Total water change?

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Does anyone ever do a complete water change, clean the tank etc etc.

I do a partial change every week but the last couple of weeks it looks not murky but there are loads of bits floating about in the tank that I just cant seem to clear, not even using the siphon/hoover.

Dont want to stress the fish out (goldfish) but just wondered if I can do a total water change?

[DangerousMouse]

The simple answer is no, don't do a total water change, I'm sure Eau will be along soon with some advice about cleaning the tank as I can't help you much more than that. Have you tested the water?

[EauRouge]

No, you shouldn't change 100% of the water unless it's an emergency. You shouldn't need to change all of the water if your current cleaning regime and filter are up to scratch and the tank is big enough.

How often do you change water and how much?

Do you use a gravel vac?

How do you clean the filter and what sort is it?

How big is the tank and how many goldfish?

hope that makes sense, am on the new android app and ican't see what I've written

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Yeah, I am wondering if I need to take the filter apart and see if something is blocking it.

I change the water every week, about 20%

yes, I use a gravel vac

The filter I just rinse the sponge in the tank water, not sure what make it is as it came with the tank - seems a good one though.

The tank is 70 litres which I know is too small...it has 5 fish in it. The pet-shop at the time told me that one fish needs 12 litres which I now know is rubbish.....so annoying, you dont realise how complex keeping goldfish is until you actually have them. I will get a bigger tank at some stage! They have been in the current tank for a good few months now and so I reckon it is maybe the filter not being so efficient.

[EauRouge]

I'd be doing two water changes a week, maybe 30% each time to try and lighten the load on the filter a bit. I would upgrade ASAP or rehome some of the fish, goldfish grow quickly and produce a lot of waste. Are they fancy goldfish or common goldfish?

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Yeah I will do thanks.

So annoying isnt it when you get such duff information from supposed experts. They are fancy tail, 4 of them smallish but my black moor fish is going to be a monster I reckon. Couldnt re-home them, my DS would be disgusted with me so will do lots of water changes and see about a bigger tank.

Thanks :)

[EauRouge]

I wouldn't call anyone who thinks 70 litres is big enough for 5 goldfish an expert Doubt that they will ever have even seen a picture of a fully grown goldfish. Trading standards would have a field day if they ever investigated the aquatics industry.

Anyway, brace yourself- 5 fancy goldfish would need around 70 gallons (320 litres) minimum, plus a huge filter. They get massive! If you imagine a tennis ball with a head and fins, that's about the average fancy goldfish. They can get bigger though.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Bloody hell

We're gonna need a bigger boat :)

[EauRouge]

You got that right and a big stick to clobber the idiot who sold you 5 fancy goldfish for a 70 litre tank.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

It's ridiculous. I got them from Pets At Home and they guy in charge of the marine section reckons he has 50 tanks at home. He even took me out the back to show me the fishes they have with stunted growth where they have been in tanks too small......and then proceeds to tell me they need 12 litres each!

If this idiot is in charge, doesnt bode well for his staff does it! He also told me that the smaller ones (minnow, rose barbs) need 3 litres each. Someone gave DS a studidly small 21L tank so he has some small ones in there. I dont even want to know that 3 L each is wrong as well

[EauRouge]

Bloody Pets at Home They are almost universally rubbish. Apparently they were on Watchdog a few weeks ago but I missed it.

No, 21 litres isn't enough. The RSPCA recommends a minimum tank size of 45 litres, but 60 litres would be a better size for a shoal of minnows. They should be kept in groups of 6+. Rosy barbs get bigger so need more space.

50 tanks at home? My arse!! Unless they are toy tanks. He must have got his litres and gallons mixed up.

If there's a Maidenhead Aquatics near you, they are usually much better. But I would never 100% trust what I was told in an aquatic store. I've been in so many shops where the staff can't reliably identify the head end of a fish from the tail end.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Oh well, when I upgrade my fancy tails then I will put DS's fish in my 70 L tank as as for the 21L one.....will chuck the blooming thing. Why do they sell tanks too small to house even one fish!!

No, not got a Maidenhead near us. We have a proper aquatic centre near us who are supposed to be good but when you get fish from them they dont even ask about size of tank, how many fish etc so I dont have much faith in them.

Thanks god for MN and google to be honest :)

[EauRouge]

There aren't any laws to say what can and can't be sold as a fish tank. Until very recently my local garden centre was selling vases as 'goldfish bowls' :( There's sod all to protect the consumer or the fish.