Hi Goh,

I wonder where did you read from, on restraining feeding to keep water in ideal conditions? This is something that should never be done.

I see that you have a good understanding to the bio mechanism of your aquarium, but why do against what you know is right? I am glad you know the possible nasty things that can occur with the setup that you have narrate. It is a time bomb that is awaiting to go off anytime.

Desireless,
There is this thread which wrote "water quality is more important then food":-
Ga 106 - Dragon Eye
By: demdamdemekins
which I tend to differ. Is the definition of "Good water quality", 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate and a stable > 7 PH (which I always get). However, there are those microscopic organism coming through the tape (nowadays you don't know what you will get from domestic supply) you would never know. Unless we really steralize the water then can be termed "Good quality water".

Therefore, I would say, pump-up the fish, don't be shy, throw in all the food varieties, and do more water change if need be.

"Water quality is more important then food" does not mean that you should feed lesser so that your water stays good. How did you derive to that conclusion?

What that sentence means is that one should maintain good water quality on top of others things like food and supplement. You can be feeding top quality or "the most perfect pellet" but if your water quality is no good, your fish will never turn out well.

Feeding lesser to maintain good water quality is never our preach here.


Frankly speaking, I seriously doubt you can achieve good water quality with 50 fishes in a 6 footer. Even with a working filtration, nitrate level will be very high by the second and third day. Borrow another set of tester to confirm if you are getting 0 readings for all perimeters by the 3rd day or so.

Yes you are right, I am still very surprised at what I am reading.



Yes I am shocked by this maintenance schedule.Especially on the quarterly check on water parameters.Once every 3 months?

What method did you adopt to buffer the water, your pH is at a high range of 8.5?.Even using coral chips or oyster shells will keep the pH from 7.5 to 8 at most.
And, you had mentioned using plants to reduce nitrates to zero,with no denitrator in place........how much plants do you need? Pics please............

CP,
Yes, I am as surprise as you on the results of my tank setup and that's why I decided to share here. I read several threads on bros are still struggling on nitrate and cloudy water phenomeum and that's why I decided to make a plunge.

To be frank, I was checking my water parameter weekly and found no change in them, everything "Zero" and that's why I cut down to quarterly (actually as and when I feel like doing now ). FYI, I am using the Red Sea NO3 test kit and I don't really doubt this calibration as I also have a 2ft tank (which is not so well setup) which constantly gives me 20 - 30 ppm reading.

I use crushed coral chips/with sendiment mixed on my sea bed (about 4 - 5 inch deep) and perhaps this do the buffering (infact previously I was doing crazy thing like adding PH down solution to bring to 6.8 - 7.8 range which I was told is best for goldfish). I also noticed thick layer of algae growth on the side of the 4 - 5 inches deep strata and perhaps this with the addition of the algae on the rocks and plants added help to keep NO3 in check.

As of now, what I am still uncertain are the micro-organism, KH, DO, Hydrogen Sulphide (as proclaim by Goldrush) and other chemical elements that are present in my tank that may cause harm to the fishes.

guys, what we trying to achieve using a bare tank is basic, very basic - to minimize risk involve in a build up tank. But what Gohks has done is something that opposite the general guideline of what RG trying to promote. But in fact, the result on the water parameters is something we have to question ... not on him, but on the knowledge that have yet to explore.

Goh has already mentioned, he is not aiming at grooming competition fish, so the objectives are crystal clear. Remember that I always said, there is no wrong or right in fish keeping, important is what the hobbyist wants.

Go thru all the postings again ... one should notice there is a big different in the usual "gravel" setup compare to this. And that is where one will find the interesting knowledge ...

So let's not condemn such setup, but to really go in-depth and study it.

wait until neck long long liao ... PICTURES !

Matrix,
Thks and appreciate your understanding and your open-mindedness approach to this topic. My whole intention here is to learn and share my past experience, and there is no hidden agenda.

As previously mentioned, my approach is purely amateur, for busy hobbyist who intend to setup their tank as decorative/feng-sui, goldfish appreciaton with the minimum maintenance work have to put in.

As for the pictures, be patient, promise next week when my wife returns. May need some help here on downloading.

As promised, my ~ 50 goldfish decor tank


Sorry, picture not so well take

More pictures and start counting the goldfish :-







Feeding time:-



Reflection may be too strong, fish eyes all turned white. How to take a better pictures??

how thick is your sand bed? 2inch?

like a fish shop tank

i think u need to do some extreme aeration ;)

wah seh ... if i got a tank and a cozy house like this ...
fishes are extremely thin. really under feed a lot. yup, bring up your aeration, not enough leh. better not hope for a power failure siah.

Wow impressive setup with equally impressive population of goldfish.You name it you have it nomenclature of goldfishes.All chapalang,chiam po,rojak,coctail concortion of every type and hybrid.Yes it does remind most of our LFS display tank minus the furniture and wooden carboard setting and price tags
Some seem to struggle in motion so watch them esp the calico orandas.Fish also appear underfed but perhaps that's your way to maintain water condition.Just enough for their survival and short of a need for their revival

Thxs for sharing

wah lau gohks nice tank!
I'd like to see some close up pics of some of the ranchus some pretty decent ones in there

wah cannot imagine how much the whole setup will cost in australia pocket empty all of a sudden

As mentioned, sand bed is ~ 3 - 4 inches.

Agreed, areation is kind of limited in a crowded tank, my perpetual headache.

already have this in mind and caused me uneasiness and sleepness night, got an AC/DC pump to tahan for 8 - 9 hrs. But cannot go overseas leh!