I thought that I would just share my 'new' tank. I say that with inverted commas because my sister's boyfriend gave it to her for some little fish (lots, and I don't know the name) but she didn't care for it and it was just DARK GREEN and you couldn't see in it so they all died. So she had to clean it out once they were all gone and it had just been sitting in her room not being used so I took the opportunity to upgrade my goldfish home! I don't know how much water it is holding, possibly 50L? I am rather impressed, it had a rub down from the water marks left and then I cleaned the stuff in it and took the stuff from my old one too and gave it all a clean (as well as the filter) and took ages putting in water. It was bloody ice cold! It's near room temperature now so I popped them into the tank not long ago. I'm very impressed with it and it's so much better, plus the light on this one works! My old one...we replaced the light at minimum 3 times, and replaced the top another 2 or 3 times in an attempt to make the light work.

I have been told to leave it on for 7 hours a day (so during the time I'm at school) to reduce algae? I have 4 goldfish in there currently, and possibly fit in 6-8 goldfish? I'll 'buy' (own a garden centre that supplies fish) them when they stock them up again. I was also wondering do Sarasa Comet's get on with goldfish and are they able to share a tank with 4 goldfish?

I'll attach a picture too just for you all to see. I'm actually chuffed with it

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Oo thats fab! I wish I had fishies, but too many other animals

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Looks good
A bit bright, that light isn't it? even in the picture, must be worse in the flesh

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I work my life around my dog, not my dog around my life
Resident PF agony aunt

Good job!!
i've got a biube tank but i would really like a traditional one like yours for keeping shrimps.
i haven't got enough space for another tank tho. unless i want it on my dinner table.

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Nice! I have a Biorb, but it needs to cleanedo ut, i think my fish are getting a bit big too

You should have cycled the tank before putting the fish in. Theres a good chance they will die.

Also bear in mind that the comon goldish will outgrow that tank in a short space of time. They grow to in excess of 12 inches.

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What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way,
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you,
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way,
What a wicked thing you do, to make me dream of you.

Nonnie is right. Unfortunately the "just add water" approach is insufficient.

A fish tank is a like a finely balanced little contained eco-system. You need a filter. A filter builds up bacteria over time from the fish waste (ammonia) The bacteria can process the waste (ammonia>nitrite>nitrate) so that it is not harmful to the fish- that's the cycling that Nonnie refers to. Without mature filtration, waste is present in the water and damages the fish. Ammonia burns and nitrite impacts on the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Both will kill the fish in sufficient amounts. What doesn't kill them can still damage them in the long term. You can buy kits in all good aquarist shops that enable you to monitor the levels of ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. pH is also important.

The way you combat it in the short-term is via water changes. Cycling on average will take about four weeks but it varies with pH and temperature along with how much waste your fish are producing.

Goldfish are amongst the messiest of fish- they produce large amounts of waste because of their relatively large body mass. They also grow- big. Regular goldfish all have the potential to get in excess of 6inches- many get to 12. To be honest they are only really suitable for ponds unless you can provide really big (and really expensive gear). Fancy goldfish are smaller but the general rule is 40 litres per fancy. And more depending upon their growth. Most people are better off with tropicals TBH.

Have a google of some of the fishkeeping websites for more info.
Here are some links.

Goldfish Basics | Goldfish
Water Quality | Water Quality
Water Quality: The First 30 Days (Cycling your tank) | Water Quality

thats lovely looking tank you have and fishes

I like your tank. I don't have the patients for fishes because it takes ages to get the water right! One day if I develop patients I'd love a marine tank.

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Bailey the cat, Sakura and Cires the Gerbils and Tama the hamster.
168ltr tropical tank with 10 harlequin rasbora, 6 glowlight tetras, 6 leopard danios, 3 cardinal tetras, 6 corys, 3 guppies & 2 guppy fry in a hatchery. 29ltr 1 female betta 1 male sperated).


~To all my little cuties waiting over the rainbow bridge, RIP~

which are much nicer, interesting and colourful than tropical!

it doesn't take long to sort out your tropical tank, marines take much longer and have more checks etc but are infinitely more rewarding imho. i would say for anyone who doesn't have much clue about fish what you need with the 'cheap' option first. then it's a small step to marine rather than a leap.

have fun reading up inca, it sounds boring but can be really interesting once you get into it

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I don't wish to appear to be unsympathetic, but I am, so that's how it comes across.

I continue my inappropriate- and anti-smilie campaign.