is it okay to keep 3 goldies in a ten gal. tank?

um... in a word no.

Here people generally follow the ten gallon rule. That is ten gallons per fancy goldfish. So in a ten gallon tank you can keep one fancy goldfish.
For common or comet goldfish people here generally follow the 20 gallon rule. 20 gallons per common/comet goldfish. So you couldn't keep even one of them in a ten gallon.

Even with one fancy goldfish in a ten gallon, you would probably have to upgrade at some point due to the size they get.

Do you have a ten gallon with three fish at the moment?
If so, how big are the fish?
What filtration do you have?
How often and how much water do you change?
What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

my fish are small and are all fancies. I have an external filter from tetra. I scrub the algey off of the sides of the tank and the ornaments, clean the gravle and run a 50% water change once a week.

That's great husbandry, but the ammonia goldfish put into the water is toxic and burns their gills. You can test for it, but you can't see it. Eventually the ammonia will win and the fish will suffer in such small quarters. Imagine a fish the size of a cantalope melon swimming in your ten gallon tank. Now picture THREE melons swimming in your tank -- that's how big some of those fancy goldfish get...... so you can see you'll need a bigger tank.

You can get away with what you're doing for a small amount of time. I've got nine teeny tiny baby fancy-tails in a 10 gallon QT right now, but they get a 50% water change every third day. They're growing fast and will need bigger quarters by the new year..... Right now they are the size of peas so ten gallons seems like an ocean to them, LOL....

Can you eventually upgrade to a 30 gallon tank or even a 55????

Did you cycle the tank before adding fish? How long have you had them? Are you testing for ammonia and nitrite?

i did cycle. i have had them for about a month.

What are the levels for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

Do you not have a test kit? How did you cycle the tank without a test kit?
You really need to get one which tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Liquid tests are more accurate than strip tests. I use API Master Test Kit. It includes all the tests I mentioned and is generally considered a good one.

You really need to know the ammonia and nitrite levels. Water can look perfect and crystal clear while being poisonous to your fish.

What did you do when you cycled the tank? and how long did it take?

i will get the water tested tomarow.

If you didn't cycle the tank, nobody is going to have a go at you for it. I didn't cycle my first tank because I didn't know any better. All us newbies make these mistakes. I suspect you didn't cycle it as you don't have test kits and you avoided my questions about it. If I am right in my suspicions, I suggest you read up on it. Do you understand how the nitrogen cycle works?
Put very briefly...
Fis produce ammonia as waste. The ammonia is posoinous to the fish. Over time a colony of bacteria build up in the filter and this bacteria converts the ammonia to nitrite. Nitrite is also poisonous to fish. A bit more time and a colony of different bacteria build up in the filter, which convert the nitrite to nitrate. The nitrate is not posionous to fish unless at high levels. Regular water changes remove nitrate to stop it getting high.

More information about it can be found here http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/cycle.html

Sorry if you already know all this stuff, I was just worried you didn't.

Lak, is right. Ammonia can build up to dangerous levels in the tank.... You don't know anything is wrong until the fish go belly up...... The fact that you're doing 50 percent water changes is good, but you still need to test the water....... just to be sure you're fish are safe.

Okay, who uses those hang on the tank ammonia detectors? Do they work? In this case, one of those would be a wise decision.....

Oh i gues i didn't cycle my tank. Thought you meant something els. i acualy know that my tank is to small but i need evidence to support why i need a bigger one. my mom says they don't look look crowded and she is right , but they will one day. the issue here is space not money. i would gladly buy more space for my fish. I want them to have plenty of space just like these little guys:

OK,

well three young goldfish won't look crowded in a ten gallon, but stocking is more to do with waste than it is to do with space. Goldfish are very, very messy fish, They produce a lot of ammonia, which like I said, is poisonous to them. It is quite shocking how much ammonia one little goldfish can produce. Having them in larger tanks means this waste gets diluted in the water so it is at a smaller concentration, and easier for the filter to process.

Another argument for having a bigger tank is that, although small now, goldfish grow to be very large indeed.
Take a look at this link http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=54745 and do what it says (watch the video). Make sure you watch it all, not just the first part. Then show it to your mum. That should help explain why they need more space.

If you really can't fit another, or a bigger, tank in your house, then I suggest you take two of your fish back to the shop and just keep one.

Regardless of what you do, you will have problems with the ammonia and nitrite like I mentioned before. Buying test kits is essential. Ammonia should be below 0.25, as should nitrite. Until you get your test kits do a 50 per cent water change every day, using dechlorinated water.

thaks i hope it works.

i did it!!! I conviced my mom to let me get a bigger tank! can't get 30 gallons (they're super rare) but 29 shoul do ( they are easy to find).

great news

yeah in general you tanks will be 29 gallons rather than 30 gallons, but 1 gallon won't make much difference.

Do you know when you will get the tank? Are you getting a new filter too? It would be best to do so. If you can find one that comes with a filter that would be a good option, but when you set it up, use the filter you already have as well. Goldies are messy and need high filtration and you would have built up some good bacteria on your current filter already and you don't want to lose that.

A good rule for filter is you want 10xGPH (gallons per hour). This is how filters are rated. So for a 29 gallon you want 290 gallons per hour filtration. This can be achieved my multiple filters, just add the GPH together.

