Goldfish are a very beautiful and popular fish, which can be seen in the homes of most aquarium fish lovers. However, if we want to keep goldfish at home, it is important to be aware of the goldfish tank setup before purchasing goldfish.
Like other fish, goldfish require a proper aquarium environment. Where they can live or thrive healthily. So to properly set up a goldfish tank, we need a few things, such as a large tank, a water filter, a water heater, aquarium lights, Air pump or oxygen pump, aquatic plants and some small pebbles.
Setting up these items in our tank by following some step-by-step methods will greatly improve the environment of our tank. However, it is important for us to have an idea about the materials used for the aquarium mentioned above.
Goldfish tank setup ideas:
We need to wash our hands thoroughly before preparing our goldfish tank, because any harmful parasites or bacteria from outside can enter the tank through our hands.
However, before keeping goldfish at home, it is important for us to be aware of goldfish care, goldfish diseases, and their remedies.
Ideal tank for goldfish:
The average size of goldfish is usually 2 to 6 inches, but they can grow to be as large as 14 to 15 inches. This means that we understand that goldfish need a large tank to live a healthy life.
A goldfish requires a tank that holds at least 50 gallons of water. However, if we are thinking of keeping more than one goldfish, the tank size should be increased to 15 gallons per goldfish.
Step 1: After bringing the goldfish tank home, it should be washed thoroughly using clear water and placed in a location that receives very little sunlight daily.
However, we should always keep our goldfish tank in a horizontal position because placing it in a high or low position can damage the tank due to high water pressure.
Not only that, there must be a system to supply electric power around the tank, using which we will operate the tank’s light, filter and oxygen pump.
The most important thing is that we should deep clean our goldfish tank every two months and change 15 to 20% of the water at least once a week.
Small pebbles or surfaces used for tanks:
Excess food used for our goldfish and goldfish waste accumulate at the bottom of the tank. Which subsequently spreads into our tank and greatly increases the chances of contaminating the water in the tank.
We usually use small pebbles in the tank, which are very readily available. If we spread these small pebbles on the bottom of the tank, our goldfish’s excess food and waste cannot spread throughout the tank and gets stuck between these pebbles.
Which is continuously absorbed by our aquarium filter, greatly reducing the chances of our tank water becoming contaminated quickly. Our goldfish also need a proper surface for them to sleep on.
Step 2: Small pebbles should be cleaned thoroughly using clear water before using them in an aquarium. It’s best if you can leave the pebbles in a bucket of water for 1 to 2 days after cleaning. Then we need to clean it thoroughly again, strain it, and spread it on the bottom of our tank.
However, the method for soil used in aquariums is a little different, in this case we will use the soil directly in our tank. And there is no special need to clean aquarium soil separately before use.
Aquatic plant requirements for goldfish tank setup:
Aquatic plants play a special role in improving the water environment of our aquarium. Aquatic plants help increase or control the amount of dissolved oxygen in the tank water.
Not only that, aquatic plants help to carry out the nitrogen cycle in our tank. As a result, the amount of ammonia and nitrite in the tank is controlled.
Aquatic plants are also ideal sleeping surfaces for our goldfish. Many times our goldfish like to hide behind aquatic plants which helps to keep their trace levels under control.
Not only that, aquatic plants are a very necessary surface during the breeding season for our goldfish.
We use various types of aquatic plants in our goldfish tanks, such as Anubias, Java fern, Marimo moss balls, Crinum Calamistratum etc.
Step 3: Aquatic plants should be cleaned and washed before placing them in our tank. Because harmful external parasites or bacteria can enter our tank through these aquatic plants.
Not only that, if there are rotten parts in a plant, then those parts should be removed from the plant.
Now we need to attach the plants to the correct surface and place them in our tank. Typically, we use small pieces of wood, small rocks, or aquarium soil as the substrate for the plants.
Use of filters in goldfish tanks:
Excess food used for goldfish and goldfish waste accumulate at the bottom of the aquarium, which is later converted into harmful substances such as ammonia and nitrite.
If harmful substances like ammonia and nitrite increase in our tank, the environment in our aquarium starts to deteriorate. As a result, the chances of our goldfish getting sick increase.
Therefore, it is essential to use a filter in our goldfish tank. The filter helps to carry out the nitrogen cycle in our goldfish tank. The filter also absorbs goldfish waste and excess food that falls to the bottom of the aquarium. As a result, the chances of ammonia and nitrite increasing in our tank are completely reduced.
However, it is completely wrong to think that if we use a filter, we will not have to clean our aquarium regularly. Even if we use a filter, we still need to clean our goldfish aquarium regularly.
