Looking into getting a fish... aquarium help?

M

Mimi

New member
Hey, everyone! I want to get a fantail goldfish, but I've never owned a fish before and could use some help! We currently have a sixteen gallon tank, (10.5 inches by 20 inches by 18 inches) which is second-hand. I would like to know:

1. Is this big enough for two fish/should I get a companion for my fish?
2. Do I need a heater?
3. What does a filter do and do I need one?
4. How often do I have to clean the tank/how do I clean it?
5. Since my tank is second-hand, I want to disinfect it thoroughly... how do I do this so it's still safe for a fish to live in?
6. What food do you recommended and how often does it need to be fed?
7. What sort of decorations/plants do you recommend? How do I clean them?

Me and my future fish/es thank you! I really appreciate any and all answers.
 
a sixteen gallon tank is not big enough. fantails can get up to 8 inches long. ask someone who works at petco. and see what they recommend. you do not need a heater. just fill it with room temperature water. filters are good to have. they suck up the water clean it and it just flows back in the tank. if you have a filter you really don't have to clean the tank. but just in case clean it when ever algae starts to form on the walls. sorry i don't know how to clean large tanks. i've only had a small fish bowl. again ask someone at petco for fish food. there should be certain foods for fantails. feed it maybe once in the morning and once at night. get small smooth rocks. no sharpe ones. maybe some plastic shells. anything you think would be nice. but don't get anything that would take up a lot of space so it can swing around. hope this helps
 
1. No. One goldfish should have 20 gallons, with 10 gallons for each goldfish after that.
2. No. Goldfish are cold water fish. However, if you can not get a bigger tank, you will probably want to go with tropical community fish, which will require a heater.
3. A filter works as a medium for the bacterial system in your tank, and removes physical debris from the water. Goldfish should have very heavy filtration. Double is good.
4. As needed, remove algae from the glass. Once a week, change 15-20% of the water and gravel vacuum 1/3 of the gravel. Rotate which section you siphon each week. Rinse the filter off in dechlorinated water. Once about every 3 months, change the filter cartridge.
5. You can use a bleach solution, just rinse it very well in really hot water.
6. Variety is better. Try to find a couple of different foods that use different base ingredients. It is also a good idea to feed goldfish below the surface to avoid air-gulping. You can also supplement with frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp. Greens such as romaine lettuce, kale, and frozen peas, are other good supplemental foods.
7. Anything they can hide in, behind, or between. Just make sure you leave an open space in the front so they have room for active swimming. To clean them, you can soak them in a bleach solution and use a bristle brush to remove stubborn algae. Again, rinse very very well before putting it back in the tank.
 
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