Alhambra water

[tanker]

The office where I work wants to start an aquarium. Will be a small one (20gal ??) with maybe a goldfish or 2, but the bathroom is way down the hall and the only sourse of water is bottled Alhambra water. The boss said "go ahead and use that water, I do not want to see buckets going up and down the hall"!!

Alhambra water states that "mineral are added for taste". Will this be a problem?? Has anyone used Alhambra water for fish??

 

[jackiomy]

Alhambra water, which is a subsiderary of Sparkletts, has no detectable Chlorine or Chloramine in their water. Having said that, I am not sure what total dissolved solids are but I would still use a water conditioner like Prime in the water. I know goldfish are temperate fish so you won't want to put icecold water in there either. You can go to www.water.com which is their website for info on their water.

 

[wataugachicken]

the water isn't an issue because the tank is too small for goldfish anyway.

 

[Philosophos]

Ya, goldfish get huge. people torture them by keeping them in small aquariums. Their growth stunts, ugly things happen, and they die of complications.

What's your stocking budget? There are common, easier to keep fish that'll live longer in a 20g.

 

[lilim10]

I agree, goldfish shouldn't be kept in a 20 gallon...

 

[furfinsfeathers]

I agree about a 20 being too small for even 1 goldfish, and they are social fish best kept in groups. For easy to keep, brightly colored fish that would be suited for a 20 gallon tank, how about a group of guppies (male only unless you have something to do with the fry); a school of maybe 8 neon tetras and 1 dwarf gourami (our dwarf gourami has a lot of personality); or maybe some platties (male only unless you have something to do with the fry). If you posted in the Cold and Temperate section because the tank doesn't have a heater, maybe rosy red minnows or White Cloud Mountain minnows?

 

[tanker]

There is not a buget issue, but...

1) Tank must be a cold water because no access to warm water for water changes.
2) No access to other water easily.
3) Semi warehouse--temp is about 60+ (65??)
4) I know, I know....Boss wants small "handleable" tank, but big fish.
5) PS---We have decided on a 36 gal by Oceanic.

 

[Lexi_D]

a 36 could have 1-2 fancies in it long-term.

 

[Flaringshutter]

Tanker, the proposed setup is impossible. Remember that with goldfish, the digestive system is fairly crude and so they produce messy waste in large quantities. You're going to need to be able to do regular gravel vacuuming, which means you will have to be lugging buckets back and forth. You could buy a Python-type water change tool, but would it attach to the faucets in your office? You're going to have to clean that filter, which means taking it to the sink by bucket so you don't drip all over everything. Who will be paying for the replacement filter media? For quality goldfish food?

A 36 gallon tank would happily house 3 or 4 fancy goldfish, but your boss is being unrealistic about the tank requirements. Goldfish are animals and they need proper care - they are not furniture. Any and all fish will have the same needs.

Workplace aquariums are always touchy, anyway. If the goldfish develop an illness over the weekend, the power goes out, they injure themselves, the filter breaks... there is no one around to immediately address the problem.

It doesn't sound like there is a workable solution to me. Not with your boss's requirements.

 

[Philosophos]

How about changing the temp of the water for water changes? Buy an extra submersible heater, thermometer and bucket. fill the bucket up, drop the heater in, dechlor the water, and forget about it for a while until the water heats up. From there you have your tropical fish range.

The issue with power outages and weekends is a good one. As I recall in more than a couple reputable books, articles and web sites (I can grab sources if anyone wants) skipping a couple days of food won't kill a fish, and is typical to many of their natural conditions. Perhaps a heavier feeding and water change would be in order every Friday? Power outages shouldn't be a big deal if they don't last more than a couple hours typically, and many filters will start back up after a power outage.

So then, if this is all sound, it's just a matter of figuring out low maintenance fish to keep. There are tons of fish that meet this description for a 20g depending on what you want to call low maintenance. Things like platies and danios can handle all kinds of crap happening to them, and they're cheap to replace.