A few questions for Neale... Silica sand use in FW, Goldfish sys.   1/25/08
Hi Neale,
<Nicole,>
Hope you are doing well!
<Yep.>
I thought I would ask you, since I have heard you say before that you use silica sand (aka silver sand, aka pool filter sand) in your tanks...have you ever heard of any problems arising from goldfish being kept in an aquarium with such a substrate?
<Goldfish love sand! Your main problems are these: [1] Sand doesn't hide faeces the way gravel does. Faecal matter in tanks with gravel sinks between the grains, where you can't see it. It doesn't go away, but at least you can't see it until you stir the gravel. In a tank with sand, faeces sit on top of the sand. If you have a strong filter, they'll get sucked into the filter, but otherwise it can look messy. I find "spot cleaning" with an old turkey baster a great solution. If something looks too yucky, suck it up, and dump onto a houseplant. Problem [2] is that Goldfish can kick the sand about when they root about for food. They're happy as the proverbial pigs, but if the filter inlet is too close to the bottom of the tank, you can end up getting sand in the filter.>
My friend tried using sand but missed his undergravel filter, so he's giving me 50# of silica sand, and I was considering using that for my future 30 gallon semi-planted goldfish tank. I have read - admittedly, on forums of questionable repute - that this can be problematic, causing intestinal impactions in the goldfish due to swallowing mouthfuls of sand when they are rooting about in the gravel, and have also heard it can irritate their gills as it passes.
<Neither of these sounds likely. For a start, these fish live in muddy environments where they routinely throw all kinds of muck through their gills. But from my personal experience I've see smaller fish such as Corydoras and gobies thriving in sandy tanks, let alone massive great things like Goldies.>
Would you know if there is any truth to this? I suspect there is not, but if so, my next choice would be organic potting soil with a layer of fine gravel on top, since I have read that soil can be a fine substrate for a planted tank.
<Potting soil is rich in nitrate and phosphate, so tends to cause problems with algae. I do use pond soil in aquaria, which is formulated to be nitrate-free, but plain vanilla loams and soils tend not to be recommended. A better choice is coir (coconut fibre) which is relatively inert but looks very nice. Your problem here is that as much as the fish love this stuff, it makes the water completely cloudy *unless* you have teeny-tiny fish such as killifish that can't root about.>
I have silica sand on two of my tanks, and I notice that (for me, anyway) it does seem to encourage smudge algae, or brown algae or diatoms - whichever it may be! This is fine since both tanks have a trio of Otos, and they seem to relish the stuff, but I am nervous about keeping Otos with goldfish, so I'll just have to step up on the water changes and do two 30% changes weekly.
<The jury is out on whether silica sand genuinely creates a diatom bloom or not. Here's the issue: silica sand is basically glass, and both are effectively non-soluble. The amount of silicon coming out of silica sand will be completely negligible if the chemists are to be believed. My thinking is that silica sand is more difficult to clean than gravel, so perhaps more silt gets in, and *this* promotes algae. Perhaps also the brighter colour of silica sand makes algae more obvious. Finally, it's worth mentioning that all new tanks get diatom blooms; it seems to be part of what happens when you set aquaria up.>
My plan is to keep 2 Shubunkins, and a Synodontis eupterus together in the 30 gallon tank. I know this is woefully small for the Syno, but he is still "only" 6 inches and he is moving to a 55 gallon tank by the end of the year. If the Shubunkins ever get too large where maintenance becomes impossible, the same friend who is giving me the sand has a natural clay lined pond that already has a couple of full grown comets in there.
<Hmm... some Synodontis are confirmed fin-nibblers, so do your research here carefully.>
I plan on massively over filtering the tank: hang-on back, 330 gph filter rated for 60 gallons, plus a Penn Plax 115 gph canister filter rated for 30 gallons, with a spray bar, and chock full of sponges and ceramic noodles. The hang-on back filter will contain filter floss contained in 800 micron media bags. The floss I plan on rinsing weekly and replacing monthly. Does this sound all right?
<Sounds great. The more you rinse the floss, the less often you actually need to replace it, by the way.>
The plants I intend to keep are a few of the inedible kinds - Java fern, Java moss. Some regularly thinned Salvinia on the top, and Water Wisteria in the substrate. I plan on trying Elodea/Anacharis but I suspect it will be chomped on heavily.
