Find out everything you need to know about creating the perfect tank for your new fish.
There are a few essential elements to consider when setting up your goldfish tank. Here are some tips and tricks to getting it right.
Plan for the future when selecting your tank
Make sure to choose an adequate tank size for the goldfish you wish to keep. Many species of Goldfish grow to be quite large, so a small bowl or tank is not a good option for them. Comet goldfish can grow in excess of 35cm and Fancy goldfish such as Oranda, Pearlscale and Black Moor (for example) grow 16-25cm in length. Due to the large future sizes of these fish, it is good to start with a tank size that is at least 110-115 litres in volume.
Substrate colour can help you
Substrate (gravel) colour is based on personal preference, but we recommend a dark to bright-coloured substrate to help hide dark waste build-up that can occur in a goldfish tank. Substrate size should be medium to large sized. The common ‘pea sized’ may not be ideal for a goldfish aquarium, as larger goldfish may swallow it.
Opt for gentle decor
Make sure that you use decor that has smooth surfaces and cannot scratch or damage the sides of your goldfish. This will be especially important as your Goldfish starts to grow to their larger sizes.
Find the right filter
Make sure that you have good water turnover. Aim for double the litre-per-hour rating of the aquarium size you have (or want). Consider chemical filtration to help maintain healthy water, too. Check out our filter range online or ask our team for some more specific advice.
Consider cycling
Cycling is the process of building enough good bacteria to handle removing all the organic waste from the system when you have a fully stocked aquarium. To cycle, it is best to use a very sturdy bacterial additive to support good fish health. In addition to adding bacteria, you will also need to add a food source to produce ammonia for these bacteria to encourage growth and colonisation. You can do this by adding fish, pure ammonia or even fish food to the tank to feed the bacteria. Ammonia will typically need to peak between one-two ppm to facilitate the cycle.
Talk to your local Petbarn team member for more advice on setting up your tank, and to check out all the accessories in store.