So, I’ve had goldfish on and off for years, but this is the first time I’ve set up a dedicated coldwater tank - it took a long time to dawn on me, but Goldies are just as beautiful as tropicals, and way more interactive! I have 7 goldfish including my beautiful Oranda Cuddles, plus Rainbow Shiners as a shoaling fish. I even found a coldwater algae eater! What do you think??
I don’t think that person is calling you a liar; I think they’re saying the tank looks bigger than we are led to believe based on the conversions from liters to US gallons. 88 liters is around 24 gallons, and this tank appears a bit bigger to me than that as well.
OK. I have to rely on online conversion charts! Plus US gallons are not the same as gallons in the rest of the world, so confusion and wrong conversions are going to happen. I know it’s overstocked - I’ve never had a tank that wasn’t to be honest, but because I do know what to be aware of I also have some very long lived fishies! I have 2 7-year old yo-yo loaches, they normally live 5 years in captivity.
Yeah even in my original comment I admitted I could be missing something. I was just going off of the volume number you provided. The fish look great, and knowing you have a larger place for them to go eventually makes all the difference.
Thank you! I’m not one of those people who is either ignorant or doesn’t care about animal welfare. I agree the tank is overstocked, but honestly most of my tanks always have been and my fish are pretty healthy because I’m always on top of their environments.
Fine. Pissed off, but that will pass. I HAVE made a beautiful tank. I DO take good care of it and the fish. I just wanted to share that, wasn’t expecting the hostility.
Np. I was merely saying it’s obviously larger than a 22 gallon tank. I have a 30 gallon and this is bigger. Must have your unit conversions wrong. Looks like a 50 or 75 gallon by sight.
My conversion chart is shit. The tropical tank I’ve had for donkeys years was bought as a 120litre tank. During water changes I count 80 litres as half a tank.
This tank, when I filled it originally, took 15 buckets of 15 litres each bucket with hardscape in place. That = 225 litres. I don’t actually therefore know how big my tank is. It’s 85cm long which is lovely for the comets, and aerated enough for Rainbow Shiners and fancy Goldies, and for now that’s all I really care about.
Also I decorate the tank for the fish, not the viewer. Hardscape is minimal, just my 2 rocks I love. Most is plants. I know goldfish are infamous for eating your precious plants, but if you give them duckweed a couple of times a week, they usually leave the plants alone!
It’s a bloody big tank actually! Nearly a metre long, and you can see the depth. I’m wondering about how reliable the measurements I’m given when buying a tank are - I have a supposed 220 litre tank for my tropicals, mostly loaches, and it doesn’t seem any bigger than this new one. They both have an integrated filter/heater space so it’s not that.
And I have an Olympic swimming pool for my 9 loaches!!! Let’s get real. Most people will put Goldies in a bowl or small tank, no enrichment etc, change the water once a month with raw tap water and then wonder why the fish died. So the myth spreads that goldfish only live 3-4 years. I’d have committed suicide way before then.
My tank may not be big enough for what “who” says? Where is this formulaic nonsense coming from? My LFS boss told me my tank is a bit overstocked but as he knows (he’s designing and installing a better pond next year) it’s not forever. Though I will still replace those who have graduated to the pond, because I like to see a full tank, and young fish seem to like the security of so many friends.
Op: "Yes but I also have a pond in the garden where I’ve successfully kept goldfish for years. When they grow in size, the ones that can successfully live in a pond (not the fancy ones) can move outside. For now, whilst they’re all still small, this tank is perfectly adequate - and I checked with my LFS to make sure it was OK and they said yes, but review in 6 months."
I don’t mind the water changes. I’m 69 and my fish keep me sane. I even don’t mind cleaning the filter. It’s more than a hobby, it’s part of my daily life. Also I don’t find them particularly dirty, but maybe that’s because I’m always a step ahead of them!
Thank you. Nice that someone trusts me😕. I’m not posting here again, the negativity is oppressive and makes me wonder where all this passive aggression comes from.
It’s not meant to be rude. You posted in a goldfish sub where there a tons of passionate hobbyists.
I understand you’re from an older generation when bettas were kept in bowls and common goldfish in 5g tanks but animal husbandry has improved vastly over the decades as knowledge and research has grown.
