Lava Rocks?

So, I had one goldfish and 3 types of live aquarium plants, but yesterday, I upgraded to 2 more goldies. I also bought a log like thing, with 4 little java fern bundles attached to it.

I haven’t researched it for myself (I will soon), but someone at Petco told me that if you have live plants in a tank that has Ultra-Activated Carbon, they won’t do so well. He told me to go to Walmart and get a big bag of Red lava rocks and a replacement filter sponge. That it would really help.

He also gave me 2 tetra whisper power filters (the 10 gal.) for free. Now I have 3!!! :3

Right now, I have the filter that the tank came with and one of the free ones that the Petco employee gave me. One on lava rocks and the other with a filter.

Anyone have any ideas or input or anything for me? I’ve had my first fish for 1 month so far.

(I already know that the tank is to small for 3 goldfish. I am planing to upgrade to a tank bigger then 55 gal, hopefully within the span of 2 years. For now a 10 gallon will have to do. My mom won’t let me have anything bigger.

By the way, when I first got Tucker, I bought a 1 gal tank for she/he and set it up at midnight. I had won my fish at a festival. (Not on purpose or accident.) didn’t tell my mom until the next morning. You can probably tell how that went over. I asked for a bigger tank every day, multiple times. Took me 3, almost 4 weeks before she finally said, “Fine!”
Anyway..... Questions or input or etc????

 

I see lava rock suggested quite often and I really don't know why. The. Sponge is really all you need. It does mechanical filtration which tge lava rocjs don't as well as support a bacteria colony. Any porous rock with no sponge before it will be clogged pretty quick and be ineffective.

 

I see lava rock suggested quite often and I really don't know why. The. Sponge is really all you need. It does mechanical filtration which tge lava rocjs don't as well as support a bacteria colony. Any porous rock with no sponge before it will be clogged pretty quick and be ineffective.

They also said that it will help with nitrate....?

 

Its real hard to get denigrate bacteria to grow in a hob filter no matter what's in it. It prefers very low flow and low oxygen.

0 Nitrates Is So Easy, Why Does No One Do It? 180 Gallon Tank - | Advanced Freshwater Aquarium Topics 382099
This explains thing a little better of the who and why.

 

0 Nitrates Is So Easy, Why Does No One Do It? 180 Gallon Tank - | Advanced Freshwater Aquarium Topics 382099
This explains thing a little better of the who and why.

Thanks!

 

I hate to say it but you never should have bought the other two goldfish. You will be a slave to water changes now. These fish will outgrow the 10 gallon very quickly. Goldfish grow pretty quick and are messy. Toss some lava rocks in the tank instead of the filter. The goldfish will produce enough nutrients for the plants to grow. Don’t bury the java fern roots they will die of you do.

Your tank is already too small. I’d take the two new goldfish back and stick with one until you can upgrade.
Goldfish Growth Rates depend on food, space and environment