Caring for Goldfish
A fishbowl is jail to a goldfish.
To be a responsible goldfish owner means you accept the responsibility to care for them. Researching what goldfish need to not only survive but to thrive is the goal of every responsible pet owner.
Goldfish are not humans and they are not toys. They have important needs, but many of their needs are different to human needs . When humans take a goldfish and put it in a container, the goldfish becomes dependent on the owner to provide for all their needs. It's a life and death matter for the goldfish.
We can't treat a goldfish as if it was a dog or a cat. Just as dogs and cats have different needs, so do goldfish. We know that dogs often enjoy playing in water, but that usually cats don't like to get wet. What about goldfish needs? We know that fish need to live in water, but what else do fish need? Many humans believe that goldfish only need a goldfish bowl, water from the tap and some fish flakes to eat. This is dreadfully wrong!
Humans need to learn what goldfish need to thrive, because even a goldfish deserves to have its needs met by the human that put it into captivity. A goldfish has a right to be happy, healthy and comfortable, having its needs acknowledged and supplied.
Finding out too late that your fish has important needs won't resurrect your dead goldfish, so before you purchase your goldfish, you need to understand how to care for it .
There are 6 main areas that need to be studied.
Chemistry - The Nitrogen Cycle, Testing Water Parameters, Anoxic Systems, Plenums
Biology - Nutrition, Environment, Stress, Genetics, Medications, Natural Remedies
Math - Ratios, Conversions
Social Science - Human-Fish Interaction, Responsibilities
Finances - Budgeting, Planning, Income, Expenditure
Equipment - Building, Buying, Adapting
Goldfish are not humans and they are not toys. They have important needs, but many of their needs are different to human needs . When humans take a goldfish and put it in a container, the goldfish becomes dependent on the owner to provide for all their needs. It's a life and death matter for the goldfish.
We can't treat a goldfish as if it was a dog or a cat. Just as dogs and cats have different needs, so do goldfish. We know that dogs often enjoy playing in water, but that usually cats don't like to get wet. What about goldfish needs? We know that fish need to live in water, but what else do fish need? Many humans believe that goldfish only need a goldfish bowl, water from the tap and some fish flakes to eat. This is dreadfully wrong!
Humans need to learn what goldfish need to thrive, because even a goldfish deserves to have its needs met by the human that put it into captivity. A goldfish has a right to be happy, healthy and comfortable, having its needs acknowledged and supplied.
Finding out too late that your fish has important needs won't resurrect your dead goldfish, so before you purchase your goldfish, you need to understand how to care for it .
There are 6 main areas that need to be studied.
Chemistry - The Nitrogen Cycle, Testing Water Parameters, Anoxic Systems, Plenums
Biology - Nutrition, Environment, Stress, Genetics, Medications, Natural Remedies
Math - Ratios, Conversions
Social Science - Human-Fish Interaction, Responsibilities
Finances - Budgeting, Planning, Income, Expenditure
Equipment - Building, Buying, Adapting
Dr Kevin Novak (Ph D) explains all about the completed nitrogen cycle. It does not just start with ammonia, break down to nitrites and end with the next stage of breakdown which is nitrates. Most people believe that nitrates are then taken up by plants, which they are indeed, IF the plant is in its growth stage. If the fish nibble the plants, eat its roots and leaves which stresses the plants, then the plants are not able to take up the nitrates from the water. Dr Novak explains the solution which is when the anoxic bacteria convert the nitrates into nitrogen gas.
Anoxic bacteria survive in a LOW oxygen environment. These bacteria are not aerobic (not using oxygen) neither are they aerobic (needing oxygen), but they require only low oxygen conditions to reproduce and to break down nitrates into nitrogen gas.
Dr Novak explains that this is the reason that we need to create an anoxic system in our aquariums. He also shows how to create an anoxic system in our aquariums using a plenum, the right kind of kitty litter, laterite (an iron source) and a bubbler.
We have been using Chandler Cat Litter for several years. It is a good product which is available in Australian outlets such as Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Bunnings. Despite being unbaked (which is recommended by Dr Novak), it certainly still does work extremely well to stabilize the nitrogen cycle. We make our BCB bags using Chandler Cat Litter and laterite and they function extremely well in our canister filters. The producers of Chandler Cat Litter is Hudson Marketing P/L and they also produce a high iron content clay which we are now using in our fish tanks. For further information about Chandler Cat Litter, and to locate sources from which to purchase Chandler Cat Litter, please direct your inquiries to:
Hudson Marketing P/L
Phone +61 92 51 7 177 or
email: [email protected]
website: www.chandlercatlitter.com.au
FaceBook Chandler Cat Litter, Sydney NSW Australia
Instagram @chandlercatlitter_au
Or click on:
Anoxic bacteria survive in a LOW oxygen environment. These bacteria are not aerobic (not using oxygen) neither are they aerobic (needing oxygen), but they require only low oxygen conditions to reproduce and to break down nitrates into nitrogen gas.
Dr Novak explains that this is the reason that we need to create an anoxic system in our aquariums. He also shows how to create an anoxic system in our aquariums using a plenum, the right kind of kitty litter, laterite (an iron source) and a bubbler.
We have been using Chandler Cat Litter for several years. It is a good product which is available in Australian outlets such as Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Bunnings. Despite being unbaked (which is recommended by Dr Novak), it certainly still does work extremely well to stabilize the nitrogen cycle. We make our BCB bags using Chandler Cat Litter and laterite and they function extremely well in our canister filters. The producers of Chandler Cat Litter is Hudson Marketing P/L and they also produce a high iron content clay which we are now using in our fish tanks. For further information about Chandler Cat Litter, and to locate sources from which to purchase Chandler Cat Litter, please direct your inquiries to:
Hudson Marketing P/L
Phone +61 92 51 7 177 or
email: [email protected]
website: www.chandlercatlitter.com.au
FaceBook Chandler Cat Litter, Sydney NSW Australia
Instagram @chandlercatlitter_au
Or click on:
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Chandler Cat Litter Social Media Icons
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GoldFishGal does not receive any incentives for promoting Chandler Cat Litter and we are not affiliated with the company. We promote their product because it works to create a safe aqua environment and to save the lives of our goldfish.
The photos above and below are the same, but the video content is different.
At GoldFishGal, we use canister filters which we set up with BCBs. We also install plenums and run anoxic systems in almost all our tanks.
We have also investigated Father Fish's YouTube channel on using a natural set up. We include hybrid systems between the two systems - all using Chandler Cat Litter and laterite which great success.
We have also investigated Father Fish's YouTube channel on using a natural set up. We include hybrid systems between the two systems - all using Chandler Cat Litter and laterite which great success.
Here is a link to the Father Fish Youtube channel where the producer introduces the natural system.