Sounds ideal for goldfish.

Personally I wouldn't bother with an air pump. If you have enoguh surface agitation from the filter that will give you enough gas exchange. I'd also second the eheims as excellent filters. You'll replace the sponges when they fall apart (which should take years) and the fine floss every couple of weeks (as noted buy it in bulk).

Amazon Swords like it a bit warmer than goldfish do, so it may not last that long for you. Java Ferns would be a better choice, and Elodea, Ceratophyllum, and Lagariosiphon as fast-growing sacrificial plants.

A 25kg bag of gravel should be fine. Just remember to wash it twice as much as you think it needs.

The size of the pellets shouldn't matter too much 3mm will be fine for the size of goldfish you're looking at.

I'd go with a 5ml syringe, rather than a 10ml. You won't need that much ammonia to cycle the tank.

Other than that you're good to go. Brushes for cleaning pipes, etc, can be picked up as and when you need them.

Ahh, spending other people's money. We are very good at that here on FK

I love my screwcumber for holding down blanched veggies (although you can just use a teaspoon)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_fro ... 70.l2736&_nkw=screwcumber

and my veggie clip for the romaine lettuce and Julian Sprung's seaweed

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw ... umber&_osacat=0&_from=R40

Another vote for Eheim too I run the Eco 200 and love it. Very easy to prime and quiet as a mouse.

Good call on the amazon sword, was planning to keep tank at constant 22 deg c with a heater. But that is below optimum for them I see.


Violet

Ah veggie clip, will deffo be getting one of those.

House is full of stuff now, packing material and boxes everywhere

Very impressed with thr quality of the Eheim 2215, lovely bit of kit. Bought a Eheim air pump instead of the tetratec too, so amazingly quiet, had to hold to my ear to check it was working.

Was messing about with the API master test kit last night.
PH was 7.5 I think, Seems to be exaclty between the high and low ranges.

Tested Nitrate too of my raw tap water and was between 10 amd 20. Is that going to cause issues?

Should I let some water stand then test again?

Do test pH of water that has been left to stand for 24 hours in case there's a change. There's no need to retest nitrates as they will not change.

Nitrates at that level will probably be OK. For most fancies they need to be kept below 40ppm, so you may need to do more than the average water change if they rise quickly (depends on stocking level etc).

Some fancies with a tendency towards floatiness need nitrates lower, less than 20ppm. If you end up with one of those you'll need to look at nitrate reduction.

which air pump was it? i just got tetra 300 makes a racket

Is this what you bought Kev? Those are usually very quiet - I have two and they're barely audible unless the cable or airline is touching them and vibrating.

yes, exactly that one.
i can hear the unit itself vibrating from 10ft away
is yours not like that?

my god! that's enough of that!!!!
heads bangin,put the old 1 back on.

Quote:

No, mine are both very quiet. I got them as someone else recommended them and they're way quieter than the one I had before. Maybe you have a faulty one?