Kitty Pool For Goldie’s.

I want to put a kitty pool in my basement, to keep my baby comet goldfish in (he is in a 50 gallon right now). I found a reasonably priced one, it is 5 feet long, and a foot high. So it’s a pretty large one. It is plastic.
My question is, I want a 70-100 gallon filter, but it needs to be smaller than a foot, because the pools depth is a foot. Do you guys know any filters (brand, etc.) that you like? I have never had any kind of filter besides a HOB. I don’t think a HOB will work in this case.

 

NavyChief20 might have an idea.

 

i've seen jenny from solid gold aquatics (youtube channel) use sponge filters in them. its from before she upgraded her fish room. look in her older videos

 

Thanks! Do you guys know where I could get cheap plastic plants?

My basement doesn’t have optimal lighting, so I will need fake ones.

I think my comet will grow up nicely in it. What other species of goldfish do well with comets? My sister wants a fantail, but I know sometimes they don’t work well together.

Would you recommend an air pump along with my filter for more oxygen?

 

Thanks! Do you guys know where I could get cheap plastic plants?

My basement doesn’t have optimal lighting, so I will need fake ones.

I think my comet will grow up nicely in it. What other species of goldfish do well with comets? My sister wants a fantail, but I know sometimes they don’t work well together.

Would you recommend an air pump along with my filter for more oxygen?

You might be able to make your own. Though it'll only be worthwhile if the cost of getting premade ones costs more. So double check on that.




It is usually recommended to only put single tailed goldfish with other single tailed goldfish. However, I had success with comets and fantails. Other types of Fancy goldfish wouldn't work though. Though definitely look into other types of single-tailed goldfish first. Like Shubunkins, another comet, and commons.

If you are going with sponge filters, you'll need one to power them. I would get a couple of them and power them with one big airpump.

 

I am lost with sponge filters? Does anyone have a brand and specific sponge filter they use? How do I connect all the filters to one pump? Is there any articles about sponge filters?

Is there a reason comets and fan tails tend to not get along? Is it just the fact that comets are faster swimmers? My sister likes shubunkins too, so maybe she will do one of those. Those 2 will be good together I hope!


I have a tiny bubbler in the comets tank right now. It is a very small pump and airline. Do you attach one of those to a sponge filter? Should I get 2 50 gallon sponge filters?

I’m not sure if I am allowed to post links but we will see

Would this sponge filter work?



It’s for up to 125 gallons of water. Should I still get two of these filters?

Does that mean 2 pumps, and 2 airline tubes?

 

Have you checked out the Hikari? I never used them myself, but I recall someone recommending them.

 

I will check that brand out! I am finally comprehending sponge filters! I think I will go get the 14 dollar kitty pool tomorrow, and start my adventure!

I will then order 2 sponge filters (I am yet to figure out the right brand)

Then I will add sand, and some decor. Then set up the filters.

Then I shall begin the long journey of cycling!

I’ll make sure to keep you guys updated and I’m sure I will be asking a billion more questions! Thanks so far!

 

I will check that brand out! I am finally comprehending sponge filters! I think I will go get the 14 dollar kitty pool tomorrow, and start my adventure!

I will then order 2 sponge filters (I am yet to figure out the right brand)

Then I will add sand, and some decor. Then set up the filters.

Then I shall begin the long journey of cycling!

I’ll make sure to keep you guys updated and I’m sure I will be asking a billion more questions! Thanks so far!

If you're still wondering how to connect multiple sponge filters with one air pump, there are a couple of options. First, some air pumps come with multiple outlets, so all you have to do is connect each sponge filter to an outlet on the air pump. However, if your air pump only has one outlet, you'll need to get a gang valve. A gang valve splits up the air from the air pump.

Any brand of sponge filter will work. Try to get the biggest one that will fit. The air tube should be below the surface of the water. Try to get a free standing sponge filter, aka the ones without a suction cup. This is because you're going to put it in a kiddy pool, where suction cups don't work.

 

Good to know! I’m so excited for my carnival goldfish to get a taste of freedom!

I found an air pump and filter that is designed for 60 gallons, and I will get two, which puts me at 120 gallon filter, in a 95 gallon tank.

