I have reluctantly placed an ad to sell some of my angels. One person that wants some is setting up a 60g. He didn't understand cycling and was pretty disappointed when I told him he could not have them yet. He has since been educated a bit about the whole process and its importance. Unfortunately, he also put goldfish in there. I told them they had to go or no angels, non-negotiable. Here's my question. Can he cycle the tank with goldfish in(I am coaching him on accomplishing that with as little stress on his fish as possible), remove the goldfish, and convert it to a community tank? Once cycled, what's the best time frame for moving one and adding the other and maintaining the cycle? I want to help him provide a good home for my babies.
Angels and goldies
- Thread starter beckyd
- Start date
Can the tank be cycled and then remove the goldfish and convert it to a community tank...Yes.
IDEALLY, you'd want to remove one source of ammonia (goldfish in this case) and introduce the next (angels) right away, so that the bacteria doesn't start dying off for lack of food.
But, if it were me, I'd not want to risk the health of the angels. If he's put in feeder goldfish, they could easily be carrying a disease that doesn't yet show or that doesn't affect them enough to appear ill, that will transfer to the angels once they are introduced.
I gave two fish away to a LFS once. You'd think they'd know how to take care of them, especially since they sold the live foods they were eating. These fish were still only eating live, were wild-caught. I had only bought 4 and had room for 4 (one male, 3 female), but the wholesaler had thrown in two 'extra' males for me.
Saw them both floating dead and covered in a white fluffy mold/fungus looking stuff a week later. They had starved based on how thin they were. The guy cleaning tanks hadn't noticed they were dead. He'd already cleaned their tank (supposedly), and had thrown a pinch of flake food in with the bodies while we watched. Broke my heart
Tough call. I applaud you on trying to educate him about cycling.
IDEALLY, you'd want to remove one source of ammonia (goldfish in this case) and introduce the next (angels) right away, so that the bacteria doesn't start dying off for lack of food.
But, if it were me, I'd not want to risk the health of the angels. If he's put in feeder goldfish, they could easily be carrying a disease that doesn't yet show or that doesn't affect them enough to appear ill, that will transfer to the angels once they are introduced.
I gave two fish away to a LFS once. You'd think they'd know how to take care of them, especially since they sold the live foods they were eating. These fish were still only eating live, were wild-caught. I had only bought 4 and had room for 4 (one male, 3 female), but the wholesaler had thrown in two 'extra' males for me.
Saw them both floating dead and covered in a white fluffy mold/fungus looking stuff a week later. They had starved based on how thin they were. The guy cleaning tanks hadn't noticed they were dead. He'd already cleaned their tank (supposedly), and had thrown a pinch of flake food in with the bodies while we watched. Broke my heart
Tough call. I applaud you on trying to educate him about cycling.
Becky, how long has this buyer had tanks before this new 60g? I'd hate to have your beauties go to someone who, however willing he is to be educated on cycling, might not have the ongoing knowledge for their care . . . .
BTW - It killed me to see this one LFS take my breeding pair, give me the credit, and then tell me he would sell them separately anyway *thumbsdow
BTW - It killed me to see this one LFS take my breeding pair, give me the credit, and then tell me he would sell them separately anyway *thumbsdow
I too am worried about the goldfish potentially carrying something. I'll have to think on that. Maybe I'll get a school of young cories and some fancy guppies in there after the goldies. They will keep the cycle going and manifest any potential disease. If everything proves ok for several weeks, we'll try one fish at a time. Thoughts on that idea? He's asking about planting. That could be done in that time too, if he has the lights for it.
He has had the tank for a long time. Its just been empty for awhile. It was an african cichlid tank before. Sounded very successful. He seems quite knowledgeable about breeding them and has talked about dominance issues etc. He is just new to a community tank and wasn't aware of potential interspecies issues. I too, was surprised at his lack of respect for a cycle, but that was me at one time too. He must have just lucked his way through it by slowing adding fish and changing the water. Been there, done that. I am convinced though, that my lack of water chemistry knowledge is why I could never keep angels alive in the past. He will learn from my mistake on that, or no angels. I'll be the angelfish Nazi "NO FISH FOR YOU!!".
I think he will be ok. We talk every few days on email and he's coming over next weekend to see my tanks.
He has had the tank for a long time. Its just been empty for awhile. It was an african cichlid tank before. Sounded very successful. He seems quite knowledgeable about breeding them and has talked about dominance issues etc. He is just new to a community tank and wasn't aware of potential interspecies issues. I too, was surprised at his lack of respect for a cycle, but that was me at one time too. He must have just lucked his way through it by slowing adding fish and changing the water. Been there, done that. I am convinced though, that my lack of water chemistry knowledge is why I could never keep angels alive in the past. He will learn from my mistake on that, or no angels. I'll be the angelfish Nazi "NO FISH FOR YOU!!".
I think he will be ok. We talk every few days on email and he's coming over next weekend to see my tanks.
You need to check out my amazing posts at the legendary thread i start (okay no one says legendary, but for me,what i went personally when all that was happening is epic , i saw 2 fishes raised perfectly for past 2-3 years starting to die when putting in new tank right in front of my eyes. and then they were alive all through the cycling . )
http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/rate-my-tank-freshwater/59413-my-30-gallon-gold-fish-tank.html
Today, this is how it looks . YouTube - Goldfish planted tank update Jan10
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well, i do not trust the strength of this tank, after all i got it for 10 dollars (used and repaired), dont want it to start a leak or something , so till i am sure, maybe in by end of feb i will start to fill it up with 1 cm free-space to brim. when the temps start going around 90+ in march (start of summer) and i will add 2 fans on the tank-cover(will have to cut off circles to fit fans) , then the water evaporation will force me to fill it up anyway.
Laura, glad you asked about the water levels. I was wondering the same thing. And since its my thread and I kind of like the little redirects, I'll ask another off-topic?
Do you prune your wisteria to look like that? Its pretty. I have wisteria in my tank, but it has leaves spaced far apart all the way up. The leaves at the top look different from those. They look just like yours. Do we have the same plant?
And I have read most of this thread before. I too, can't believe you kept those fish alive in that bowl. I'm glad I read it again anyway. I think I'll show it to my new freind who wants some angels.
Do you prune your wisteria to look like that? Its pretty. I have wisteria in my tank, but it has leaves spaced far apart all the way up. The leaves at the top look different from those. They look just like yours. Do we have the same plant?
And I have read most of this thread before. I too, can't believe you kept those fish alive in that bowl. I'm glad I read it again anyway. I think I'll show it to my new freind who wants some angels.
hi beckyd, see, I want my water-wisteria to resemble a bonsai of very very tall tree with foliage spread on top, in round circular shape, so it looks like tall tree , what i have done is, used green wires , very thin and tied to stems together so it stands tall, , pruned of all the branches at bottom. i have new shoots starting at bottom too (now that i added excel since this week).
so ya, its water wisteria and i am shaping it up to look like that
, what i have done is, used green wires , very thin and tied to stems together so it stands tall, , pruned of all the branches at bottom. i have new shoots starting at bottom too (now that i added excel since this week). so ya, its water wisteria and i am shaping it up to look like that