Hi, I was just wondering if someone can tell me what the ideal water conditions are for keeping goldfish? Ph, hardness, etc... All help would be greatly appreciated. 
Goldfish Specs
- Thread starter Boohoo
- Start date
Goldfish are tolerant of a variety of water parameters... you asking about fancy goldfish or standards? Why don't you list what your source water tests as? Ideal temps would be anywhere from 70*F to 76*F.
I don't have tests to give you too many specs, but I can tell you that my temperature is about 72 and my ph is 7.4. On those all in one test strips it says that my water is hard-160ppm and the total alkalinity is 180ppm.
Really, you don't have to worry about keeping the water at 72. They are cold water fish. The temp would be fine as long as it is between 55 and 74. Any warmer and they become prone to diseases. Check the line for Species Profile at the top of this page and look up Goldfish. It will give you the basic rundown there.
They are cold water fish.-Beeker
:thud: No They are not, Carp are a temperate species, meaning they can live in varied/different "seasonal" conditions, they are quite adaptible - but even carp have limits within which they "thrive" and cold water isn't one of those conditions. TROUT are a COLDWATER fish.
*whew, I feel better now*
:thud: No They are not, Carp are a temperate species, meaning they can live in varied/different "seasonal" conditions, they are quite adaptible - but even carp have limits within which they "thrive" and cold water isn't one of those conditions. TROUT are a COLDWATER fish.
*whew, I feel better now*
72 is the water temperature without a heater. Believe it or not, that is just my room temperature without the heat on in that room. I'm a little concerned how warm it may become in the summer though. The room doesn't get direct sunlight at any time of the day.
The warmer the water gets the less oxygen available to the fish. Carp are big time O2 hogs... so just be prepared, line yourself up with an airstone or two and a good air pump. In temps above 84F just don't feed them, they likely won't be too hungry at that temp anyways.
Our goldfish and koi can send a few weeks in the summer in temps above 80F, no biggy, they just grow faster LOL
BTW fish only become "prone to disease" if their environment is not up to snuff... temp doesn't have much to do with "causing" fish illness - unless the temps are extreme. For goldfish anywhere between 45F up to 85F is "livable", above or below that for extended periods they could suffer health wise and/or die. Optimum temps are 68F to 76F. If you factor in Fancies, that would be 72F to 78F, finicky little things they are.
You look after the water and the fish will be fine.
Our goldfish and koi can send a few weeks in the summer in temps above 80F, no biggy, they just grow faster LOL
BTW fish only become "prone to disease" if their environment is not up to snuff... temp doesn't have much to do with "causing" fish illness - unless the temps are extreme. For goldfish anywhere between 45F up to 85F is "livable", above or below that for extended periods they could suffer health wise and/or die. Optimum temps are 68F to 76F. If you factor in Fancies, that would be 72F to 78F, finicky little things they are.
You look after the water and the fish will be fine.
Tj,
Easy killer... If what I said isn't true then the species profile is lying. That seems highly unlikely because my fish seem to be proving the research to be true.
Boohoo,
Just check the species profile. It will tell you plenty on how to take care of your fish. Diet, temps, ph, etc. They, your fish, will also let you know if something isn't right. I also recommend putting some live plants in the tank to help with nitrates. You will most likely need it with the stock you have.
Easy killer... If what I said isn't true then the species profile is lying. That seems highly unlikely because my fish seem to be proving the research to be true.
Boohoo,
Just check the species profile. It will tell you plenty on how to take care of your fish. Diet, temps, ph, etc. They, your fish, will also let you know if something isn't right. I also recommend putting some live plants in the tank to help with nitrates. You will most likely need it with the stock you have.
Beeker, so everything you read is gospel? No offense to those who take the time to write these profiles and articles, but majority of them are very general and they are slightly different for each site you visit 
FYI Fish are not just a hobby for me, they are also my business, my life revolves around them and their care 24/7. Offering advice to people is something I do daily over the phone, emails, and in person. The fact that I care for hundreds of "carp" year round here at my place,.. well I think I have a pretty good idea what their needs and requirements are, what works and what doesn't. It's all about the fish.
Reading about fish keeping is fine and dandy, you can learn alot... but experience above all else is where you learn the most(best learn from other's mistakes than you're own tho LOL). What you read here on the internet and in books, well take what you can from it, sort through it and do what you think is best, there's a lot of good information as well as misinformation and conflicting literature out there.
Hey, I don't know "everything", would never claim to be an "expert", I learn new things all the time... that's part of what I enjoy about this hobby.
"killer" out :soda:
FYI Fish are not just a hobby for me, they are also my business, my life revolves around them and their care 24/7. Offering advice to people is something I do daily over the phone, emails, and in person. The fact that I care for hundreds of "carp" year round here at my place,.. well I think I have a pretty good idea what their needs and requirements are, what works and what doesn't. It's all about the fish.
Reading about fish keeping is fine and dandy, you can learn alot... but experience above all else is where you learn the most(best learn from other's mistakes than you're own tho LOL). What you read here on the internet and in books, well take what you can from it, sort through it and do what you think is best, there's a lot of good information as well as misinformation and conflicting literature out there.
Hey, I don't know "everything", would never claim to be an "expert", I learn new things all the time... that's part of what I enjoy about this hobby.
"killer" out :soda: