Rate my goldfish tank setup! And what would be the best tank mates?

[duanes]

I don't believe there is room in your current tank, for any more tank mates.
Maybe when you get the 55, but even a 55 is going to be a bit small over time, when you consider how big goldfish get.
Mine went from 1" to the size below in only 2 years.

In winter mine were kept in a 400 gal kiddy pool, and in summer a 500 gal pond.

 

[Niki_up]

Welcome to the forum!

I’m going to be honest here and I do understand you are younger (under 20) and funds are limited.

you should really consider upgrading them to a 55g sooner rather than later. You said you purchased them in 2018 which makes them at least 4 years old. They should already be about 12 inches each, so I would call these goldfish stunted. Though you may not see it they may already have internal damages you cannot see which will shorten their life span. I’m not quite sure a bigger tank will actually help them at this point.

Second thing you should consider getting a filter rated for twice the size of the tank as goldfish are messy fish to begin with. Your current filter is just a HOB (hang on back) not a canister.

I’m not sure if you have a background on your tank, but that a simple upgrade to make that isn’t expensive. You can use paint on the back or you can visit a local dollar store and buy foam poster board which works well. Also browse locally for used decor, rocks, and wood. For a lid you can even look for used plexi glass and cut it to size.

 

[Brickosaurus]

I don't believe there is room in your current tank, for any more tank mates.
Maybe when you get the 55, but even a 55 is going to be a bit small over time, when you consider how big goldfish get.
Mine went from 1" to the size below in only 2 years.
View attachment 1508729View attachment 1508728
In winter mine were kept in a 400 gal kiddy pool, and in summer a 500 gal pond.
View attachment 1508730View attachment 1508731

Yeah your probably right. When I do get a upgrade I'll probably just get one bottom feeder

 

[Brickosaurus]

Welcome to the forum!

I’m going to be honest here and I do understand you are younger (under 20) and funds are limited.

you should really consider upgrading them to a 55g sooner rather than later. You said you purchased them in 2018 which makes them at least 4 years old. They should already be about 12 inches each, so I would call these goldfish stunted. Though you may not see it they may already have internal damages you cannot see which will shorten their life span. I’m not quite sure a bigger tank will actually help them at this point.

Second thing you should consider getting a filter rated for twice the size of the tank as goldfish are messy fish to begin with. Your current filter is just a HOB (hang on back) not a canister.

I’m not sure if you have a background on your tank, but that a simple upgrade to make that isn’t expensive. You can use paint on the back or you can visit a local dollar store and buy foam poster board which works well. Also browse locally for used decor, rocks, and wood. For a lid you can even look for used plexi glass and cut it to size.

Thanks for the info! The reason the fish are stunted is probably because the first two years of their life were in a 10 gallon (which was a huge mistake on my part, I regret that so much)

Thanks for the idea with the plexiglass, I didn't think of that before. I'm currently building a makeshift lid with screen and a wooden frame. What o meant to say was that the the filter is a box filter from Walmart

I've heard the the minimum for a 10 inch goldfish was a 20 gallon (I must have been wrong) I'll definitely work on getting a larger filter. Although the water seems to stay clear most of the time

My goldfish seem very healthy, happy, and active. and I haven't noticed anything abnormal. I hope I can get a 55 gallon set up in time.

I'll have to check Facebook marketplace, and see of a one is for sale at the right price

 

[Brickosaurus]

Welcome to the forum!

I’m going to be honest here and I do understand you are younger (under 20) and funds are limited.

you should really consider upgrading them to a 55g sooner rather than later. You said you purchased them in 2018 which makes them at least 4 years old. They should already be about 12 inches each, so I would call these goldfish stunted. Though you may not see it they may already have internal damages you cannot see which will shorten their life span. I’m not quite sure a bigger tank will actually help them at this point.

Second thing you should consider getting a filter rated for twice the size of the tank as goldfish are messy fish to begin with. Your current filter is just a HOB (hang on back) not a canister.

I’m not sure if you have a background on your tank, but that a simple upgrade to make that isn’t expensive. You can use paint on the back or you can visit a local dollar store and buy foam poster board which works well. Also browse locally for used decor, rocks, and wood. For a lid you can even look for used plexi glass and cut it to size.

I do have a background, it's basically an ocean themed background.

