Goldfish setup questions

[bamf64]

Im getting a 20L fancy goldfish aquarium for xmas, and i just have a few questions.

-Should i cycle the tank for a week or so before putting the fish in?

-When i do the monthly cleaning, do i clean the gravel and all the decor and plants, do a 100% water change? Or do a 60-80% water change, clean all the stuff ext..?

-Do i change the power filter bag every 3 months?

-Would 4 fancy goldfish be to many for a 20L tank?

-Do i need a heater for the tank?

-Do i need any other water additives other than aquasafe?

if you have any other reccomendations or advice let me know

[joepythons]

Im getting a 20L fancy goldfish aquarium for xmas, and i just have a few questions.

-Should i cycle the tank for a week or so before putting the fish in?

-When i do the monthly cleaning, do i clean the gravel and all the decor and plants, do a 100% water change? Or do a 60-80% water change, clean all the stuff ext..?

-Do i change the power filter bag every 3 months?

-Would 4 fancy goldfish be to many for a 20L tank?

-Do i need a heater for the tank?

-Do i need any other water additives other than aquasafe?

if you have any other reccomendations or advice let me know

See the answers in your other thread

[DarkSean]

Is this a 20 litre or 20 long? Either way both are not suitable for any type of goldfish. Goldfish get large, are very messy and need space.

Cycling, does not just mean leaving your tank to sit for a week. Its about adding a source of ammonia to the water and letting the filter bacteria build up. This can take over a month if you do it fishless.

For goldfish you are really going to need a canister filter. Also you never chage the bio media, only the mech media.

You should be doing large waterchanges weekly for goldfish

Goldfish do NOT need a heater. Warm water can make them easily get sick

Normal goldfish need about 30 gallons PER FISH with a min tank size of 40-60 gallons. Fancy goldfish need about 20 gallons PER FISH with a min tank size of 40 gallons.

If this is a 20 litre tank, get a heater and get a betta.

[accidental777]

Agreed. This set up would not be ideal for goldfish. However, if this is a 20 long and if you add a heater it would work great for a few african shell dwellers (cichlids). You could still do a really cool tank this way.
With fish, it is sometimes easier to look at what you have for a set up first and then find the fish to go with it. There is always going to be something out there that should work for you. Maybe even something that you will like more than goldfish.