 

This is a weird question. My baby pond is going to be in my basement. The next water source is upstairs, in my sink. Though next to where my kiddie pool is, will be a window. I was planning on dumping my old water out the window, instead of hauling it upstairs. Anyway, outside, next to the window is a hose. I was wondering, is hose water the same as tap water? I was thinking, I could pull it through the window, and fill up my little pond with the hose (obviously I would treat it with prime) I live near a big city, so nothing is polluted. I drink out of my hose occasionally, so is it safe for my fish (with prime)?

 

yes your outdoor hose is as good as your upstairs sink, just add the de-chlorinator.

 

Is there a reason comets and fan tails tend to not get along? Is it just the fact that comets are faster swimmers? My sister likes shubunkins too, so maybe she will do one of those. Those 2 will be good together I hope!

Single tail goldfish and fancy goldfish can't be kept together because fancy goldfish are poor swimmers. They have fat little bodies and split caudal fins while singletails are streamlined and bigger. Singletails get to the food before fancies. A major issue comes in breeding season though if you have male singletails and a female fancy. When goldfish spawn the males chase the females. This is fine when they are the same soeed ir the female js faster but as you can imagine it would be incredibly stressful if a faster male is chasing a slow female.

They can be kept fine with other singletails though. I have a 1600 gallon pond with 20 goldfish, a mix of commons, comets, london shubunkins, japanese/american shubunkins and a Bristol shubunkin.

Fantail goldfish can be kept with some other fancies (not all though). In my 200 gallon I have a fantail with a ranchu. I imagine they would be fine with ryukins and lionheads too.

Do you know how many gallons it will hold? You can have up to 1 singletail per 50 gallons of water.

 

I would get a hose that is suited for drinking instead of using a regular garden hose. Something similar to this:

 

Garden hose and a garden spigot is fine. Treat the water with dechlor of your choice. As far as filtration you can build a pond style water tumble filter or you can just go with several in pond sponge filters. I am curious however what you are going to do about humidity.

 

Garden hose and a garden spigot is fine. Treat the water with dechlor of your choice. As far as filtration you can build a pond style water tumble filter or you can just go with several in pond sponge filters. I am curious however what you are going to do about humidity.

I have 2 de-humidifiers. No one ever goes into my basement anyway, so if it gets a little muggy, who cares. I am building a top for the kiddy pool using sheet plastic. I’m hoping that will help.

It hold about 100 I think. Maybe 110.

 

I have 2 de-humidifiers. No one ever goes into my basement anyway, so if it gets a little muggy, who cares. I am building a top for the kiddy pool using sheet plastic. I’m hoping that will help.

It hold about 100 I think. Maybe 110.

How rigid is the pool material?

 

It is hard plastic. It’s is for large dogs. The dimensions are 64.79 in length, 12.97 in height. Circular

 

Finally got some decent pictures, because he came out of hiding. How does he look? He acts pretty healthy. Though he does have a couple blackish scales.

 

He looks a bit skinny, but otherwise fine. The pictures aren’t the greatest. It appears the fish is missing scales, not that they’re black.

 

My biggest concern about using water straight from your window hose is if the water would be the same temperature as the water you're taking out. Granted, goldies like cold water, but I don't know how much of a temp difference would be safe.

 

Yah. He is in a big storage box, not a glass aquarium, so it is hard to see through. So you are saying I should feed him more than normal to get his weight up?

 

Yah. He is in a big storage box, not a glass aquarium, so it is hard to see through. So you are saying I should feed him more than normal to get his weight up?

nah, just feed it normally 2-3 times a day. The second leading cause of premature goldfish deaths is overfeeding, imo.

 

Okay! How long do you think it will take to cycle the kitty pool? He is very shy. I think with buddies he will be more comfortable. Though a 50 gallon isn’t big enough for 2 goldfish, so I have to wait until he goes into the kitty pool.


To feed him, I swish a few flakes and one betta pellets in a small bucket full of water until they sink, then I pour the water into the tank next to him. He waits until they sink right next to him, then swims out, eats it quickly, and goes back to hiding.

Could I get another comet, and a Shubunkin? (Total of 3 fish). If that’s pushing it, I’m fine with just getting a Shubunkin, (total of 2 fish) in the pool.

