starting a 19L fish tank

Fosterdog

It's worth a look on ebay for aquariums for sale local to you, I've had two off there previously and they have been great. Full setups at a fraction of the cost of shop bought.

I was looking into an upgrade not long ago (which I've had to put on hold for a while) and found a 7.5ft x 2ft x 2ft full setup and sump for £110 I've also been looking into a similar setup as a custom build and I'm looking at around £500-£700 for the tank and sump with no hood, lighting, pipework etc. so well over £1000 altogether

Froglet

Ah ha this time you beat me to it foster dog that is just what i was going to suggest after googling 80 litre tanks.When i bought my 4ft tank and cabinet 14 years ago i paid about £500 new and really they have not gone up an awful lot in that time.

That 7ft tank sounds an absolute bargain.

~Chameleon~

As an example, I used to keep just TWO Ryukin goldfish in a 180 litre tank and even that required regular effort and weekly water changes (25%) to maintain water quality as goldfish produce lots of waste. Far more than their tropical cousins.

Even if you go for the 40 litre tank, I still wouldn't advise putting a goldfish in it. You need 120 litres minimum just for ONE goldfish if you want to keep it healthy throughout it's life. They can live for 20+ years in captivity when kept properly.

People often fail to recognise this when rushing out to buy a fish on impulse. They see them as relatively disposable because no doubt the goldfish they won at the fair as a child lived for just a few weeks or months due to being kept in extremely cruel conditions in a goldfish bowl. When taking on fish, it's often a much longer term commitment than even a cat or dog if you want to care for it properly.

londonTiger

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

As an example, I used to keep just TWO Ryukin goldfish in a 180 litre tank and even that required regular effort and weekly water changes (25%) to maintain water quality as goldfish produce lots of waste. Far more than their tropical cousins.

Even if you go for the 40 litre tank, I still wouldn't advise putting a goldfish in it. You need 120 litres minimum just for ONE goldfish if you want to keep it healthy throughout it's life. They can live for 20+ years in captivity when kept properly.

People often fail to recognise this when rushing out to buy a fish on impulse. They see them as relatively disposable because no doubt the goldfish they won at the fair as a child lived for just a few weeks or months due to being kept in extremely cruel conditions in a goldfish bowl. When taking on fish, it's often a much longer term commitment than even a cat or dog if you want to care for it properly.

Goldfish are too common and so passe. I am going to get danios. I need at least 70cm length for them to sprint back and forth from what I've read. The breadth and height is probably not important for movement but for the sake of water volume it will need to be 15 gallons, therefore need to be be 25 & 30 (breadth or height)

~Chameleon~

londonTiger wrote: »

Goldfish are too common and so passe. I am going to get danios. I need at least 70cm length for them to sprint back and forth from what I've read. The breadth and height is probably not important for movement but for the sake of water volume it will need to be 15 gallons, therefore need to be be 25 & 30 (breadth or height)

The above statement just proves your inexperience and lack of knowledge regarding fish. There are numerous varieties of goldfish and they are far from common or passe.

Danios are shoal fish so you would need to keep a minimum of 6 fish and again a 70cm tank is just not going to be big enough. And yes, breadth and height of a tank IS important as this affects the volume of water it holds. I think you grossly underestimate the quantity of water fish need with which to maintain good quality. This is vitally important as it is 100% their living environment. Get it wrong and the fish suffer and for a long time before signs become apparent.

Froglet

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

The above statement just proves your inexperience and lack of knowledge regarding fish. There are numerous varieties of goldfish and they are far from common or passe.

Danios are shoal fish so you would need to keep a minimum of 6 fish and again a 70cm tank is just not going to be big enough. And yes, breadth and height of a tank IS important as this affects the volume of water it holds. I think you grossly underestimate the quantity of water fish need with which to maintain good quality. This is vitally important as it is 100% their living environment. Get it wrong and the fish suffer and for a long time before signs become apparent.

From the Practical Fishkeeping site(in answer to a question on size of tank for danios)

"You'll need a tank at least 36" long for the danios (mine are in a 48" tank and use the full length of it all the time), as they're extremely active fish. WCMMs will be fine in a 24" tank, (mine are in a 30", but I have kept them in a 48", and while they used the full length they're not nearly so hyperactive as danios)."

There are other more peaceful small tropicals that would be happier in a smaller tank.Do plenty of research and remember the no 1 rule...fishless cycling.

Gold_Dust_2

I bought a similar tank setup from PAH last year, and I was so annoyed when I found out that it wasn't really suitable for most fish. The air pump/filter combination was also unsuitable - they were trying to swim against the current half of the time, and would get pushed down to the other side of the (very small) tank.

PAH sell it as a tank suitable for x amount of goldfish, but they're really misleading people.

senileturtle

Remember, fish naturally swim miles, not metres - they're habitats are huge. Also, don't buy animals from pet shops, they're mass bred and often have poor health and poor genetics leading to genetic based health problems. If you are going to have fish it is better to have a pond and to have one's that are needing a new home. That way you're not contributing to the mass breeding of them.

Froglet

All varities of common goldfish,of which there are several are really only happy in a pond and will thrive because of the space.However there are also several varieties of fancy goldfish and they would die in the first cold winter if kept in a pond.

It is only research in the right place that defines the different types and their needs.But even fancy goldfish need a large tank,they are messy creatures and will suffer in the small tanks that pet stores and many online shops sell with no regard whatsoever for the welfare of them.All they are interested in is a profit at the expense of the poor fish, trapped and slowly poisoned by their own waste.

I have seen the results of one fish in particular kept like this and it was not pleasant, in fact i cried at just how much suffering the poor creature had gone through.

My post is on the fishkeeping site .If need be i can find it and post it here.Tropicals are certainly better for the majority of first time fish keepers.

~Chameleon~

I have a fear that the OP won't return here for advice until his/her fish is dying due to neglecting the good advice offered on this forum.