Hi all

[reloaded4k]

Il a new member from Manchester, UK

Im new to aquariums although i have always wanted fish.

I have a 29litre aquarium
Filter pump and air
3 shubunkin

Im beginning to think my tank is too small for them three.

In less than a week i have cleaned tank twice. Although this is part due to flakes and me feeding them twice instead if once a day.

I started with floating pellets yesterday they took some time to adjust to it but finished it all Eventually

Tank is cleaner than it usually is when i use flakes

I love fish and will be looking to get a bigger tank if i can manage these 3 in a 29 litre tank for a month

One if my fish seems to always sit at the top near the pump.

Seems it is hiding while at the same time running from the dirty water below.

I cleaned up and now she is swimming freely but tends to hide there again every now and then

I just think they need a bigger tank. Better filtration and live plants.

Or is she pregnant ??

 

[Aiken Drum]

Hi reloaded.

Im from UK too. Derby.

Yes, your tank is too small for shubunkin. 20 to 30 gallons for 1, then an additional 10 gallons for each each additional fish. Some people will even say 75 gallon minimum for them.

Goldfish are very messy, and require a lot of space and tank maintenance. Not really a beginner fish, despite the perception.

Did you cycle the tank prior to adding fish, or if not are you doing a fish in cycle?

Oh yes, goldfish are egg layers. They can't get pregnant.

 

[reloaded4k]

Ahh! I thought as much! I did a one week cycle prior to bringing them in and now its going through a fish in cycle. They seem to have adjusted a little but yes i really must admit a bigger tank will do them good.
I am now looking to get something really big and a good filtration setup to go with it.

They are so so messy i find myself cleaning every few days which really is not something i think i should be doing however till i get a bigger tank im worried about the build up of bad bacteria etc.

I need to put together a list of everything thats needed for the new tank and cross check that with my budget as i dont want to end up spending a small fortune every month. Early next year once things start having some semblance of normality im looking to do up the back yard and have an actual pond.
Hopefully they are still here and can be moved in there lol

 

[Aiken Drum]

Do you have a water test kit? If so i would be interested in seeing your water parameters. If you dont have one getting one is essential for a fish in cycle.

You probably should be doing daily water changes in the short term, especially with such a heavily stocked tank. Test every day. If you have detectable ammonia or nitrite then do 25% water change. When you are consistantly seeing 0ppm ammonia and nitrite and your nitrate is rising, your system in cycled sufficiently for your current stocking and you can cut back to weekly water changes and periodic testing.

Its not bad bacteria you worry about. Its insufficient beneficial bacteria to process the ammonia and nitrite that is the concern with an uncycled tank.

Once everything is up and running it shouldn't be an expensive hobby. Power to run your lights and filter. Food, water conditioner. I spend about £10/month on a 200 litre (55 gallon) and that includes plant fertilisers and i think i worked from my smartmeter around 1p per hour for the power and that includes a heater, which i presume you dont have for goldfish.

My friend keeps shubunkins in a similar tank size to yours, so its possible, but they wont be at their healthiest.

 

[Aiken Drum]

Sorry. I completely misread your original post. I thought 29 gallons, not 29 litres. 29 gallons is too small, 29 litres is dangerously small. There is absolutely no way your fish survive in 29 litres. Upgrade ASAP or rehome those fish.

29 litres is barely big enough for a single betta. Its more of a shrimp tank.

Edit: Who sold you those fish? Did they ask about your setup? Dont ever go back there and give them your custom.

 

[reloaded4k]

Local pet shop
I did tell them the size if my tank and they confirmed three fish was fine.
I feel so upset. I will start looking for a bigger tank now asap.
Are you able to recommend any shops online?
Funny enough they had more fish in a say 35litre tank at the pet shop.

Im so gutted! Plese advise so i can go ahead and start looking to purchase asap

 

[reloaded4k]

I got the tank from all pond solutions online
Specs below
Model: FW-29
Volume: 29 Litres
LED wattage: 4w
Pump output: 350L/h
Pump wattage: 2.5w
Dimensions: 380 x 260 x 405mm

Heading to Wilko now to get 90litre tote

 

[Aiken Drum]

There is nothing wrong with the tank, its just not suitable for the fish you have. You got my PM. The tote box is a good temporary solution.

With regards to a better store in the UK. Pets at home are good value for buying equipment, dry goods and livestock, but not knowledgeable. Don't take advise from them.

Maidenhead Aquatics are a fish store chain that tend to reside in garden centres. They are good value for equipment, but terrible value for dry goods and livestock. They are more knowledgeable about the hobby though.

If you fancy a trip to north derbyshire, wharf aquatics in pinxton are very good, specialist store, very knowledgeable. Only semi-open at the moment due to corona virus. Don't know Manchester stores at all. I would be looking at 200 litres for your fish, you could probably put another couple in there. Fluval Roma 200 includes everything you need. Take a look at that.

 

[Aiken Drum]

It doesnt look like the filter that comes with your tank can be removed and used in the tote box. Either get an internal filter or airpump and airstone to aerate the water, and keep up with water changes until you get a permanent solution. You might be able to get one of those from wilko too. If not, The Range or Pets at Home does them.

 

[Aiken Drum]

Pet stores are basically there to sell you fish. If they get sick they get to sell you medication, if they die, they get to sell you more fish, if they sell fish that are way too big to fit in your tank, they might also get to sell you a bigger tank, with a bigger filter etc. You might get better advice from a dedicated aquatics store, depending on whether the employee actually keeps fish.

With regards to the store keeping way more fish in too small a tank, you have to remember they aren't keeping fish, they plan on selling them and not having them too long. They also likely have large sumps holding additional water behind or below their display tanks. These circulate into the display tanks, so the fish will benefit from much larger volumes of water.

Local pet shop
I did tell them the size if my tank and they confirmed three fish was fine.
I feel so upset. I will start looking for a bigger tank now asap.
Are you able to recommend any shops online?
Funny enough they had more fish in a say 35litre tank at the pet shop.

Im so gutted! Plese advise so i can go ahead and start looking to purchase asap