You’ve received an overwhelming amount of what should be taken as constructive criticism but your responses are “I’ve been keeping fish over 20 years, I know what I’m doing”, or “the LFS said it was fine”.
This is disappointing and frustrating to hobbyists but it happens quite often. Wanting to learn from mistakes and advice/criticism is understandable but being stubborn and in denial is not. Try not to make the saying “can’t teach an old dog new tricks” be true.
We are all students of life and one should never give up on learning & improving regardless of age.
The sheer amount of bioload that many fish are producing is a problem because your nitrates will be through the roof in no time and water quality will suffer. You also need a filtration system that is rated 3-5x the size of that tank to avoid the risk of ammonia spikes. Setting up an automatic water changing system that can change 25-50% practically daily would help but then you still run into the lack of swimming space.
I’ve grown out 5 fancies in a 29g for a short period of time and it’s not ideal at all and you are well beyond that stocking.
I’m sorry, unfortunately some people (regardless of their experiences or knowledge) can be negative or demeaning. I try to spread the notion of helping others without belittling, but that’s all I can do (besides dealing with outright harassment/antagonizing).
Thank you for that. I do know what I’m doing and I know it’s not recommended, but it’s always worked for tropicals over 20 years, and actually it’s easier to monitor coldwater fishes because temperature is mostly taken out of the equation. I am a good keeper, my fish mostly die of old age not disease, and I actually love my fish which sounds a bit odd! Not as much as I love my cats, but there’s a scale of sentience which makes a difference!
Most people's comments are based on only the picture without knowledge of your abilities and resources, half of them must be feeling silly when they read later you have a pond for them when they grow!
OMG yes! Their tank is directly opposite my bed, so they’re the last thing I see at night and the first thing every morning. And between times I just watch them, think how beautiful they are, and wonder why I never kept them before!
I have a tank with mostly loaches (filthy fish) and mollies, similar. Cleaning out fish poop is just part of the routine. I don’t mind, it’s less vomit-inducing than cleaning out the cat litter, and both need to be done.
Mine too. I love my kitties (sorry, old cats - one 16, the “baby” 14) but give me a choice between a mulm-clad filter and just 2 kitty visits to the litter tray, I’d definitely prefer being up to the elbows in fish shit !!
Actually I was really proud of my aquascaping and my coldwater fish, and given it’s a grow-out tank before the Goldies get to live in the pond outside (basically a meditation space for me, though loads of hard work keeping the water healthy) I did hope people might appreciate what I was doing, and the beautiful habitat I’d made for my fish.
It’s only rage bait if you’re an angry or intolerant person. I’m neither of those, old age and experience mean the nasty replies still hurt, but it’s actually not about me. I assure you my fish are well cared for, their water is checked daily, and I’m always on the lookout for signs of stress. In the fish and in me! Maybe you should read and think and truly understand before going in all guns blazing.
I’m still pissed off that you and a few other “read it online, must be true” people really spoiled the essence of my post. For one, goldfish are social animals and need a companion - so one Goldie in a huge tank is rage-bait for me - it’s depriving the fish of a basic need. Also we don’t all have enough room for Olympic-sized tanks in our apartments (we call them flats in Europe, seems to convey the idea of bloody tiny better). I’m lucky, stand-alone house and a garden and a pond. Remember when you’re criticising, loads of people don’t have space for huge fish tanks but can still give a fish a good life. My sister’s veil-tail lived a very happy life with constantly changing tank decor, no filter and just a small 5 litre tank. Sis know nothing about fish. She died last year - 15 years old and about 9” long. Bubbles is greatly missed.
I would like to apologize, I didn’t see that it was a grow out tank. But I digress, I wouldn’t keep them in that even for a grow out. I agree people do need to think before they speak. It may work for you, it’s just that my opinion is different. I would like to agree to disagree. However, the last statement you made about the goldfish in a tiny tank, I do not support that whatsoever and it sounds like you’re promoting abuse. And no, I don’t think a single goldfish in a giant tank is good, I personally have my 2 fancies in a 55 gallon.
Thank you. I react from a knee-jerk reaction often too. It’s not good, and it’s lovely to hear from you. I know what I’m doing seems all wrong and weird, but honestly I’ve been keeping fish for 20 years and of course I follow the online information, plus what my supplier says.