<Elodea = goldfish food.>
Is there any benefit to adding a thin layer of Laterite (20 oz.) and pouring the sand on top? (That is, if the silica sand is acceptable, of course.)
<Laterite mixed with fine gravel, and then topped with sand (with a gravel tidy between the two layers) works very well. It's a trifle old school, but serviceable.>
I would really appreciate your comments, and any advice, since I am a planted tank newbie. I have never had luck with plants; I do realize now that lack of lighting has been the reason, along with being sold houseplants. I know better now! My water is very hard and alkaline (alkalinity is off the charts at 300 ppm on my test kit) and I am lucky enough to be on a well, so no need for dechlorinator either.
<Goldfish love this kind of water.>
The city water I had before this was dreadful, very low in alkalinity.
Fishkeeping is loads easier now, it almost felt like you were speaking to me directly when I read your hard water article! I've been meaning to try some fish that would really appreciate the hard water and plant combination, I am hoping that the goldfish will.
<You get it! Yep, everyone thinks hard water is a bad thing. It's actually a blessing in disguise, once you understand how aquaria go wrong, and what it is water hardness actually does to help.>
Thank you so much for your time. Also, your article about fish for a 10 gallon tank was superb! I suspect you had lots more to say, but had to keep it concise due to space constraints. I am definitely keeping it sandwiched in my aquarium books for future reference.
<Glad you enjoyed the article! Yes, there is a lot to say about the topic of choosing the right fish for a given aquarium.>
Take care, and thanks again!
Nicole
<Happy to help.>
P.S. By any chance, do you remember what kind of Synos these were?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_cichlid
I noticed you were the author of this stunning photo! The sand looks beautiful, I've never seen such a lovely yellow color, although I am guessing it's a trick of the light and it's really silver sand...
<The sand does look very yellow under certain lights, especially if you have some bogwood in the tank tinting the water brown. Those cats are Synodontis nigriventris, a nicely-behaved small, schooling Syno ideally suited to community tanks although it is one of the fin-nibblers, so you do need to watch it carefully if mixed with slow-moving fish.>

Hi, just a couple of questions about Goldfish, please... Sys., beh. mostly    8/26/07
Hi! You really have a great website!
<<Hello, Kim. Tom here.>>
I just have a couple of questions. I have 2 black moors and a goldfish.
<<Not being “picky” about this at all, Kim, but your Moors are Goldfish, too. I understand the distinction you’re making, though.>>
I just changed out the rocks in their tank (I read the rocks could be bad for them) to sand & the moors have been lying on the bottom some.
<<Goldfish do have a habit of picking up rocks, which can sometimes get stuck in their throats. From this standpoint, yes, rocks can be problematic for Goldfish.>>
They still come up to eat immediately & don't look sick at all, so wondering if they are just sleeping?
<<Goldfish aren’t noted for sleeping on the bottom of their tanks. This behavior is usually associated more with some type of stressful situation/condition going on.>>
Or if it is constipation- (they do look fat). They do eat like they are ravenous though, since I changed from flakes to worms. I don't really have the opportunity to watch my tank during the day, but I can't think of a time I've seen them poop.
<<A high-quality Goldfish-blend of flakes shouldn’t be causing constipation, Kim. The worms – depending on what type of worms we’re talking about – might contribute to this, though. Greens in their diets should alleviate the problem as will brine shrimp, for what it's worth.>>
I have two snails to help clean & the sand is white so I would be able to see it if there was some there.
<<Well, you may have given us a clue here with the white sand. First, a white, or very light, colored substrate is unnatural for Goldfish (and a lot of other fish, as well). The light reflecting off of the bottom is disorienting for them. By that I mean that your fish tend to “orient” themselves in the water by seeing “light” above them and “dark” below. When they see light above AND below, they lose their sense of positioning and become stressed, the same way you or I would if we had no sense of up from down.>>
It has only been a week since I changed to sand though - maybe not enough time for build up. I tell you what - those snails really scour that tank though! So, should I try the Epsom salt for constipation (1T/5 gal) or would it hurt if there were no problems? Is lying on the bottom at all normal or should they just be swimming constantly?
