Is my setup ok?

For my 20 gallon fish tank that will either temperarily house 2 common goldfish or permanently house 1 common goldfish, I am wondering if my setup is ok. I have 3 fake plants. One goes to the top of the tank and the others are low for variety. I also have an led air stone on the right side of the tank, and my 20 gallon filter is on the left, hopefully creating a flow of oxygen. The lid of my tank has an led light for the day time. I have a big fake white rock with holes in it the left corner behind the air stone, and the plants are towards the back, leaving swimming room for the goldfish. Btw it is a 20 gallon long. I'm hoping I did not leave anything out.I also added Prime to the water, and after every water change, I am going to add some ApI goldfish protect to the new water I am putting in. Do I have everything planned out or am I missing something?

 

Unfortunately, your tank isn't big enough to permanently house even a single common goldfish. They can grow to a foot in length or more and are huge waste producers. Goldfish are also gregarious and appreciate the company of their own kind. They do better in a pond.

 

That is fine I will upgrade when needed, petco has big sales twice a year, and I don't mind upgrading.

 

Agreed. The smaller fancy variants could be housed here, though adding friends would have to be very limited and cold-water to boot. And I mean a single fancy goldfish

Sand is the best substrate, as I've been informed. They have no stomach, which is why they eat and poop so much, and this means that swallowing a pebble will kill them from not being able to eat

 

It's much better to stock for the tank you have rather than the tank you want to have. Especially with a high-bioload fish like these because you'll need to be doing a lot of water changes to keep up with their waste output.

They also grow quickly so size-wise you'll likely be upgrading within the year. It will save you money to just get the tank you need in the first place

 

That is fine I will upgrade when needed, petco has big sales twice a year, and I don't mind upgrading.

But they need rather large homes. A 75 just "might" house a single common, although I'm sure they need more to be able to turn around.

 

The problem is I have had this carnival fish for a year, and he is about 2 1/2 in and I will definitely try fancies in a later date, but not with the common.

 

Honestly, the most I can do is recommend. You have to take it from there.

Upgrading takes quite a chunk of change. Filtration and the tank really hurt the budget. I've noticed it's like 30% more from where where you started again.

 

It's likely that your goldfish is already stunted so any improvement will be welcome. I thought that the tank inhabitants were still in the planning stages.

Do you know anyone with a pond who might take him?

 

It's likely that your goldfish is already stunted so any improvement will be welcome. I thought that the tank inhabitants were still in the planning stages.

Do you know anyone with a pond who might take him?

It's quite difficult to rehome a beloved friend

 

Ed is a fighter! But if I find somebody with a pond I will re home him

 

Preferably close by so you can visit of course
Grimund: I know, that's why I relented a little on the tank size since I hadn't realized that there were any fish involved. He would still be better off in a much larger body of water though.

 

I live in a small town and everybody has a trampoline and a pool... Nobody has fish ponds what else can I do?

 

Stock tank? Relatively cheap and make sturdy aboveground ponds!

 

Are funds an issue? Maybe an above ground pond project. It might not take too much to convince someone to add a small piece of landscaping. And you get to have more friends for Ed that way.

Just trying to help, though not sure I actually am at this point.

 

And I don't want to take him back to petco, because I hate the employes

 

If the fish is less than 5 inches, he'll be fine in a 20 gallon for a year or two. I've had such fish live over 8 years quite happily until they were big enough to go into my moms pond. The ammonia is the trouble maker here so a filter with a bio wheel is essential! I've pre-cycled bio wheels nicely by soaking them in a gallon bucket, adding declorinator, quick start and 1/2 gallon of tank water. Grows a decent colony in a couple days and helps a lot with goldie waste.

 

mamachickadee, what do the bacteria in the quick start feed on? Do you also add ammonia or fish poop?

 

I add dirty tank water full of fish poop!

 

You must have a lot of fish poop