I want a red-tailed shark for my new tank, need advice

[icefreeze57]

I have an idea for u, since u have a fish bowl with gold fish, once u get the 20 gal put the gold fish with the gravel and decorations and everything in the 20 gal and rinse the bowl in the water too. U probably will have some beneficial bacteria in there so u'll have a good starting colony which will multiply in a week or two. In a week test ur water and if the ammonia, nitrate is 0 and nitrite is up, put the goldfish back in the bowl and put the new fish in the tank. Good luck

thats a good idea.... I could just keep the heater off and stuff. So basically set up my stuff, pour the goldfish water and them (not actually pour lol) add the remaining water to the tank and let the process happen naturally?

Would the new fish be fine living in a goldfish tank? (I know the goldfish would go back into their tanks so they wouldn't be living together)

 

[icefreeze57]

I'm most likely putting a:

Gold Twin-barred Platy
Lamp Eye Tetra
Red Belly X-Ray

into my 20G tank.

I think these fish are pretty hardy and will be hard for me to screw up lol

I plan on putting in a lot of (fake) plants and some nice natural decorations.

Any other suggestions/advice on this setup?

 

[Warborg]

I already know the ones I want (Albino Cory Catfish - only issue they school, so I need like 2 or 3, will there be enough room for them all in there??)

Yes, I'd buy at least 4 cories

 

[icefreeze57]

Yes, I'd buy at least 4 cories

would I have enough floor space for the fish? the tank is probably gonna be 24 long, 12 deep

 

[sross]

My Red Tailed Shark will chase anything that hangs around the mid bottom areas and is his size or smaller constantly. The only fish that he won't mess with is my Gold Severum, which is twice his size.

 

[alexanian]

thats a good idea.... I could just keep the heater off and stuff. So basically set up my stuff, pour the goldfish water and them (not actually pour lol) add the remaining water to the tank and let the process happen naturally?

Would the new fish be fine living in a goldfish tank? (I know the goldfish would go back into their tanks so they wouldn't be living together)

Nooo you don't get the new fish untill ur 20 gal tank is cycled which should be in about a week, then u get the new fish, put the goldfish back in the bowl and put the new fish in the tank. And you need to put the gravel from the bowl and any decorations u have in there in the new tank along with the goldfish, the water is of no use to you. the bacteria colonies u need live on surfaces and not in the water, so if ur bowl is bare then this will not work, even if u put the goldfish in the tank u'll still have to wait 2-3 weeks for the new tank to cycle.

 

[icefreeze57]

Nooo you don't get the new fish untill ur 20 gal tank is cycled which should be in about a week, then u get the new fish, put the goldfish back in the bowl and put the new fish in the tank. And you need to put the gravel from the bowl and any decorations u have in there in the new tank along with the goldfish, the water is of no use to you. the bacteria colonies u need live on surfaces and not in the water, so if ur bowl is bare then this will not work, even if u put the goldfish in the tank u'll still have to wait 2-3 weeks for the new tank to cycle.

yeah I wouldn't get the new fish until I tested the water and the levels were good and I put the goldfish back into their bowls/tanks... I really only have one decoration right now (with the goldfish) BUT when I set up the tank and put the goldfish in it (with the gravel and the and new decorations) the bacteria should grow on that too... but you think it will take about 2-3 weeks? I guess that isn't that too bad.... (would I still have to put ammonium in)

 

[alexanian]

yeah I wouldn't get the new fish until I tested the water and the levels were good and I put the goldfish back into their bowls/tanks...

Yes that's corect

I really only have one decoration right now (with the goldfish) BUT when I set up the tank and put the goldfish in it (with the gravel and the and new decorations) the bacteria should grow on that too... but you think it will take about 2-3 weeks? I guess that isn't that too bad.... (would I still have to put ammonium in)

One decoration is enough, once u set up the new tank with the new gravel and new decoration, u put the goldfish and that one decoration in the new tank. The bacteria will then grow on everything in the new tank including the filter. It should take about a week or so, so u test the water and if everything is ok u get the new fish. You don't need to put ammonium in cuz u will already have an ammonia source in there ( the goldfish )

 

[Aquatic Aggression]

Try and hit up your local fish store for some used seeded filter media to get your tank cycled faster.

 

[icefreeze57]

Yes that's corect



One decoration is enough, once u set up the new tank with the new gravel and new decoration, u put the goldfish and that one decoration in the new tank. The bacteria will then grow on everything in the new tank including the filter. It should take about a week or so, so u test the water and if everything is ok u get the new fish. You don't need to put ammonium in cuz u will already have an ammonia source in there ( the goldfish )

thanks so much!