LowTech Planted Tank: Starter Plants for Goldfish

Swords and crypts are pretty tough, and work well in goldfish tanks. Glad to see you taking a step in the right direction with the goldies. It's not likely they'll ever grow to full potential after being in the 5 for that long, so a 30 might do it long term for these guys. Don't plan on adding any more unless you can size up significantly though.

Please immediately banish any thoughts of minimal water changes. It's really not feasible in a 30 to set up a walstadt type tank with goldfish. They are immensely messy fish, and you will already be fighting an uphill battle when it comes to cleaning, on account of the substrate and plants hindering siphoning.
 
Well, nose to tail tip they're about 4 inches. They were in a 5 gallon from the time I got them for about 6-8 months, then a 10 for another 6 more maybe, and they've been in a 20 until this weekend when I found a 30 for sale that was in my budget.

The water's a little cloudy today, despite all the seeding from the other tank. I'm hoping to switch out the used filter to a more freshly used (does that make sense?) one, and do a couple more changes today of a bucket each and -maybe- by tonight I can put the fish in? I don't want the plants to go too long without some fertilizer. Or does ecocomplete have fert in it?

Inka, even with a filter like I have (aquaclear 300), will I have to go nuts on the wc's? Can I get away with a couple of buckets a week? That would be 6-9gallons.
 
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I have two goldies (comet and shubunkin) in a 40 gal breeder with plants and no issues. They did eat all the duckweed, but they haven't bothered the java moss, java fern or water sprite. I have not had any issues with them at all, and they've been in there with the plants for about 4 months now. Just throwing that out there. Maybe some goldies don't mix well, but mine are doing fine. It's worth a shot anyhow.
 
Red, the much touted adage "the solution to pollution is dilution" is definitely the rule to follow here. The filter, as efficient as it may be, does not remove nitrates from your tank, and with the fact that buoyancy issues increase exponentially in poor water quality, you should definitely work to change as much water as possible as often as possible. The plants will offer a source of nitrate uptake, but with the amount of waste the fish can produce, it will be an uphill battle getting them to grow quickly enough to outcompete algae, let alone filter your water. These fish have been through a whole lot of abuse already, it's really not fair to them to be thinking about all the ways you can cut corners with maintenance.
 
Inka4040 said:
These fish have been through a whole lot of abuse already, it's really not fair to them to be thinking about all the ways you can cut corners with maintenance.
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Inka, thank you for your help with this, but I don't think it's necessary to make someone feel even worse about a situation when they are clearly doing all they can to fix it and already feel awful for it. I have no intention to 'cut corners', as you say - in fact, that's why I'm here and asking questions. If I knew what to do (let alone what would constitute as a cut corner) I would not be asking.

Please keep in mind that although I have been reading and researching, I am learning and trying my best. More importantly, if you feel so passionately about these animals getting proper care, please avoid discouraging those trying to do just that; otherwise, you are simply sabotaging your own intentions.
 
I'm sorry you took offense to my statement, but I will stand by what I said, and continue to defend it. With goldfish, any talk about reducing water changes should immediately be thrown to the wayside. In fact, there is healthy discussion about whether these are fish that belong in tanks at all. I pointed out the first time, that any attempt at keeping goldfish should be coupled with a rigorous water change schedule. What you came back with, was a question regarding whether a large enough filter would allow you to do less water changes. I'm sorry if your intent was not to sound as if you wanted to cut corners, but that's what I read into your word choice. I don't think that you can really refute the charge that these two fish have already taken a lot more abuse than they deserve. As glad as I am that you're taking steps in the right direction with these fish, I am just as dismayed that even in this age of easy access to information, people still opt to take on living animals without the slightest forethought as to what it takes to meet their needs.
 
redperphexion said:
Inka, thank you for your help with this, but I don't think it's necessary to make someone feel even worse about a situation when they are clearly doing all they can to fix it and already feel awful for it. I have no intention to 'cut corners', as you say - in fact, that's why I'm here and asking questions. If I knew what to do (let alone what would constitute as a cut corner) I would not be asking.

Please keep in mind that although I have been reading and researching, I am learning and trying my best. More importantly, if you feel so passionately about these animals getting proper care, please avoid discouraging those trying to do just that; otherwise, you are simply sabotaging your own intentions.
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Slow down and don't get yourself worked up. If you can't take criticism then don't ask for help. We are not mind-readers and when you omit certain pertinent information you are going to get "flamed" without malice or intent to discredit. You will receive replies in accordance with the amount of information you have provided or failed to provide. It's called being human. OTOH, INKA has not been known to provide poor information but you didn't know that did you? So cool off drop two steps and start over.
 
Hello there Goldi-parent,
I rescued 2 Goldies, George and Tusnelda, about a year ago. The two honeys were in a bare, cloudy 20 gallon tank only, AND that was like prison.
I keep them in a 55 gallon tank as that is the largest home I can provide for them. They are the only fish in there, along with snails I pick off purchased plants for my other tanks. George is about 7" plus tail long and Tusnelda about 4" plus tail.

As live plants I keep only a large Anubias plant in there, as they nibble on that also. The rest of the plants are fake, look good and R not nibbled on.
 
Those who posted that plants won't work with goldfish are incorrect. The trick is to plant heavily and don't get worried when the goldies take a few nibbles.

I've maintained a heavily planted goldfish tank for a few years now. The mistake most people make when introducing plants to goldfish for the first time is they start off with just a few of them. Naturally, the golds go after the plants as a food source and out of curiosity. They view the new plants as a feast.

Aside from this, the best advice I can give you is to go all out with tank maintenance. Your fish are severely stunted and need the cleanest water you can provide them.
 
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