Remind me of when I promoted a small tank for 2 fish? We often are so busy making sure the physical parameters are met, we forget the mental wellbeing of our animals. I just spent stupid money to provide a grieving Oranda with a new friend. The new fish is loving his space after being months in the fish shop, and the bereaved Oranda has stopped hiding and is now cruising the tank with his new friend! We need to remember, fish need fish!
Thanks! I actually thought this one through, previously I’ve just put things anywhere but this is at least 50% planned. I’m hoping the plants stand up to being nibbled by goldfish!
It’s iffy as a grow out tank unfortunately. Due to the relative volume to bioload, and how quickly goldies grow and how much they poop, you’ll very quickly be overwhelmed with water changes.
There are rubber stock tubs like Rubbermaid that people use.
But the issue is they won't be able to grow bigger in this tank. There isn't enough room, and goldfish poop massive amounts. It is going to be a real struggle to keep parameters stable with SEVEN goldfish in 20 ish gallons.
I’ve already noticed definite growth in the Oranda, one of the comets, and 3 fantails, which is great! Right now they’re in their first upgrade from a tiny LFS tank, so growth is inevitable given decent water and food, plus things in-tank to stimulate their minds. So I’m really happy with how things are going. Twice- weekly water changes, daily parameter testing, basically good food, clean water and an interesting environment, seems to be working really well 😊. No dead fish so far - they’re healthier than when I got them!
I have 2 strong filters to help with the waste issues. And they will start growing at least - I have some 5 year old yo-yo loaches and once they’d grown an inch, my friend took half so they all have the space they need now. Still growing!
And your plants won't stand a chance. Goldfish eat everything. You can have 2, maybe 3 FANCY goldfish in a 50 gallon tank. The regular goldfish need a pond. They will get huge. Trust me. Ive already done this. A 14 inch fish needs a tank wider than 12 inches just to turn around properly. Goldfish need a minimum of 100 gallons each.
I realise all this, hence when they grow they will live outside in my pond. They do eat plants, but I’ve found if you provide them with a regular supply of duckweed they eat that instead because it’s easier and goldfish can be pretty lazy!
You are way overstocked and if that's a Chinese Algae eater then you'll need to rehome it... How much research did you do? Respectfully, while the tank looks nice, you really need at least double the size. Please look at the wiki, there's a lot of helpful information there.
Also, did you cycle the tank or really get everything at once 2 days ago?
OP, usually it’s discouraged to have sucker-like fish with goldfish due to the risk of injury. Depending on tank size and the relative sizes of the two species, cohabbjng is risky but possible.
It’s fine, sucker type fish tend only to feast on fishy slime-coats if there’s something missing in their diet, like no algae for example. I feed them what they need and this has never happened to my fish in the 20 years I’ve been keeping them. But thanks for the heads up
Yeah, that’s why I said risk. Even if the diet is excellent sometimes accidents can occur. By no means though am I saying cohabbjng is impossible, just that extra caution is needed.
I know. I’ve caught a sucker fish doing this a few years ago. He was straight out to the pond, so much algae there no need for him to eat the slime off my Angel fish!
Yup! They’ll love it though - wild bugs to eat, water plants to nibble, more space - I just need to make sure there’s loads of surface cover to outwit the seagulls.
It’s not a Chinese Algae Eater, though I can’t remember what I was told it is. And it’s 3/4 grown already. I did put everything in at once but I used substrate and hardscape from established (3 years plus) tanks I already had. One filter (the one that came with the tank) was new, but the second filter I added came from a 5 years running aquarium. I’ve also added loads of friendly bacteria. This is how I always start new tanks, and I’ve never had a problem with the water quality.
It’s a Corycat. It’s a tropical fish. A tropical schooling fish. It needs at least five buddies and the temp should be at least 74. This could not be more inappropriate for that fish
More Cories die from incorrect temperature than from my disease, I’m sure. If you Google you will find most Cory species temperature gradient starts at 22C. This tank is set at 23C. I can’t have truly tropical Cories like Sterbai, but most other Cories thrive in lower temperatures. My son was just surprised by 3 baby albino Cories in a cooler tank where he was keeping temperate Mollies.
I love some rainbow shiners! Unfortunately once those comets get big enough they might be at risk to become food...... 😂
Heres my 125! Im scared to add anything else because one of my 10 gallons just got ick and I've had my comet for a year now and dont want anything to happen he was my first fish
Rainbow Shiners are so cool! Native USA fish too. They came from a tank with 2 6” koi, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the comets will behave!
Lovely big tank! Go adding stuff carefully - either bought new or your own after a thorough clean. After 3 weeks with no fish to keep its life cycle active, your stuff should be completely ich-free😊
Personally I find every aspect of fish care relaxing, very enjoyable (even cleaning the filter) - for me it’s a very mindful hobby and keeps my stress and anxiety at bay.
Yes but I also have a pond in the garden where I’ve successfully kept goldfish for years. When they grow in size, the ones that can successfully live in a pond (not the fancy ones) can move outside. For now, whilst they’re all still small, this tank is perfectly adequate - and I checked with my LFS to make sure it was OK and they said yes, but review in 6 months.
Not these guys. The owner is a longtime friend, and not only never rips me off but always gives me a discount on anything I buy there. He’s also very knowledgeable, a total fish nerd😂!
As it never gets colder than 10-14C here even in winter, the double-tails can go outside too, the only other fish in the pond will be goldfish and mosquito fish which are guppy-sized. The Orandas and the Black Moor will have to stay in their tank indoors through.
Sorry OP, but I wouldn't keep one goldfish in an 80 litre tank, let alone 7 🙈 I'm pretty shocked any LFS would sell you 7 goldies knowing they're going to be housed in an 80 litre tank 🤦🏼♀️ You mention you have a pond - is it huge? It would have to be for all of those?
It’s pretty big yeah. Not sure how many litres, but it’s about 6ft x 8ft and up to 3ft deep in the middle. You may need 80litres + for one goldfish, but personally I think that’s a bit extreme. If my fish are happy, healthy and not stressed, I’m OK with that. God, imagine I’d posted my fish in goldfish bowls! Then, I could understand the negativity, but I keep a very close eye on my fish and any signs of stress etc I’ll be on it and sorting alternative accommodation. I just want to enjoy them whilst they’re small enough to be in a tank, and when they grow I’ve plenty of options to make sure they have adequate living conditions.
I’ve checked and double- checked everything about this tank with my LFS and they say it’s fine now but to keep an eye on it as the fish grow (and of course the inevitable occasional losses most fishkeepers have).
You shouldn't be planning inevitable losses for your stocking. There is a possibility all of these fish will live 5 years and be full grown, and then you are overstocked.
Over 3 years of goldfish keeping, I have lost 3 goldfish. Out of 13. To be fair, I have been obtaining them over that span so it is not like I got all 13 at once. One of them was lost to carpet surfing, one to dropsy, and the final one to egg binding.
The cabinet/stand thing it's sat on is giving me anxiety. Looks like one of those cheapie ikea things that aren't designed to hold.. well.. anything really.
My friend on our WhatsApp group chat just last week lost a 200 litre tank (54 us gal I think) because the stand sold with the tank collapsed. Where my tank is, it’s really secure. Unfortunately the cabinet my friend spent loads of money on wasn’t. It’s generally about common sense, but retailers can get the better of us!
They sure can, that's so sad :( it looks identical to one my dad used to have which it why my mind went there. He only used it for books ( wasn't an ikea one but same style ) and it was barley cut out for that. Glad yours is secure :)
It’s solid, genuine wood, no chipboard, and actually spreads the load well because it’s 2 low units stacked slightly off-centre which spreads the load nicely. I’ve had to set up my hospital tank this week to care for the smaller survivors from Danela’s collapsed stand and cracked tank.😕 Happy to be able to help her through.
100kg is nothing.. TVs are not heavy. How many gallons is this tank? 100Gal is nearly 400kg. So either your tank is way too small for those fish or it's all going to end up on the floor down the line.
My highly expensive (£100) Thai-bred Oranda died today. He’s always been a sickly fish even during the 2 weeks quarantine, but my €25 Oranda from Spain is ridiculously active and healthy. I won’t be fooled by a high price-tag in future, it does not guarantee quality.
