Might buy Goldfishes - Some questions about them.

[Suki Wingy]

One major word here: FILTRATION! Goldfish are dirty fish. You will need heavy filtration to keep them alive and healthy! People say a goldfish will grow to fit its tank, but really they can grow up to a foot in length, and if they don't it's because their living conditions/lack of proper care stunted them.

[sana]

thank You guys for what you have told me uptil now. I have two more questions.

Q1. I don't understand how the filters work. What really does happen when you install a filter in your aquarium?

Q2. What should be at the bottom of the aquarium? Do you get it along with the aquarium? What is it called?

Thank You for everything that you have given me uptil now, I got lots of information from that but there are only a few questions that I still have.

Thank You!!

[Karen]

Most places will sell you "aquarium rocks" - colored stuff that's like small gravel, but it is made of safe stuff for the fish. The filters work by filtering impurities out of the water, food debris and, well, fish poop!

[sana]

but then where does all that junk go to?

[Karen]

It gets stuck in the filter, as it is supposed to. That's why you need to clean the filter regularly, just wash it out.

[sana]

So, meaning you put water in a tank, install a filter and you don't need to change the water... THAT'S TOTALLY AMAZING!! because I have never kept a fish so, I never had a straight idea of how a filter really worked. So, I install a filter clean the filter everyday, right? That's it? So no dumping out water and filing more in. And another thing, when do I need to actually change the water? Is it necessary or do I just have to use the filter and its done, no water changing? Oh! And a filter works through electricity or is there a battery in it? THIS IS REALLY GETTING ME EXCITED!! Please pray i get to buy them sooon!

[Freedom]

No no, Sana, read the links.

You still do partial water changes every 2 weeks. At that time, you change the filter. So you have to keep a supply of filters.

You need something to neutralize your tap water, you can't just put tap water in a bucket and add it to the tank. I use Cycle, but there are other products out there.

The strata is typically small "gravel" colored rocks. Yes, goldfish are very messy fish. You will need a strata cleaner, as a lot of fish poop will just sink into the gravel. The cleaner works by pulling the junk up out of the gravel. Mine is a tube with a large nozzle at one end. It is not electric, no batteries. You make sure the tube goes in to a bucket that is lower than the tank and it will act like suction