I am just a newb~I dont know what equipments I need.
I am planning to get 2 red cap orandas or 2 lionheads.
All I got now is a 32gal tank with light, and I am planning to get the Penguin 150 filter. But I am not sure if it is good enough.
I am going to get some plants and gravel for sure.
Also, beside a air pump, what else do I need??
Do I need a heater?
I am going to broke after all these equipment..~ But I think its worth since I finally convince my parents for letting me to get the goldies.....^^

Hi, you want a filter that filters at least 320 gallons per hour(gph). I dont think the Penguin 150 is big enough, although I dont use Penguins so Im not sure. Most of the packages state which tanks theyre supposed to be for but I dont follow that as the gallons per hour are never enough, especially for goldfish.
Another important thing you should have is a test kit for your water to test ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and ph levels. You can get one kit that contains all of these tests.
If you read around the site a bit youll find great information on how to take care of your fish and cycle your tank properly. Good luck!

The Penguin 150 only filters 150 gph, and on your 32 gal you want to filter at least 320 gph. If you want to use a Penguin filter, I would use a Penguin 350, although, on my 30 gal tanks, I run both a Penguin 350 and an Emperior 280 on one and a Penguin 350 and a Penguin 200 on the other. Makes for the extra filtration with goldfish.

But when i read on the box, it said the Penguin is for tank that is up to 30 gal.... and the 350 one is for tank up to 75gal.. Do i really need that big??

Because goldfish produce alot of waste, you need more filtration then say having neons or guppys. You want to have 10 times the amount of gallons that your tank holds. So if you have a 32 gal tank you multiply 32 X 10= 320, so your filter should be rated to filter at least 320 gal of water per hour. The Penguin 150 only filters 150 gal per hour. Thats why the Penguin 350 would be the better choice. And then it just is a little more then needed for a 32 gal tank and thats why I have an additional filter with it.

Hope this helps!

On my 30 gallon tanks I have filters that they say are for 70 gallon tanks yet they only filter 300 gph. As vmlola said, goldies are very messy fish even if you only have 1 or 2.

If i am going to buy the Penguin350, do I need to buy an extra air pump? Cause I read the Marineland site, it said by using the penguin 350, air pump or air stone need not be used.
Or is it better to buy an extra air pump? Is so, is a 40 gal air pump enough for my 32gal tank?

Can anyone tell me what do I need beside the tank and the filter?
I really have no idea what else I need..~

Well, lets see here! The tank, filtration to fit the size of your tank, air pump with air tube and air stone, water treatment chemical, I like Prime, gravel vacume for cleaning the gravel and doing your water changes, aquarium salt is good to have on hand, light and top if using one, and very important,a test kit to test your water chemistry. It should include test for Nitrates, Nitrites, ammonia, pH, and Hardness. Testing your water is vital in keeping healthy fish. Then of course any decro you are going to put in your tank.

Hope this helps!

The most important things after tank and filter, in my opinion, would be:

Test kits so you can check your water while the tank is cycling and regularly thereafter. You need ones for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and ph. The liquid drop kits are far more accurate than the strip kind and are less expensive in the long run because they last longer. If you have Petco/Petsmart near you, go to their website and print the page with the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Kit on it and the store will match the online price of $14.99, which has all the tests you need in it and it will last you for ages.

Food for your goldie to eat!


Water conditioner to dechlorinate your tap water and make it safe for your fish. I would recommend Prime-it takes out chlorine and chloramines from your tap water and helps make ammonia, nitrites and nitrates less toxic during cycling. It is super concentrated so it may cost a bit more than other brands but will last you much longer because you need to use so little.

A siphon/gravel vaccuum to remove water during water changes and clean the waste from your gravel, if you are going to use gravel.

A clean bucket that has never had any chemicals or soap in it-for water changes. One with a pouring spout will make life easier.

There are a ton of others things you could get if you like...a stand to put the tank on, air pump with airline tubing and an airstone or bubble wall, gravel (try and get something larger than will fit in your fishes mouth), decorations, plants, hood/top for the tank with or without lights, power strip to plug things in, extra media for your filter, kh and gh testing kits, aquarium salt in case you get a sick fish, a net if you choose to catch them that way...lol, there are a million things!

Good luck with your new fish, and if you have not already, I would recommend reading the following links:

Care tips:
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/care.html
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/tensteps.html

Cycling the tank (VERY important):
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/cycle.html

LOL, vmlola, I was typing this while you posted, sorry for repeating!

As I said earlier, a test kit is REALLY important to have.

Thanks you for all the advices. You guys are nice.. I think I know what stuff I need now...
And maybe one last questions. Can I use marbles instead of gravel? Is it ok for the red cap goldies?

Marbles are completely fine as long as they cant fit in your goldies mouths.