I currently have a setup for a brackish tank, 0.005 salinity. I have an Eclipse 1 (15High) tank (biowheel power filter setup) and a Fluval 204 canister filter rated for 40 gallon filters. I run the water through the canister filter and it spills into the original Eclipse filter, over the filtering substrate and onto the biowheel.
Sadly, after many happy years of keeping me company, my figure eight puffer has died, and my tank sits empty. I really don't feel like keeping up with a brackish tank any longer, but would still like an entertaining fish or two.
I've done the tropical fish and the brackish fish in this tank, but have yet to try coldwater. I'm seriously considering converting this tank into a coldwater setup for two standard pet store fantail goldfish. Nothing fancy, just pretty and decorative, with fish that have a little personality.
From what I understand, the biggest consideration for coldwater tanks is making sure filtration is adequate. I should have that covered with my dual-filter setup.
So here are my questions:
1) If I simply empty the tank and fill it with freshwater, will this ruin my already cycled tank? I don't know how changing the water from brackish to freshwater would affect the bacteria in the filters. I'm pretty sure that a full water change, then another 50-80% water change immediately after would dilute the amounts of salt so that it would probably not harm a fish as long as I was very careful to check the salinity before adding the fish.
Or would it be better to strip the tank completely down, replace the biofilter medium and use a Bio-spira to re-cycle the tank with freshwater?
2) I'm not sure of what to put in the tank for decoration since it sounds like goldfish really don't need many hiding places. I've read differing opinions - that goldfish like hiding places, and that goldfish prefer swimming room. Since the footprint of this tank is about the size of a 10 gallon, I figured having a very sparsely decorated tank would be best for any occupants I brought in.
Is having no decorations or one simple ornament in the center an adequate way to decorate an ornamental goldfish tank?
I currently have the back of the tank painted black with natural rounded gravel like this. However, I've been looking at that gravel for three years now and I'm ready for a change. I was thinking about going with a blue gravel like this. I thought that with the black background and the blue gravel, this would be a great color scheme to help the oranges and the whites of any fantails I get really pop out. Would the standard colored gravel found at pet stores be large enough to be safe for the goldfish?
Thank you in advance for any advice you may have.
Sadly, after many happy years of keeping me company, my figure eight puffer has died, and my tank sits empty. I really don't feel like keeping up with a brackish tank any longer, but would still like an entertaining fish or two.
I've done the tropical fish and the brackish fish in this tank, but have yet to try coldwater. I'm seriously considering converting this tank into a coldwater setup for two standard pet store fantail goldfish. Nothing fancy, just pretty and decorative, with fish that have a little personality.
From what I understand, the biggest consideration for coldwater tanks is making sure filtration is adequate. I should have that covered with my dual-filter setup.
So here are my questions:
1) If I simply empty the tank and fill it with freshwater, will this ruin my already cycled tank? I don't know how changing the water from brackish to freshwater would affect the bacteria in the filters. I'm pretty sure that a full water change, then another 50-80% water change immediately after would dilute the amounts of salt so that it would probably not harm a fish as long as I was very careful to check the salinity before adding the fish.
Or would it be better to strip the tank completely down, replace the biofilter medium and use a Bio-spira to re-cycle the tank with freshwater?
2) I'm not sure of what to put in the tank for decoration since it sounds like goldfish really don't need many hiding places. I've read differing opinions - that goldfish like hiding places, and that goldfish prefer swimming room. Since the footprint of this tank is about the size of a 10 gallon, I figured having a very sparsely decorated tank would be best for any occupants I brought in.
Is having no decorations or one simple ornament in the center an adequate way to decorate an ornamental goldfish tank?
I currently have the back of the tank painted black with natural rounded gravel like this. However, I've been looking at that gravel for three years now and I'm ready for a change. I was thinking about going with a blue gravel like this. I thought that with the black background and the blue gravel, this would be a great color scheme to help the oranges and the whites of any fantails I get really pop out. Would the standard colored gravel found at pet stores be large enough to be safe for the goldfish?
Thank you in advance for any advice you may have.
