Rate my goldfish tank setup! And what would be the best tank mates?
- Thread starter Brickosaurus
- Start date
Gotcha, there’s ways to do it on the cheap. For lids you can use egg crate from a hardware store for $15, you can also get led floodlights for $15-$30. I actually use those on my rift tank and they look great. Cheap sponge filters will also work fine. You can also make a stand with plywood and cinder blocks
Aside from the filters, I set this tank up this way. Here’s a pic with the type of light I’m referring too and cinder block stand and egg crate
Excuse the cloudiness, this is from when I first set it up
Aside from the filters, I set this tank up this way. Here’s a pic with the type of light I’m referring too and cinder block stand and egg crate
Excuse the cloudiness, this is from when I first set it up
That looks great! Thanks for the ideas! I'm definitely going to use the egg crate idea! I already have a stand. And hopefully the deal goes through, and apparently the seller has a filter but idk the condition
Thanks!
As long as the filter is big enough and pumps water and doesn’t leak, you’re good. You can always hot rod it out to make it more efficient too
So I did a little research, every source I see on the internet and forums say that by the age of 4 years the average goldfish is about 6 to 7 inches long.
So that would mean the larger goldfish is close enough to the right size. But the smaller 4 inch one is the same age, so I'm a little concerned for him (or her)
I've already got found a 55g with lid, light, deco, and filter that I was able to negotiate to buy for $50
Its an hour away from me and I'm hoping to be able to pick it up within the next week
Thank you guys for taking your time to give me the right advise for my aquariums!
So that would mean the larger goldfish is close enough to the right size. But the smaller 4 inch one is the same age, so I'm a little concerned for him (or her)
I've already got found a 55g with lid, light, deco, and filter that I was able to negotiate to buy for $50
Its an hour away from me and I'm hoping to be able to pick it up within the next week
Thank you guys for taking your time to give me the right advise for my aquariums!
I love an established under gravel filter. Put the air to it. It will help a lot, because goldfish are messy fish. IMHO
Thanks! I've already added extra gravel so I'll just pick up some air hose and hook the filter up. Do these filters require any kind of media?
Just keep air going to it and the water flowing. It pulls waste into the gravel and under it. Water moves through the gravel and over the waste in the bottom. Bacteria break it down and the moving water keeps gasses from building up. I have a 55 g tank that is planted and my only filter is a UGF.
I am old school though.
If I need more of a filter, I just throw in a sponge filter.
I have a big aquarium with tilapia in it. I keep extra sponge filters in it running.
That way they can be used in a new tank start up.
Doing that I never worry about cycling a tank.
What I like about UGF and sponge filters is the fact that they are both air driven.
It seems all filters that require water pumps fail too often and are more expensive.
I have air pumps all over the place.
When my second huge HOB filter died, I said screw it!
Sorry, starting to rant.....
Nothing wrong with Old School, especially when it works!
Another suggestion for you to use for a lid is the clear corrugated plastic sheets that are sold in lumberyards and home improvement places for use in greenhouse construction. A single sheet of this stuff is cheap, it's easily cut with tin snips or heavy shears and it weighs next to nothing. You can easily trim away slots and holes for things like HOB filters, heaters, feeding holes, whatever you want. It looks and feels flimsy, but I have lids made from this stuff that are years old and still good as new.
It has one huge advantage over eggcrate light diffuser material: it cuts evaporation way down. No need to top up water levels every day or two as you likely will be doing with eggcrate, especially during winter when the house is heated and the air is dry.
Another suggestion for you to use for a lid is the clear corrugated plastic sheets that are sold in lumberyards and home improvement places for use in greenhouse construction. A single sheet of this stuff is cheap, it's easily cut with tin snips or heavy shears and it weighs next to nothing. You can easily trim away slots and holes for things like HOB filters, heaters, feeding holes, whatever you want. It looks and feels flimsy, but I have lids made from this stuff that are years old and still good as new.
It has one huge advantage over eggcrate light diffuser material: it cuts evaporation way down. No need to top up water levels every day or two as you likely will be doing with eggcrate, especially during winter when the house is heated and the air is dry.