Another thing you really need is a test kit. Liquid ones are much better than strip tests and work out more economical in the long run. I'd recommend the API Master Test Kit. It contains all the tests you need (ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate). Once you get one post the results and people will be able to advise you on the best course of action

Keep those water changes going until you get the other stuff though. How are your fishes doing so far? Are they active? any marks on them or anything?

I'm getting it this weekend . Of course i'm getting a filter and a hood (It all comes with the tank for pretty cheap). My fish are doing fine. I am so excited! This time I'll cycle

Oh and one more thing, how often and how much should you change the water?

OK, you have two options:

1. Keep the fish in the current tank while you do a fishless cycle on the new tank by adding ammonia. Advantages of this: the new tank would be fully cycled when fish are added. Disadvantages: you would have to keep them in an uncycled ten gallon while yuo cycle the 29G (which can take 6 weeks). The fish will really suffer in the uncycled 10G.

2. Move fish and old filter straight to the new tank (use the new filter also). You will then have to cycle the new tank with fish. Advantages of this: although still in an uncycled tank, it is larger and waste is diluted.

I recommend the second option. Because you will still have fish in a cycling tank (regardless of which option you choose) you will have to test the water daily (for ammonia and nitrite) and do waterchanges whenever the levels for either are above 0.5ppm. so, a test kit is essential. Make sure you buy one when you get the tank at the weekend. (buy a liquid one, not strips)
The tests will tell you how much and how often to change the water. If ammonia is 1ppm, you need to do a 50 per cent water change. For the first couple of months it is likely that you will be changing water very frequently (maybe daily) but once the tank is cycled (tests show 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite) you only need to change the water once a week, changing about 25% at a time.

Makes sure you add declhorinater when you change the water.

Also, if you don't have one already, buy a gravel vac (it's a syphon-type thing). Manual is fine, you don't need battery-powered. You use the gravel vac to do water changes, and whilst you remove water you also vacuum the gravel, removing all the uneaten food and waste. This will help to keep ammonia levels down. Also feed lightly for now, this will also help to keep ammonia levels down.

It might sound like a lot to buy, but all of it is essential. Things that aren't essential are ornaments and even gravel (a lot of people have bare-bottomed tanks). So you can wait and make your tank look pretty later, for now make sure the money goes on the essentials to keep the fish happy and healthy.

I know this is a long post, but it should help. If there's anything you don't understand let me know and I'll try and explain it a bit better. There's a lot to learn when you start keeping fish. One good thing though, when it comes to studying the Nitrogen Cycle at school, you'll be great at it!

Good luck post back with any questions

Congrat's on getting a new tank. Since your 10 gal has been running a month, it may be partially cycled. You won't be able to tell unless you get your water tested daily. If you plan on keeping both tanks running, you may be able to seed the new tank with media from the old tank.

More advice on your new 29 gal, be careful on what filter you get with your new tank. Sometimes the lfs will bundle the tank, light and filter, but you don't have a choice on the filter. Make sure you get something that contains a lot of media that will house the good bacteria...like an AquaClear. Remember the 10 times tank capacity rule. You should have something like 290 gph flow rate for your new 29 gal tank.

Good luck.

thanks! I think I will do option 2. We have actualy decided to order the tank online ( it would be too heavy to carry the new tank home)!

if you've decided on the tank post a link before you buy it. Always helps to get a second opinion before you part with the cash. Make sure you get a tes kit (API Master Tester Kit is good) and a gravel vac at the same time.

glad your mum came around

I also agree with the second option because either way they'll be in an uncycled tank, Im so happy for u that ur getting the new tank, Im sure ur fishies will be really happy!

we acualy decided (this time for sure) to go to our lfs.

i got it! I will post pics tomarow

Sorry I am having trouble with the pics anyone know how. they're on my computers desk top.

Dont I put my goldie who has passed away in a tank that did not have that much space it died so if you want your goldie to live a happy life get a tank thats bigger.

Nutrafin, Lucky13 has got a bigger tank now. Sorry to hear about your goldie. My first goldfish died for the same reasons, but we live and learn/

Lucky13, set up an account at photobucket.com and upload your photos from the desktop to there, then copy the link from photobucket and paste it into your post (using the Inset Link bottom above)
If you write 'photo' or similar then highlight the word and press the Insert Link bottom, then paste the link into the box that comes up and click OK and post.

new tank

Looking good lucky13. I'm sure they appreciate the space.
Did you fit both the new and old filters to the new tank?

I notice you have monitor strips for pH and ammonia (never used these so don't how accurate they are), do you have anything to test nitrite? You need to test for the this as well as it is also toxic to your fish if levels are too high.

(I like the cat picture too, is that to keep the fish on their toes?)

I moved both filters in. I think I will keep them both in there. Hmmm.... Nitrite, I'll have to get something to test that. I have had the ph moniter befor and it worked realy well so i thought the amonia one must be good to. my room was a reck the day i set the tank up. my mom made me set the whole thing up my self. It was really hard. filling it was really hard too.

I would keep both filters in there if I was you. Goldfish needs a lot of filtration.
Try to get a liquid test for nitrite and nitrate
I'm sure it was hard work, but definately worth it and your fish will thank you