<<The Epsom salt can be effective as a saline laxative, Kim, but I’d rather see you try a variation in diet first. Moors as well as some of the other fancy-variety Goldfish have a naturally “plump” appearance, anyway. Without a fair amount of experience with these fish, the difference between a fish that needs a membership at the gym and one that’s legitimately bloated from constipation might be a tough call to make. I’d also like to see you purchase some black sand and try to darken up the substrate. Ideally, I’d really like to see you change this out completely to a dark substrate but it might be worth the trouble to see if a mix of the two is enough to alter your Moors’ behaviors. Hanging out at the bottom of the tank is not normal for these fish so there's something here that needs to be fixed.>>
FYI- I have been feeding them dehydrated worms lately. I have had a lot of trouble with the water changing colors/clouding (even when the label said it wouldn't) with other foods & can't really afford the expensive stuff online. I have been trying peas - which they ate - & romaine - which they didn't think too much of.
<<Zucchini and spinach are a couple of other items you might try, Kim. Vegetable matter, at any rate, is the best way to go.>>
Second question. My goldfish has been nudging the belly of one of the black moors, I don't know if this is bullying or trying to get her to spawn?
<<More likely trying to get her to spawn rather than bullying her. Might also account for some plumpness in her belly if she’s carrying eggs.>>
We did have a slight change in water temperature, but not for a long period of time to encourage spawning. Not really trying to have babies, but that would be cute.......little tiny goldfish (: Let me know if I should trade the goldfish or give it to a friend and get another fancy one.
<<One thing I don’t know, Kim, is how large a tank your fish are in. If the “Goldfish” is a Comet or Common variety, you require a much larger tank than you would for the smaller fancy varieties. Even with the two Moors and a “Fancy”, you’d really need a 40-gallon tank, or larger, to accommodate them long-term. Given ample room to grow and thrive, the move to trade/donate your Goldfish for another variety isn’t something I would recommend one way or another. Kind of like telling you how to decorate your home if you see what I mean.>>
Any help would be appreciated!
<<Summing this all up, Kim, I would, first, darken up the substrate substantially. Second, keep experimenting with vegetables until you find some (the peas are good) that they’ll take to regularly and, finally, evaluate the size of your tank to ensure that your fish have the appropriate amount of space. In this last regard, if your tank is “small”, i.e. less than 40 gallons, I’d move this upgrade higher up on the “priority ladder” to avoid bigger problems.>>
Thanks!
Kim
<<You’re welcome, Kim. Good luck to you. Tom>>

Re: Hi, just a couple of questions about Goldfish, please...  Ongoing... Kim, Tom  – 08/27/07
Thank you so very much for your time & expertise!
<<Not a problem, Kim. Only so happy to assist.>>
Is there some reason you don't care for giving fish away? Maybe the stress of the travel once again?
<<That certainly factors in, Kim. The “sentimental” side of me also likes to believe that folks become attached to their fish as they might with any other type of pet. Sometimes giving the fish up is the only positive action to take but I don’t figure that I get “paid” (cough, cough) for telling hobbyists to get rid of their fish unless there’s clearly no other alternative.>>
Gosh, after spending the money on the sand - it was expensive for aquarium sand ($26/ 1 gal or so) & not exactly easy to do the transformation.
<<Exactly why I suggested trying to “darken” the sand rather than another transformation, Kim. I’m for economic “fixes” whenever possible. I’m sure that there are so-called “cheap” alternatives to this. Driftwood, dark-colored decorations, flat rock or stones that you might create “caves” with. Wander around a good LFS and you just might find something that catches your eye and allows you to create something of interest for both you and your fish. Anything that you think might break up the “glare” off the bottom.>>
I just get so worried about stressing them out. I've become pretty attached to those little ones. Although, I admit I really don't have the process down yet & maybe it is more me that is stressed out (;
<<Get in line, Kim. The only hobbyists that don’t “stress”, if only a little, are the ones who don’t have a clue as to what they’re doing. No guarantees in our hobby but we can “hedge our bets” with research and knowledge.>>
The reasoning behind the white sand is so I can see them better (now wish the pet stores didn't sell white if this is what happens - I didn't know).
