Money is getting rather tight lately (not because of Christmas) and I would like to get a hospital tank and what I need to go in it. I can't afford to treat with meds in my 20 and 40 gal. anymore. I would also like to treat with salt, if that is possible, because of the price. Only the real bad things will I buy meds for. Can anyone help me get started. Would a 5 gal. or a 10 be better. Do I need a filter or will a large air stone do. I can do water changes daily if I have to. How would one of you set it up and any advice on the salt. If I'm not giving you enough info let me know because my daughters will be getting me the things I need for Christmas and need to know soon. Also does the tank have to keep running all the time or just when I need it. Any help will be wonderful and I'm thanking you ahead of time. (I pray like this too, it usually works)
Love Kip

Hi Kip,

Let's see if I can answer some of these
Bigger is always better when it comes to keeping goldfish - and the last thing a sick fish needs is more stress from a small tank. I would go for 10g

Aaaargh, the server cut off all but the first 3 lines of my post.....

Here it is again (re-typed) - in all it's glory! Hope it helps! Dave.
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Hi Kip,

Let's see if I can answer some of these
Bigger is always better when it comes to keeping goldfish - and the last thing a sick fish needs is more stress from a small tank. I would go for 10g


A filter is always the best bet as a sick fish needs the best possible water quality to have a better chance of recovering


Water changes mean you are reducing the amount of any medication you put in the tank, so you have to re-treat - costing more in the long-term in medication.



I would take about 5g of water from your big tank, and add that to 5g of fresh, de-chlorinated water. Also, if you have room in your existing filters, keep a spare sponge so that bacteria can be transferred to the H-tank (Hospital) filter when it needs to be set-up. This way, you need only set up the H-tank when you need it.


Salt can be a great all-round tonic for fish, and can be added up to about 3 tablespoons per gallon of water. Always use aquarium salt (pure sea salt), and not table salt which has other chemicals in to stop it clogging. Disolve the salt in some tank water first, and add it SLOWLY to the tank, a little at a time, allowing the filter or bubble wall to mix up the water, so you don't get a sudden change from freshwater to marine!

I hope this advice is useful to you. Believe me, I know that money can get tight, but with a hospital tank, it's best to try and get the best stuff you can, because sometimes that tank is all that stands between a sick fish and a dead fish.

Best of luck. xx

Incandisco, thank you ever so much for the advice it really help me (and all in one place, nice ) I knew some of it but thank you for not excluding the little stuff. I just wanted to be sure I go about this right since I've never had a hospital tank before. One more question though. Should I go with a hang on filter or just a small corner one? Thanks for all your help and answering right away.

Just wanted too add that I think icandisco made a little error regarding the salt. If you use 3 TABLESPOONS per gallon you are going too kill your fish. I think incandisco meant 3 TEASPOONS per gallon which is relatively safe if added over 3 doses spaced about 12 hours apart.

Thanks Jetman73 for noticing that.

A while back, we had a discussion as to what constitutes a 0.3% dose, which is enough salt to kill 80% of the parasites that affect goldfish. A few people on the forum who use salinity tests, have stated that the dosage of 3 tablespoons per FIVE gallons of water, dosed over three doses, 12 hours apart give a 0.3% salt solution.

So you would dose with 1 tablespoon per FIVE gallons of water, 3 times, 12 hours apart

BTW, you can go higher with goldfish. A dosage of 1 tablespoon per gallon of water will not harm them. I have done it before, even with very young goldfish. This is the same dosage that jetman73 mentioned (since 3 teaspoons is equivalent to 1 tablespoon).

As for filters in hospital tanks; there is a very good little sponge filter made by Hagen that runs with an air pump, so it filters and aerates. I have used these on fry tanks, and on my rubbermaid tubs.

Thanks TOS for bringing that up, and yes I was one of those people that measured my salt dosage. What I came up with is 1 level teaspoon of aquarium salt gave me a reading of .15%. However with so many different types of salt that we can use every reading is going too be different. When I use solar salt 1 teaspoon per gallon gives me right around .1% since it is so coarse(actually more like rock salt).
And maybe in the past salt would cure 80% of the parasites out there but it will not today since many parasites have developed a resistance too salt. That is one of the reasons I started the Pro Form C thread.

I will look for the Pro Form C thread

It is the one right at the top that is pinned.

Hey Kip if you have a nnnnnn near you they sell a 10 gallon tank kit for around 40 bucks. It comes with the hood and light and a hang on filter. I think that its a pretty good deal! And at petco or petsmart ( I forget which) they have a ten gallon kit with everything metioned above plus a heater for 50 bucks.

Thanks everyone for your help.