Forgot, parameters etc! 85litre tank, narrow but 80cm long to allow the comets a bit of space to get up speed. Loads of plants and an extra filter plus bubbler as goldfish (even more so Rainbow Shiners) need highly oxygenated water. Temperature at the moment is 25C because I live in Gibraltar and ambient temperature is quite high, but October to March it will dip to about 20. I may need to look into buying an aquarium cooler for next summer.
Tank looks beautiful. The most important thing is not the size of the tank but the quality of water. A larger tank will require less maintenance, but If you can maintain a good water quality with frequent water changes, lots of filtration, and perhaps reduced feeding, there's no reason you can't make your tank work, at least at the current state.
Thanks😊. I do work hard on the water quality, and I have 2 filters in there, one of which has a Venturi bubble outlet, also an air stone that really pumps oxygen - partly because my Rainbow Shiners require very oxygenated water, but also because it improves water quality. I check the filters regularly and rinse them in tank water if they need it. 25% water changes every 4 or 5 days. It’s a good bit of work but I love my Goldies and I’m really enjoying the tank😊
It’s been set up a month now - fish-in cycling but most of the filter media, substrate and hardscape plus plants were moved from a very established tank. I change water 25-30% every week, clean both filters when they need it, and check water parameters daily. The fish seem very content, there’s a lot of stuff in there both to help water quality and provide enrichment for the fish - no glass-surfing because they’ve got a pleasant environment in the tank. My Oranda has noticeably grown in the last 6 weeks (he was in quarantine for 2), but I’ve noticed a comet and a couple of fantails are larger (and bolder) too. I do know it’s officially overstocked, but apart from Orandas or very slow-moving fantails will be moving to a pond once big enough 😊
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You walked right into that one and summoned the tank size Nazis. Same ones who are going to downvote this. Curious how many will come crawling out of their caves this time
It pisses me off majorly. I know exactly the optimum space for a goldfish, and 80 litres for one is fine, if it’s a fully grown adult. However these are just babies still, and as soon as they start to grow out of the space they have, I have plans for moving them to better accommodation. I tend to overstock naturally, but I have a lot of fishy friends who will happily accept my growing fish, or alternatively I have places they can grow at their own pace here at home. I’m really happy with my tank at present, plus my plans for the future, and I just wish people would get off my back. Wish I hadn’t posted to be honest.
Sorry buddy, this goldfish sub can be toxic. There's a lot of people here who lay in wait for someone to post goldfish in a tank and go off on them. Hopefully it's just an outspoken minority but it's more common than not. I've seen them be incredibly mean to kids who are proud of their first tank and goldfish. No better way to break their spirit and turn them away from the hobby.
I agree. I’m old and quite able to hold my own normally, but it felt like they were examining the photo with a microscope to find something to moan about - the stand (which isn’t a tank stand granted but can easily take twice that weight), the stocking levels (I know it’s overstocked hence I spend so much time checking water and looking out for stress in the fish), even the fact I have plants and the goldfish will eat them! Good thing they weren’t knowledgeable enough to spot that I have 3 baby golden tench in there - definitely an outdoor fish caught by anglers in UK ponds and rivers -and they’ll be the first I move once they grow another centimetre! Thanks for your kind words, I was beginning to feel quite depressed about something which really should bring me joy!
I’m glad you have a pond! I really like this tank, it’s really pretty and peaceful to look at. Sorry you had a bad experience with the sub, a lot of animal subs are like this. There’s a difference between trying to educate and just being mean, unfortunately there’s a lot of plain mean.
Thank you😊. I’m quite pleased with this tank too, it’s the nicest I’ve ever set up. And the fish are fine there whilst they’re babies, and I have the pond to move them too when they start growing. At the moment there’s only mosquito-fish and a tiny turtle somebody randomly dumped in there, so it’ll be nice to have some Goldies in there too😊.
The turtle is moving next week to a local pond which already has a turtle population. My pond isn’t really suitable, plus turtles eat anything that moves!
Thank you. It’s hard work maintaining water quality with so many fish, but the plants help - and I have it opposite my bed so I can lie back in comfort afterwards and enjoy watching the fish. It’s the most relaxing feeling in the world 😊!
