs, etc. I finally decided I would go the traditional goldfish route and went with all of the fake plants I was trying to sell. So it's a good thing I didn't sell them! I was able to arrange it to make it look actually nice, even though I'm not a fan of fake plants it really does look pretty good. And I saw the cutest little albino ranchu at the store and I had to bring him home! Meet Konev! He is waiting for Zhukov and Rokossovsky to be shipped next week, both are Orandas. I have enough seeded filter media to steal from my other tank to really bump start their cycle, currently I'm getting 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 10 nitrate. I am very very happy. Thank you so much for all of your advice!

 

Thank you so much for all of your advice! It really really helped me make decisions! As I began to look at the costs of finding a plant light that would fit that tank, the cost of plants and terracotta pots, not knowing if all of my plants would be ripped to shreds, a special substrate for the plants, root tabs, etc. I finally decided I would go the traditional goldfish route and went with all of the fake plants I was trying to sell. So it's a good thing I didn't sell them! I was able to arrange it to make it look actually nice, even though I'm not a fan of fake plants it really does look pretty good. And I saw the cutest little albino ranchu at the store and I had to bring him home! Meet Konev! He is waiting for Zhukov and Rokossovsky to be shipped next week, both are Orandas. I have enough seeded filter media to steal from my other tank to really bump start their cycle, currently I'm getting 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 10 nitrate. I am very very happy. Thank you so much for all of your advice!
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Looks great and he’s a cutie!!

 

He's adorable! I will say that I'd watch that substrate, as it's pretty big and waste will build up in there pretty easy. Personally, I'd go the sand route, but if you can keep it clean then it'll be fine! I'm not usually a fan of fake plants either, but you did a great job!