Brief care guide Ph * 7-8 most ideal GH * Avoid the extremes and your fine Temperature * 78-82F DO NOT keep them without a heater! Water changes should be 1-2x a week preferably large – I myself do 95% 3x a week with extremely good results – 50% is doable 2x a week this is the MINIMUM you should be doing and results will absolutely be hindered compared to larger and more frequent water changes. Filtration should always be enough for 3x your total water volume or more.
Tanks for decor I will say simply less is more. You want to provide a nice sterile environment and not allow bad bacteria, fungus and dissolved organics to build up. No substrate. Tank size 30 gallons + Most recommend tank sizes are 40 gallon cube or breeder, 60 gallon breeder, 75 gallon standard and anything larger is excellent just remember height is not your friend. The reality of it is shallow water is much easier on them, both short and long term so stick with 20” or under.
Floor space is what’s most important so go for the largest footprint you can. Typically I recommend for the first 4 goldfish in a body of water try to shoot for 20 + gallons each. For example a 75 gallon will house 3-4 very comfortably. A 125 gallon tank can have around 8-10. Whatever you do, DON’T overcrowd them no matter how good your filtration. Keep in mind too that with higher populations it will require significant water changes and filter cleanings and even with this, there is an increase for possible problems with bacterial infections and fungus.
Feeding needs to be smaller meals frequently. If you’re using sinking pellets, feed less per meal vs more or they will expand more than floating. If using floating pellets I recommend soaking them in tank water for a little while to soften them and it also helps to get some of that air in the food out BUT they definitely digest well because they aren’t extremely compressed. Make very sure quality of diet is very high and avoid fillers. High carbs should be avoided however some carbs are fine. Personally I like providing as much plant -based ingredients as possible including proteins. Soy meal or protein are excellent however do make sure the first ingredients of the food are krill or fish meal. Feeding steamed veggies is ok but make sure they are organic. You can feed peas if they are cooked and you take the skins off, however, personally I believe they are largely overrated. Your best bet is to actually make sure you’re providing good amounts of fiber to their diet. Another thing that I highly recommend is gel foods. For protein you’re wanting their diet to be between 35-50%, however, more if young and growing. Each goldfish is different so make sure to watch them for any signs of over feeding and if you ever see swimming difficulties lower the water level and don’t feed for 3 days.
Salt can be used but I don’t recommend salting their water all the time because ailments become salt resistant. It’s best to use salt only when needed for goldfish. Do not gradually increase salt when using it as treatment. Make sure whatever salt you are using is 100% sea salt or sodium chloride. Aquarium salt OR better yet water softening salt can be used but again make absolutely sure the brand and type you get are 100% natural sea salt. If you’re using coarse sea salt use a dosage of 5-6 cups per 100 gallons.
Lighting is very important for quality full spectrum lighting and proper light cycles for day and night 10-12 hours light within 24 hours is good. Sunlight, if possible, is your best friend. Personally, for indoor lighting I like to use plant grow bulbs that are full spectrum and high intensity however please make sure the red and blue spectrum are well-balanced because you want as close to true sunlight as possible. If you have any further questions, please never hesitate to reach out to me. I’m always happy to answer questions and help.