 

[fishdance]

Don't remove the undergravel filter, add more gravel so it's working properly. Undergravel filters provide more biological and mechanical filtration than most filters including canister, HOB and many sumps. Fantastic economical filtration well suited to large biomass species like goldfish to achieve crystal clear stable water. Just make sure you gravel clean during water changes.

 

[Niki_up]

Thanks for the info! The reason the fish are stunted is probably because the first two years of their life were in a 10 gallon (which was a huge mistake on my part, I regret that so much)

Thanks for the idea with the plexiglass, I didn't think of that before. I'm currently building a makeshift lid with screen and a wooden frame. What o meant to say was that the the filter is a box filter from Walmart

I've heard the the minimum for a 10 inch goldfish was a 20 gallon (I must have been wrong) I'll definitely work on getting a larger filter. Although the water seems to stay clear most of the time

My goldfish seem very healthy, happy, and active. and I haven't noticed anything abnormal. I hope I can get a 55 gallon set up in time.

I'll have to check Facebook marketplace, and see of a one is for sale at the right price

We all start somewhere, no need to feel guilty! Your obviously here to learn and seem to want to learn and be part of the community. Sorry if I come across as a grumpy old lady (I secretly am a grumpy old lady…..maybe not so secretly lol). I don’t think your fish look unhealthy at all and am not insinuating that your not caring for them.

I agree With fishdance too, there’s no reason you can’t also use the UG filter. Would be a great addition to the filter that is already running.

sorry didn’t mean to miss the e background, I could see a reflection in the glass and thought I saw the HOB through the glass.

oh another alternative to cheaper decor as well is the plastic reptile plants that you can suction cup on to the glass walls. I used those in my old goldfish tank as they cascaded down the walls giving the tank a more full appearance. Just make sure they don’t have the flexible metal inside. I kept bare bottom tank when I was keeping goldfish.

another thing is clear water doesn’t mean healthy water. Water can look crystal clear and be within the harmful range for nitrates for fish. If you do not have a test kit maybe see if you can get a used one off marketplace, just check expiration date before purchase. The best test kits are the API liquid kits.

 

[duanes]

Stunting has more to do with lack of enough and large enough partial water changes, than actual tank size.
Of course metabolic waste like nitrate, and other organic compounds builds up faater in a small tank, turning tank water into an organic hormonal soup which hastens stunting , but that can be mitigated by large frequent water changes.
In a 10 gal tank, 50% every other day water changes for gold fish is not overdoing it.

 

[Brickosaurus]

Stunting has more to do with lack of enough and large enough partial water changes, than actual tank size.
Of course metabolic waste like nitrate, and other organic compounds builds up faater in a small tank, turning tank water into an organic hormonal soup which hastens stunting , but that can be mitigated by large frequent water changes.
In a 10 gal tank, 50% every other day water changes for gold fish is not overdoing it.

What would be the recommended ammount of water changes for a 29 gallon, when goldfish are concerned?

 

[Brickosaurus]

We all start somewhere, no need to feel guilty! Your obviously here to learn and seem to want to learn and be part of the community. Sorry if I come across as a grumpy old lady (I secretly am a grumpy old lady…..maybe not so secretly lol). I don’t think your fish look unhealthy at all and am not insinuating that your not caring for them.

I agree With fishdance too, there’s no reason you can’t also use the UG filter. Would be a great addition to the filter that is already running.

sorry didn’t mean to miss the e background, I could see a reflection in the glass and thought I saw the HOB through the glass.

oh another alternative to cheaper decor as well is the plastic reptile plants that you can suction cup on to the glass walls. I used those in my old goldfish tank as they cascaded down the walls giving the tank a more full appearance. Just make sure they don’t have the flexible metal inside. I kept bare bottom tank when I was keeping goldfish.

another thing is clear water doesn’t mean healthy water. Water can look crystal clear and be within the harmful range for nitrates for fish. If you do not have a test kit maybe see if you can get a used one off marketplace, just check expiration date before purchase. The best test kits are the API liquid kits.

I did not get the vibe of you being grumpy. I know you're just trying to help me

I'm definitely going to get some test strips asap. I've been neglecting that too long. Thanks for your help, I'm hoping that my fish can still be saved, like I said, they are very happy and active.

I put them in the 30g about 2 years ago, and they immediately started to grow. But the growth spurt seems to have slowed down (except for the bigger one. He has grown from 4 to 6 inches in the past 6 months)