Decorations?

cgrabe

cgrabe

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Jun 1, 2004
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I'm planning on putting 2 or 3 fancy goldfish (Ryukin or Veiltail maybe) in a 44 gallon aquarium. Do any of you know if they have preferences as to decorations? I assume they like lots of open space and no sharp edges, but do they need places to hide or duck out of the light? The only decorations I'm really considering at the moment are 3 potted java ferns. I can't seem to find any good info about it.
 
My fancy goldfish played in the bubbles from my bubble wand. One I had would rest on a sturdy plastic plant I put in there. I think I remember one hiding under a plastic plant. Every time I put living plants in the tank, they would eat them, but that's ok because I bought the plants since they like to eat them!

What made my goldfish happiest seemed to be having other goldfish around. Except for what I mentioned in the paragraph above, they mostly ignored their surroundings.
 
Thanks for your input. I'll probably go ahead and put in an airstone since I'll have an airpump running anyway for part of the filtration system. I hadn't thought about that.

I guess my biggest concern is that once they grow a bit, they won't have the option of hiding in a cave if they want out of the light like a typical tropical fish can. Maybe I can make some sort of overhang of java moss about half way up a corner or something. I'll come up with something I guess. I don't mind if they eat the plants; they're easily replaced, and I want my fish happy.

I've heard they like digging through the substrate searching for food or something. I'll have a solid cobblestone/mosaic type bottom though, so that won't be an option.
 
Maybe you could get some floating surface plants to keep the light down? I never turn the light on in my 29 gallon tank because my two fantails hate it and they just run to the bottom and try to get under something. So now I just leave the light in the tank off all of the time.
 
That's interesting. I could get a smaller-wattage light if they don't seem to like what I have. The tank is probably 2ft deep, so I don't think it'll be too bad. I could let some java moss float or something. I'll try some things once I have the tank set up.

My biggest problem right now is figuring out what to use to assemble the cobblestone substrate. Hot glue would be easiest, but I think aquarium sealent would be better. I'm going to have a hard time not making a mess of things.
 
Why are you worried about holding the substrate together? I prefer loose gravel, since it's easier to clean. I would worry that cobblestone (3-4 inch sized rocks) would create a lot of space where solid waste could get trapped.
 
i have one big guy in a tank alone. there are glass beads (about 3/4 inch across), a bubble wand across the back of the tank and some hornwort (that i weighted down). he likes to swim through the bubbles. its kind of funny to watch. he also spends his whole day picking up the beads and dropping them-i guess he is looking for food. maybe its becasue of boredom.
my buddy
 
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Originally posted by OrionGirl
Why are you worried about holding the substrate together? I prefer loose gravel, since it's easier to clean. I would worry that cobblestone (3-4 inch sized rocks) would create a lot of space where solid waste could get trapped.
Click to expand...
Well I'm not using real cobblestone. I'm planning on getting some light and dark colored river stones and assembling them in a mosaic across the bottom on top of a sand base. The spaces between will be filled with silicone, hot glue, or something safe. If I get it assembled correctly, there won't be any way waste can get below the surface. There will be a drain built into the bottom (with precautions to prevent fish getting stuck of course).
 
Okay. You can cover the exposed sealant with sand or smaller rocks, to help fill in without seeing a huge pile of sealant.
 
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