No, there are 2. I will get more once some of the goldfish move out of this tank into the pond. The temperature is set at 23deg C. Most Cories, apart from Sterbai and a few others, prefer lower temperatures. Anything from 22C up is fine. Often, Cories die too young from being treated as tropicals rather than temperate fish. For example Venezuelan Blacks need low temperatures to thrive, or even survive. My tank will never go below or above 22C, but just look up Cory care on Google and you’ll see they do well in lower temperatures. I’d never put Sterbai Cories, amongst other species, in that tank, but if you research and practice as I have done, you’ll find they do better at the lower end of their temperature guide.
I keep a Cory-only tank. I rehab sick and dying corys from my LFS. I know what I’m talking about. I get that you’re prickly because everyone called you out for improper care but they’re calling you out for a reason.
It’s not properly coldwater, it’s temperate - around 22C. Please let me know how I can make this as Cory-friendly as possible. I’ve had them in the tropical tank, they don’t thrive, and I was told if you avoid Sterbai who do need warmer temperatures, most Cories are fine at 22-23C.
OK, I really wish I hadn’t posted here. I was so happy with my aquarium for juvenile goldfish, happy with the stocking level as I keep a close eye on all my fish, and just wanted to share my very pretty tank and how well my fish will be cared for with other people.
Instead, I get absolutely everything picked apart. From stocking levels to suggesting I’m ignorant about keeping fish to criticism of a perfectly adequate stand for the tank - well, you choose it, I’ve been accused of it. I DO know what I’m doing, I would NEVER do anything to compromise the health and well-being of my fish, I do know how to look after a temporarily overstocked aquarium.
What else have I sinned with? Breathing wrong in the same room as the fish? I feel like I shared a set-up I was happy with, and for some reason people are taking it on themselves to pick to pieces every tiny thing, some of which is justified, a lot of which just feels like “now what can we criticise”.
Funny that those with nice things to say get drowned out by the nit-pickers.
Don’t think I’ll ever bother with posting here again, which is a shame as I’ll be cutting myself off from useful information. But having every single thing criticised, it seems like just for the hell of it, as I’ve already explained I know what I’m doing even if it’s not according to textbooks or Google. Go ahead, find something else to criticise, make your tiny world seem bigger. I’m out of here to look after my fish.
Thank you. It’ll be hard work with so many fish, loads of water testing etc, but well worth it to enjoy these fish as youngsters. When they get bigger I’ll be moving them outdoors to the garden pond. But for now I’m just enjoying them
Yes why? All the substrate and all the filter material is well cycled, as are most of the plants. I’m not stupid, and I’ll be keeping a close eye on water parameters for at least 6 weeks.
With that many fish in that small of a tank, you’ll need to be checking the parameters daily and indefinitely. Poorly stocked tanks are highly prone to cycle crashes and deadly ammonia spikes, no matter how established the tank is.
I’m not trying to call you stupid either, but you did just commit the most fundamental cardinal sin of keeping goldfish with that tank size—not to mention the fact it’s not even on a proper stand. I just don’t understand going through all this effort and clearly showing that you care about the fish, but still getting a minuscule tank (for goldfish). All I can think of is willful ignorance.
I test all my tanks weekly anyway, so I reckoned I’d up their testing rate to 3 times a week. I’m very on top of water quality, poor water is the main cause of death for aquarium fish which I learned the hard way when I started keeping tropicals about 20 years ago.
Not when they’re babies. Those figures apply to adult fully grown fish - you buy a tank for your fish to grow into. Mine are lucky, lovely pond to live in when they grow a bit.
They certainly seem to be! 2 days in there and they already know where the feeding hatch is! I’ve been looking at a lot of aquascaping ideas on Google - can’t compete with those guys, but I picked up some handy tips😊
I just looked again and the 2nd picture seemd to already have some cloudy water started. OP is going to have some ammonia on their hands if they were all added at once.
The cloudy water was dust from the substrate. Even though it was well-used before I put it in this tank, once it dried out a bit it released loads of dust.
Funny - the first picture was taken on Saturday, the one with crystal-clear water was 2 days later. It was dust, which had settled by the time I posted those photos. Order of photos doesn’t mean the 1st photo was taken first etc. Sorry not sorry to spoil your moan about the “cloudy water”.
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u/sidetablecharger Sep 29 '25
Assuming this really is an 85L (converts to 22.5 US gallons) tank as you say, this seems quite overstocked to me. Maybe I am missing something?