<<Depends on the fish you keep. Goldfish don’t live in white-sand habitats. Many saltwater fish do. LFS’s cater to a lot of different hobbyists. Was this something that you should have been aware of? No, it isn’t. It’s admittedly an “obscure” piece of information but an important one, nonetheless. Now, you know and you can tuck this little tidbit away for the future. ;) >>
I have fashioned a large glazed flower pot into a fish tank- LARGE flower pot (w/submersible filter, lights, etc) and the insides are dark & it is hard to see the moors in this atmosphere, though they are my favorites next to the calico.
<<Not big enough, unfortunately, Kim. Your “Calico” is a Shubunkin Goldfish, which is related to the Comets and Commons. Can grow to a foot in length. Your Black Moors will also need a larger environment unless your flower pot is capable of holding 30 gallons, or more, of water. My advice, if you’re serious about your pets, is not to get “cutesy” where their home is concerned. (We see this with Bettas, as a ‘for instance’, all the time.) Commit yourself to a “real” aquarium where your pets will thrive and reach their full potential. They might come close to outliving me if you do it right. :) >>
I will buy them some brine shrimp & keep trying on the veggies. Seems the peas, even after shelling, are a little to large for them to deal with. They eat them, but it takes awhile and one of the bigger moors doesn't really search the bottom, for food that is. Sure is tough to get the food in front of a Moors face sometimes, but it is fun when they eat out of my fingers. (:
<<Kim, I’ve an Angelfish that has taught every one of my other little crumb-snatchers to push their noses against the front of the tank when they “think” it’s meal time. It’s practically embarrassing! When I change the water, it’s a circus! I feel like I just took them all to a Water Park, for Heaven’s sake. Everybody wants to be in the “flow”. Amazing to have that kind of “connection” with creatures from such a different environment than our own. Very special. Please, keep me posted, Kim. My best. Tom>>

Re: Hi, just a couple of questions about Goldfish, please... sys.    8/30/07
<<Greetings, Kim.>>
Large maybe flat rocks for the bottom is a good idea! Do you think I could stay with a lighter shade?
<<I see a pattern here, Kim. :) Actually, I would prefer that you didn’t stay with too light of a shade. In fact, the darker, the better. Breaking up the white sand substrate is what we’re after here. Truth is, any light colored substrate/decor is likely to be just as problematic for your fish. I think I know what you have in mind but if darkening up the bottom of your tank doesn’t work this way, we’re back to “square one” with the sand, which will have to go.>>
What is an LFS? Large fish store?
<<”Local Fish Store”.>>
I don't have a calico now, but I have had one before. They are so pretty!
<<Beautiful fish, indeed!>>
Yea, maybe I will go to a real fish tank. Thinking about making one into a coffee table, maybe with a glass or acrylic top that is easily removed for feeding.
<<Not to stifle your “creativity”, Kim, but are you aware of the differences in power that sound generates in water as opposed to air? Setting a cup down on the top of your ‘coffee table’ would sound like a thunder clap to your fish, if not worse. If you think the guys are stressed now… (How did you plan on running power to a coffee table? You’ve got filtration and lighting to consider. What about humidity beneath the cover? What about simply sitting and enjoying your fish? Pretty tough if you have to lean over from the couch to see them.) ;) >>
I mostly picked out the pot for the decor thing & thought it looked cool. It sits on the floor - it is about 15 gal - they seem to be happy in it. There are really large pots out there too 30-100 gal, but they are so huge, I don't know if I have the space for one that big. Have you ever seen a round fish tank?
<<Not for a home setting, Kim. I’ve seen several in commercial buildings, though. Impressive, to say the least, but far too large for most residential applications.>>
However, regardless of how cool the tank looks, they are still laying on the bottom under rock 'bridges' during the day /: So, I will look at bumping up to a larger tank. Is it a possibility that my pump is too strong & creating too much of a 'current' up top?
<<No. The amount of filtration that Goldfish need is well beyond the norm, Kim. You don’t want to look at the “gallon” size that the filter is rated for as much as the ‘gph’ rating, i.e. how many gallon exchanges, per hour, your filter is capable of. The manufacturer’s claims can be downsized by about 10%-15%, as well. Goldfish fanciers tend to shoot for 7-12 exchanges per hour as opposed to the more typical 4-5 exchanges per hour. Translated? Your filter, or combined filtration, should be rated for about 120 gph, minimally, for your current tank. Move up to a 40-gallon tank and you should be looking at 300+ gph. Though the “Fancies” aren’t what I would refer to as “streamlined”, they won’t get bounced around in the current the way that other fish will.>>
Yea, I am kind of a newbie to really taking care of my fish. Had some as a kid, but of course wasn't really an active participant in caring for them. I guess I will get better at it. Still, I don't want to hurt the little fellas, so my heart is in the right place.