Step 4: First of all, you need to set up the filter properly by following the guidelines. Then we need to turn off the power to the filter and place it in its proper place in the tank.
We need to clean the filter thoroughly every two months, and if necessary, we can change the filter kit.
Use of heater in goldfish tank:
If we live in a temperate zone and our weather doesn’t get too hot or too cold, then we don’t need any kind of heater in our fish tank. This is because goldfish have a much higher tolerance for low temperatures and excessive temperatures.
However, if our weather is very cold or very hot and there is a big difference in temperature between night and day, then it is especially necessary to use a heater in our goldfish tank. We usually use submersible heaters in goldfish tanks.
Step 5: First, we need to adjust the temperature of our heater to between 72° and 80° Fahrenheit. Because at that temperature, the environment in our tank improves a lot, and our goldfish stay much healthier.
Then, turn off the heater and completely submerge it horizontally in the bottom of our tank.
Use of air pump for goldfish:
Typically, the dissolved oxygen content of our goldfish tank water should be 5 mg/L or ppm. If for any reason the amount of dissolved oxygen in our tank water is low, the chances of our goldfish getting sick increase.
If we have a lot of aquatic plants in our tank, then the amount of dissolved oxygen is somewhat controlled. Also, if the nitrogen cycle is occurring properly in our aquarium, the amount of oxygen is still controlled.
However, if the water temperature in the goldfish tank increases excessively, the amount of dissolved oxygen decreases, which is harmful to our goldfish. Therefore, it is very necessary to use an oxygen pump or air pump in our goldfish tank.
Step 6: We need to use an air stone with an oxygen pump or air pump placed at the bottom of the tank. Using air stones can very quickly increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in our water.
However, we must keep the air pressure of the air pump under control.That’s because excess air pressure can be harmful to our goldfish.
Although there are many sponge filters available these days that have mechanical air pumps, in that case we don’t need a separate air pump. The air pump should be powered off and placed in the goldfish tank. Next time, when the tank is completely set up, turn on the power and bring the air pressure under control.
The right water for our goldfish:
We usually use tap water in our goldfish tanks. Because most tap water is suitable for human consumption.
However, the water used for goldfish should have certain characteristics such as,
- The pH value of the water should be between 6.8 and 7.5.
- The TDS level in water should be between 100 ppm and 250 ppm.
- Care must also be taken to ensure that the water is free of harmful substances, parasites, and bacteria.
However, most tap water contains chlorine, which is harmful to our fish. Therefore, we should use a conditioner in tap water to make it suitable for goldfish.
Step 7: The tab water should be poured into the goldfish tank very slowly. Adding water to the tank at a very slow rate greatly reduces the chance of dislodging objects in the tank, such as filters, heaters, aquatic plants, etc.
Then, use an adequate amount of conditioner and leave it for 1 to 2 days. As a result, an ideal aquarium environment will quickly be created for our goldfish.
The Role of Light for Goldfish Tank Setup:
It’s not like we have to use lights for our goldfish tank. However, using lights makes our goldfish tank look even more beautiful. Not only that, using lights in a goldfish tank greatly improves the tank environment.
Lights play a special role for the various aquatic plants kept in the tank. Light helps the aquatic plants in our goldfish tank complete the process of photosynthesis. So indirectly, lights have a special role for our tanks.
But that doesn’t mean we should keep the aquarium lights on all day. We can only turn on the lights in our aquarium for 7 to 8 hours.
Step 8: Lights used in aquariums should be properly set up outside the aquarium. However, it is best to keep the power of the lights off for now, and we should turn the power of the lights on only after the goldfish tank is set up.
Final step: Now we need to turn on the power to the goldfish tank’s filter, heater, lights, and air pump.
We should always keep our heads up, if any problem arises in our tank, the first thing we should do is turn off the power to our tank. This means we need to turn off the power to our tank’s filter, light, heater, and air pump.
We should release the goldfish into our goldfish tank two to three days after we have completely prepared it.
The reason is that within two to three days, the environment in our tank improves significantly, meaning there is sufficient dissolved oxygen in the tank and the possibility of chlorine in the tank water is greatly reduced.
Not only that, within two to three days, good bacteria in the tank continue to grow, which helps improve the environment in our tank.
Welcome to our website Aquarium Fish Zone. My name is Sagar Ghosh and I live in Kolkata. I am a science graduate.
I have kept fish in aquariums since I was very young. I loved seeing the colorful fish in the aquarium.
I have always tried to maintain and care for the fish properly. So me and my team members have created this website. As a result, we can provide you with accurate information about how aquarium fish are kept.