 

You can do three fish, but I suspect that’s not a very popular opinion on here. A Shubunkin and a Sarasa Comet sound nice. As for feeding, flakes leach a lot of nutrients once they touch water. What I would do is grab a pinch and simply let it loose under the water, so it will sink down to the fish to get to quickly. Don’t pre-sink foods and then feed.

To cycle quickly here’s what I’d do: buy a bottle of Tetra Safe Start Plus (bacteria in a bottle), shake it really well, add entire contents into the pool, then add your fish. Don’t overfeed. Don’t do any water changes for about a week. By then you should be cycled.

 

so based on the dimensions you're talking roughly 93.2 gallons using Radcon math. Depending on your filtration and any seeded material or the use of TSS you will be looking at a week or more. If you have good water circulation then it helps. You can make a sump that is at the same level as the "pond" and power that with some powerheads. Id fill the sump with plenty of lavarock and some plants though. You canhide the sump as a planter even.

 

so based on the dimensions you're talking roughly 93.2 gallons using Radcon math. Depending on your filtration and any seeded material or the use of TSS you will be looking at a week or more. If you have good water circulation then it helps. You can make a sump that is at the same level as the "pond" and power that with some powerheads. Id fill the sump with plenty of lavarock and some plants though. You canhide the sump as a planter even.

If you can build a frame that sits over the pool, a better option would be an overhead sump. That way you only need one pump to pump the water instead of relying on two.

 

If you can build a frame that sits over the pool, a better option would be an overhead sump. That way you only need one pump to pump the water instead of relying on two.

All of my sumps are below my tanks and they are single pump. A same level sump you barely need a pump, you can get away with a power head for some flow.

 

All of my sumps are below my tanks and they are single pump. A same level sump you barely need a pump, you can get away with a power head for some flow.

You can't do a same level sump with one pump like a below tank sump, since gravity doesn't work at the same level.

 

you use an over flow with a multichamber sump, goes right in. I guess I'm just not sure how my pond filter works set up as a same level sump then. So weird cause its been running for years.

Oh wait its cause it does work due to the overflow and the chambers.

 

Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind. I just ordered some sponge filters. I have a cycled 20 gallon. If I run the spong filters in that tank, will the sponges become cycled, and then if I run them in the pool, will the kiddie pool become cycled? How long do I run it in the cycled 20 gallon for them to pick up beneficial bacteria?

 

Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind. I just ordered some sponge filters. I have a cycled 20 gallon. If I run the spong filters in that tank, will the sponges become cycled, and then if I run them in the pool, will the kiddie pool become cycled? How long do I run it in the cycled 20 gallon for them to pick up beneficial bacteria?

3-4 weeks

 

That long! Would it be faster to just cycle it in the kiddie pool?

 

You can't do a same level sump with one pump like a below tank sump, since gravity doesn't work at the same level.

Yeah you can, look up internal sump filters. Common in all in one fish tanks.


As for goldies, you could get a wakin, which looks like a long bodied fantail, which will be fine with your common.

 

I think I have decided that my comet goldfish can rule his kingdom alone. I don’t want any kind of crowding going on, and a 100 gallon is recommended for 1 comet, so I think I will keep 1 comet in a 100.

They aren’t social right? Unless he would benefit from being with other comets?

 

I think I have decided that my comet goldfish can rule his kingdom alone. I don’t want any kind of crowding going on, and a 100 gallon is recommended for 1 comet, so I think I will keep 1 comet in a 100.

They aren’t social right? Unless he would benefit from being with other comets?

I’d add a couple more, and make it 3, but that’s just me.

 

Okay. If he is thriving I might get some buddies. I have grown fascinated with fancy goldfish. I might get another one of the kiddy pools, and put it next to my other comet goldfish kiddie pool, and keep some fancies in it.

 

so that 1 per 100 gallon rule you can kinda disregard in my opinion because that presupposes you have a normal aquarium. there's room to swim in your project and if you overengineer the filter you will be golden like a shower.

 

Okay! I’ll post pics when it’s finished! Thanks!

 

I think I have decided that my comet goldfish can rule his kingdom alone. I don’t want any kind of crowding going on, and a 100 gallon is recommended for 1 comet, so I think I will keep 1 comet in a 100.

They aren’t social right? Unless he would benefit from being with other comets?

They are very sociable. They can become very depressed if kept alone. I would do 2 even though 100 gallons is a little small for any.