First proper tank! After a bit of advice

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I didn't know you had live plants. I'm no expert, but you'll need a fair amount of light then.

As for goldfish, they are fine in a tank. My advice to anyone with respect to filtration? It's always been a seat of the pants kind of thing, i.e., I add as much filtration as space and money can afford, with only a concern for flow management. This allows me more room for error and such.
 
They will love you for the pond pippa! I see so many people make the mistake of keeping goldfish in tanks, and then they wonder why all live in the tanks die... They don't have enough filtration etc, and the buildup of phosphates, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia kills everything, plants included.
With regard to your plants, the more plants the better. Goldfish like to nibble on plants, often destroying them completely. Cabomba is a good plant for goldfish, they will destroy it and eat it, but it is good for them.
Javafern is another good hardy plant, as well as valisneria. Valisneria is available in different kinds, I personally have the valisneria gigantea, and as the name suggests, it grows to gigantic proportions!
Goldfish are bottom feeders, so to keep them healthy and make sure they don't get bloat feed them sinking pellets. If they feed on the surface they ingest to much air while feeding, and as they cannot burp you can imagine the discomfort they are in at that point.

If you do not want to spend more money on plants, which your goldies will destroy, get an air pump with a airstone. You need to make sure that there will be enough oxygen in the water. However, I do suggest getting more plants, it will help your fish survive during a power outtage.

If you have any more questions just shout, I will help where I can to make you and your fishes as happy and long-lived as possible :)
 
ummm, not to be rude, but Goldfish can live in tanks just fine, thank you very much. Now it's true that most new fish people don't know how to keep fish, let alone goldfish, but still it can be done just fine.

Here's my advice. Remove all fish except 2 goldfish. Give up on the live plants as most goldfish will munch away. Add another large capacity canister like the next sized up Fluval and add an HOB.

It's no secret how to keep fish healthy and happy. Overfilter.
 
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