Given a tank and fish for birthday - HELP!

Originally posted by Andrman
I found this article about the "minitank" on this website.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/articles/minitank.shtml

The process described is different than what I am hearing elsewhere, but they specifically say that goldfish can survive in a small tank exactly like the one I have already. What are everyone's thoughts about this?
Click to expand...

Survive is the operative word. Look at it like this: A human being can survive is as little space as an small as a modern half-bathroom or office cubicle, but it isn't much of a life.

Yes, your sister wanted to give you a great gift and that is the gift she wanted you to have. However, I think she wanted you to have an alive and healthy fish that is thriving in its environment.
 
Goldfish can survive for over 20 years in the proper setup. In the small tank it will maybe make it a couple of years with lots of diligence. Not to harp on the subject but it really is a death tank for goldfish and th epeople at the pet stores should know better. But alas they don't often seem to care.

Before I said 30 ppm of nitrate and that is what I meant, not .30. Nitrate is non toxic until it hits high levels. Nitrite is super toxic and so ammonia.

If you are keeping the goldfish then I would not bother with the test kits. You will need to do daily large water changes to keep any levels low. 50% will probably be the minimum.

Bettas will make a better choice for any aquairum under 5 gallons.

Good luck and keep learning.
 
Thanks everyone very much for the responses.

Here's what's happened since then: I went to a nearby independent pet shop in the few minutes of spare time I had. The man came to help me and I explained that I was given a goldfish in a 1 gallon tank, and I asked if it would be alright. He said I'd just have to change the water frequently. I asked how to do it, he said put the fish in a bowl and dump out the water. I asked about a siphon, he said there was no need. I asked about test kits and he said there was no need, they would just help me see the cycling happen. He sold me a net and de-chlorinator (I already had that but oh well) and I left. He didn't seem concerned at all about the size of the tank. I'm assuming he is just apathetic, because EVERYONE here has said this tank is much much too small.

I just did about a 67% water change in the tank. I took him out with a net, put him in a bowl that had been sitting with water for a good 4-5 hours, and dumped the water in the sink.

This tank is a set up where there is a pump underneath the tank's podium. It makes bubbles via a hose going up the back of the tank and onto a fan-shaped opening. This fan shaped opening is held up in the tank by a hollow plastic "column." The column attaches to the "floor" surface which is slotted plastic. This entire assembly came out, and because gravel had gathered around and under it, it is now not sitting very well.

After the water change, I can still see lots of poop floating around. I fed him one flake of food and I don't think he ate it; I'm sure he's stressed out.

He has been frantically swimming around the tank looking as though he lost something. I just came to check on him again and to take this picture, and he has settled down a bit. I do think the camera flash scared him again.

:( I feel terrible doing this to the poor fish. It will need another water change probably tomorrow. Should I just buy a bigger tank? If so, what size exactly? The pet shop I was at had a 15 gallon "starter kit" with some various decorations for $45. I don't have tons of money but I'll be damned if I just let this thing eat it's own **** and die. I didn't ask for it but now that I have it I'm not going to be cruel.

Here is a picture of Hank in the tank. Let's play "how many things can you find wrong?" That way I can learn and have ammo against the parents when they see I've purchased a new tank.

fish.jpg
 
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Are you SURE this isn't a UGF? Not to question you, but 'slotted plastic' sure sounds like one... if the bubbles rise in the tube, and the slotted plastic plate sits on the bottom with gravel over it... that's a UGF.
I agree with all that's been said before, it's not a good permanent home for 'Hank', a betta would be MUCH better, but in the meantime...
If it is a UGF as I suspect, you need to put Hank in that bowl again (sorry little dude), take out the gravel, put the filter plate back in place, put the gravel back on top, and do water changes via siphon, not dumping, which will disturb the filter.
Then to do the water changes you'll need a tiny gravel siphon from the fish store. Using that, you won't have to remove the fish from the tank every day, which is very stressful. Until you can get to the store, you can still leave him in, just reassemble everything and then when it's time for a w/c stir the gravel a bit, and scoop out half the water with a cup. Replace it the same way.
 
Thanks for the tips. I will be able to get a siphon this evening and change the water tonight.

I'm also just about sure I'll buy the 15 gallon tank I mentioned, if it will be adequate. It will obviously be much better than the current setup! I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.

Assuming I decide to get a 15 gallon tank, what is the best option for moving the fish? These are the options I can think of:

1) Fishless cycle in the 15 gallon tank - leave Hank in the old 1 gallon tank for the entire cycling period (2 weeks for fishless cycle?), nightly water changes

The only negative point I see in option 1 is that the 1 gallon tank is still unhealthy for him. But with nightly water changes, could he do it?

2) Move him to new tank 24 hours after filling, and let him be the cycle fish.

I know that fishy cycles are hard on fish, but would a cycle in a bigger tank be easier on him than a cycle in the current tank (because he is cycling his current tank right now)?

3) Start fishless cycle, but put him in somewhere in the middle before completion and let him "take over"

I'm not sure of the safety of this, but it was an idea I had. Has anyone ever done this? I think I'll search the forum later if I can...
 
Blinky - it must be an under gravel filter then. When I took the tank apart to dump it I just saw an air pump underneath, thinking it had a bubbler but no filter. I don't understand how this currently filters, but I'll look into it. Any direction you can give would be great.

Originally posted by Blinky
If it is a UGF as I suspect, you need to put Hank in that bowl again (sorry little dude), take out the gravel, put the filter plate back in place, put the gravel back on top, and do water changes via siphon, not dumping, which will disturb the filter.
Click to expand...

I will do this then. How do you suggest I remove the gravel? I would just dump it out, but that would lose all water. Since I'm doing 50% water changes, this would be counter productive, no? I think I need to preserve some of the conditions and bacteria in the old water. So is there some way I can scoop it out, possibly with a spoon or something?
 
Given that the undergravel filter is set up wrong in the current tank, I'd buy that 15 gallon one and then put Hank in there asap. 1 small goldfish in a 15 gallon will not create that much amonia if you feed him sparingly until the cycle is over. With frequent water changes he'll be fine.
 
If you are willing to buy the 15 gallon tank then I would just move him on over. The amount of bacteria in the 1 gallon is small to non existant right now. You might as well have him in the bigger tank where it will take more ammonia to start to hurt him. Daily water changes are still a must for the first few weeks.

Then I suggest that you get a betta anyway for the other tank. They aren't expensive and that way your sisters present will still work well.
 
I also vote for just moving it to the 15g as soon as you can.

Be careful with an air pump sitting below the tank. Should you lose power it can begin to siphon and you don't need that problem. You can either raise the pump or get a valve that only allows air/water to go one way.

Your sister is luck to have a sibling who cares so much about her feelings.
 
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