Fish tank set up help needed!

[jknudson]

no no, ...tetras are gross. Their poop is fine. THEY are gross. -lol-

Say what!? Dislike all characins in general or just tetras?

[Mindibun]

I only like the genetically engineered radioactive glowy ones...












Kidding. I don't really have anything against them. ^_^ My boyfriend's little brother had one that lived for AGES with no filtering, no running water even, got fed like once a week if the kid remembered, and was literally swimming in algae. It wouldn't die. We called it the Jesus fish. I said it was the second coming of Jesus, and he decided to do it in fish form.

No offense to any highly religious persons.

[alcohologist]

i'm surprised no one mentioned doing water changes.
i'm not sure about freshwater aquaria , having been doing marine, but i'd do a minimum 40% water change per week, especially if you'll only be running a undergravel filter.
also, i don't think using foil or anything highly reflective is such a good idea... the fish can go crazy with the bright lights and reflections. having a black or dark blue backing also shows off your fish better anyways.
good luck with your aquarium!

[Blu Mongoose]

I've never liked goldfish myself because of the waste, but that's what she wants. I guess if you do a water change like suggested they may not be so bad. We were wanting to get about five fish for our 44 gal. tank. We can add an undergravel filter, but how are those cannister filters that sit under the tank cabinet? Someone was telling me they are very good.

Are there any goldfish that don't mix well in a tank? We wanted to have at least one black moor.

[Ginevive]

Generally, for goldfish, you need 10 gallons per fancy goldfish. So in a 44g, I would say that you could keep 4 fancies.
I keep GFs. One thing that you need to keep track of, is the types that you combine. If, say, you put more-awkwardly-shaped ones in with comets/commons, the rounder fish might have trouble getting enough food. I do not like to combine comets and fancys, but I do have one comet in with my orandas. They seen to be doing fine..
GFs are messy fish! Frequent water changes are needed.. over-filtration works for me.
Gees, i could talk GF all day. Do you have any specific questions?

[Ginevive]

As for food, Hikari is the top of the line. I use Whisper "hang-on-back" filters and always go at least double what they recommend. I change water 2x a month, half of the water each time. I use a magnetic algae scraper for in-between-time algae removal. I don't heat my gf tank, but the temps in the room never go below 70 degrees; they like cooler water as opposed to a tropical tank.
"Magnum" canister filters are nice, but they take some education Mark has one in his 125-g Oscar tank. I took it apart once to clean and was immediately drenched in water! I figured it out eventually.. they work great though, just read the instructions unlike I did.

[joepythons]

Generally, for goldfish, you need 10 gallons per fancy goldfish. So in a 44g, I would say that you could keep 4 fancies.

Yes this is exactly what i was refering to when i stated 1 gallon per 1 inch of fish.Sadly all goldfish are cousins to the carp and generly reach 12 inch ranges .

[jknudson]

As for food, Hikari is the top of the line.

Hikari is top of the line?? I suppose if we're talking Petsmart top of the line foods...

[Entropy]

I see the gloves already being pulled off here. I myself also use Omega One though I don't have goldfish at the moment. I do have (GASP) a few tetras (they took offense to the comment that they're gross and are at this moment swimming obscene patterns).

With goldfish I never added anymore then one fish per ten gallons, goldfish are messy messy messy and don't do well crowded.

[Ginevive]

Hikari is top of the line?? I suppose if we're talking Petsmart top of the line foods...

What would you recommend?
Quite honestly I use Tetra GF food and have no problems, but I have no fish that develop wens. When I was keeping lionheads, the Hikari really seemed to help in wen promotion, but it is genetics also that play a role.