<<I know it is, Kim, which is why I’m trying to guide you away from any pitfalls I might see. Confidence comes with success and I’d rather see you take a more “traditional” route here until you’re comfortable.>>
They liked the zucchini - any suggestions on how to feed it to them?
<<Check out the ‘LFS’ and see if they have the little “chip clip” holders with suction cups on them. I use a couple of these for my Sailfin Pleco and they work very well. Once you get the rocks, you can use a rubber band, or anything non-metallic, to hold a slice in place. (I place a slice under a piece of driftwood, too, which holds it in place quite nicely. He’s ill-mannered when it comes to sharing his zucchini with his tank mates, though. I’m working on that. :) )>>
They really didn't chew on the large piece, so I had to break it up into tiny bite sized pieces. Should I just leave a large piece in there & let them figure it out & pick at it?
<<Yep. They’ll figure it out, Kim. They aren’t “raspers” (my Pleco just hunkers down and starts chewing) but they’ll get it.>>
Your help is appreciated. Unfortunately the people at my PetSmart aren't as informed as you are & don't really seem to have the patience for questions.
<<Goes hand-in-hand, Kim. I’ve rarely met anyone who was informed on a subject that wasn’t willing to share his/her knowledge. Ask them something they REALLY know about and they’ll let you draw a crowd!>>
As many things go, it just takes time & a lot of research.
<<Indeed. Understand, too, that Goldfish aren’t the “beginner” fish that many are led to believe. Much (too much) misinformation abounds regarding these fish. If I can emphasize one thing only, Kim, Goldfish need ROOM and lots of it. Give them that, and plenty of filtration, and most everything else kind of takes care of itself.>>
Thanks so much Tom!
<<You’re more than welcome, Kim. Feel free to get back with any other concerns/questions you might have. My best to you. Tom>>

Goldfish Eating Gravel    3/17/06
My greedy Oranda was eating her breakfast at the same time as my children and I and she suddenly started swimming erratically all over the tank. She had a stone stuck in her mouth. She struggled with it for about 3 or 4 minutes then she swallowed it. Can we do any thing? Hopeful the Drummonds
< Gravel is a pretty inert little rock. It won't poison your fish but may become an intestinal blockage. try feeding a food high in vegetable matter so the fiber will help pass the stone through the fish. Change the gravel to a smaller size so this won't happen in the future.-Chuck>

Questions about goldfish .. sys., gravel, other sites - 4/11/2006
Hi again!
<Ealasaid>
Many thanks for your prompt reply and useful information!  I have decided to pass on the 10 gallon tank and go for a 20 gallon. Luckily
for me, one of my co-workers has one they are getting rid of, so they're going to give it to me and I should have it up and cycling in a day or two. Yay!
<Very good>
As I'm continuing my research, I'm finding that many sources of information have wildly differing stats on fish in terms of compatibility, adult size, temperature, etc. Do you have any advice on reputable sites besides your own?
<Mmm, for what sorts of livestock, systems? Best to educate oneself by immersion/exposure... as all sites/sources of information have some shortcomings (ours included)>
Also, my friend at the pet store is suggesting CaribSea Aquarium Sand rather than gravel for the substrate in my new tank for my goldfish, but I see that your page on goldfish systems suggests rounded gravel instead. Which is better?
<Mmm... really depends on the make-up of your source water (if it has substantial alkaline reserve, elevated pH to start with)... as one of the roles of the substrate is to buffer, bolster changes wrought by goldfish "gluttony"... wastes and food and their consequences... but FW "natural" gravel is better in almost all situations>
The pet store in question is PetSmart, which only carries TopFin gravel -- which doesn't come in a rounded variety. Any advice?
<Look about at independent fish stores. A good idea to "pick and choose" amongst outlets... Bob Fenner>
Many thanks!!
Ealasaid