i second that. especially with a fish that tries to eat everything that's not nailed down, it seems better to have less stuff to nibble in the first place. a bare-bottom tank is not cruel to them, and as i've said at other times, when a fish is unable to make the correct decisions for themselves (i.e. don't eat gravel), you as the owner need to make that decision for them by changing the circumstances.For the 29, you can go simple for you fishes health. No heater needed. No decor, no substrate. Decor and substrate are FOR YOU not for the fish unless youre doing live plants and rock. The filter is a must. And your gold fish can do fine at room tempature water. A heater is NOT A MUST. Decor and substrate ARE NOT A MUST. But thats just me. Good luck. Hope you get everyone straightened out soon
all you need is a filter. you can probably find a suitable one for under $30 if you shop around. ebay, amazon, aquabid, craigslist, iwanna or other local print classifieds, etc.