That tank is far too small for even a single goldfish or pleco. A common goldfish can reach a foot or more in length and live well over 10 years if properly cared for.fairgroundfish wrote:Yesterday I "rescued" 2 goldfish from the hook-a-duck at the fair.(I try to get as many as I can afford whenever I see them there. I have a proper tank, around 20lts I think, I managed to get a water plant from a neighbour he called it an apple plant or something, I've had to use gravel from outside (which I picked through ensuring nothing was in it and boiled it on the cooker for 10mins to clean it, I've also added my crystal tumble stones, quarts, amethyst etc. Not only for decoration but also to put some minerals into the water) I have had to use just plain tap water as I had nothing to treat it with at short notice, but they seem to be fine. I assume thats all the fair people used anyway? I will be going to get a filter on Wednesday.
I would like to get a Bristlenose, but would like a little advise on caring for it and if it really is ok to keep with goldfish as I've read?
My last fairground fish lasted 2 years untilj my younger brothers put hair conditioner in the bowl, that was 13years ago and I've still not forgiven them
x 
I understand you are wanting to provide them with a better home which is admirable but by getting as many as you can it is perpetuating the cycle. If no one was interesting in them the fair would soon stop offereing them.fairgroundfish wrote:Yesterday I "rescued" 2 goldfish ......I try to get as many as I can afford whenever I see them there.
I'm not actually sure quartz or amethyst would alter the water chemistry at all & i don't see the benefits. Common goldfish would live well in a mineral poor water.but also to put some minerals into the water
They won't, quartz and amethyst (a type of quartz) are made up of inert SiO2, the same mineral that makes up pool filter sand.Richard B wrote:I'm not actually sure quartz or amethyst would alter the water chemistry at all & i don't see the benefits. Common goldfish would live well in a mineral poor water.
. I do appreciate all the help and advice everyone has given me x
makes me so angry tbh because they con people into buying a plastic box smaller than a lunch box and tell them it will be fine in there, if I can just save 1 and give it a happy home and life them I know I've done something good, can't see any animal suffer x I would replace the gravel with sand, goldfish love to dig and sift through mouthfuls of sand for bits of food. You can try some more plants, but you may need to grow them in pots so that the fish digging won't disturb the roots too much. Fast growing, soft-leaved plants like Elodea/Anacharis are a great choice, the goldfish will snack on them but they generally grow fast enough that it doesn't harm the plants.fairgroundfish wrote:I only wish my neighbour had used neutral/natural coloured stones, don't know about you guys but I do like natural looking tanks? What sort of things have you got in your? I will be getting another plant or 2 I think? X
Sand does not trap waste in the same way that gravel does, because it is more compact the waste sits on top instead of being drawn down into the substrate and can be easily siphoned off.fairgroundfish wrote:Thanks for the advice, yeah the slabs where what was with it, I've re arranged them to how neighbour had them (as they were just flat) to make a hide at one end then there's little "tunnel" and "cliff" type bits behind a through the others. I know what you mean by the sand my only issue is how can you clean their waste from it? x