Although goldfish are very beautiful to look at, most people think that keeping or caring for them at home is very difficult. The main reason is that goldfish get sick very quickly.
But if we can create the ideal aquarium environment for our goldfish, the chances of them getting sick are greatly reduced and they live longer.
Most goldfish get sick and die due to excess amounts of harmful substances called ammonia and nitrite in the aquarium. So if we use a slightly larger tank and a better quality water filter for our goldfish, the environment in our aquarium will be much better. As a result, our goldfish will be much healthier.
Do Goldfish need a filter?
Excess food used for our goldfish and goldfish waste accumulate at the bottom of the aquarium. Which is subsequently converted into harmful substances ammonia and nitrite. We all know that ammonia and nitrite are particularly harmful to our fish.
If we use a high-quality water filter in our goldfish tank, then the filter will help remove harmful substances from the tank. As a result, the likelihood of harmful substances such as ammonia and nitrite building up in our goldfish tank will be greatly reduced and the water in our goldfish tank will be much clearer.
So a high-quality water filter is essential for our goldfish tank.
Ideal filters for goldfish and their features:
A high-quality water filter is essential for our goldfish, but what type of water filter can we use in our goldfish tank?
Filters used in aquariums are generally divided into three categories: mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration systems.
Mechanical filter :
Many times we have seen many unnecessary small particles floating around in our aquarium. Which later makes the water in our tank much more turbid, and due to the extra small particles, our aquarium water becomes oxygen-deficient.
So we can use a mechanical filter in the goldfish tank. Because mechanical filters help to absorb small particles and harmful substances in the aquarium very quickly, which makes the water in our aquarium much clearer.
Not only that, using a mechanical filter greatly reduces the chances of oxygen deficiency in the aquarium.
However, we should thoroughly clean the mechanical filter every two to three weeks. Mechanical filters are much less expensive than other filters. If necessary, the sponge inside the filter should also be changed.
That’s because while mechanical filters can remove small particles and harmful substances from our aquarium water, they cannot completely reduce ammonia and nitrite. Also, using mechanical filters does not make the nitrogen cycle fully effective.
Biological filter :
Biological filters are the most effective of the filters that can be used in aquariums. Many types of good bacteria are found in biological filters, such as azotobacter, cyanobacteria, nitrosomonas and nitrobacter.
These bacteria help complete the nitrification process. Where ammonia is converted to nitrite and nitrite is converted to nitrate. Although nitrates are much less harmful to fish. And this process produces a lot of oxygen, which prevents oxygen deficiency in our goldfish tank. Biological filters are much more expensive and effective than other filters.
However, it is necessary to test the ammonia in the goldfish tank water at least once a month. By testing for ammonia, we can understand whether the nitrogen cycle is functioning properly in our goldfish tank. If necessary, we need to use liquid probiotics in our biological filter once a month.
Chemical filter :
Although we can use chemical filters for our goldfish. Chemical filters contain a large amount of activated carbon. This activated carbon helps to remove ammonia, chlorine, phosphate, and iron from our tank water.
Not only that, chemical filters help remove small particles from our aquarium water and make our aquarium water clear.
Although we can use chemical filters for a certain period of time, it is necessary to replace the chemical filter every three to six months. However, the price of chemical filters is much lower than biological filters.
Can Goldfish survive without a filter?
If we keep our goldfish in a small bowl, without any filter or air pump, there is a high chance that they will get sick quickly.
If we don’t put a good filter in the goldfish tank, excess food used for the goldfish and goldfish waste will accumulate at the bottom of the tank. Which will later prepare ammonia in the tank. We know how harmful ammonia is to our goldfish.
Not only that, without a good filter system, the amount of small particles and toxins in our aquarium will continue to increase, which can lead to a lack of oxygen in our tank.
Since the tank environment will be greatly damaged, there will be a possibility of various bacteria and fungi growing in the tank. As a result, the chances of our goldfish getting sick quickly will increase.
Although we can keep goldfish alive without a filter for a few days. In this case, we need to use a large tank for the goldfish. We need to give our goldfish tank a good cleaning at least once a month, and change at least 15 to 20 percent of the water every week.
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.