16 New Goldfish, Help With Set Up! Options

[Hamad]

Hello guys, I couldn't do this without your advice so here it is.

I am getting a box with 16 goldfish as soon as I confirm the order and send in the cash, it takes just one day for the box to reach me so I need to make sure everything is fine and set once the fish are here.

I believe that 16 fish will need 10 gallons each, a 160gallon tank is out of the question so I bought a 180 gallon plastic pool instead that I'll place in the balcony [it's much cheaper and the weather is ok now].

I am going to fill it with water today and then rinse it tomorrow just to test and then fill it and add aeration and have it ready for the fish. But what else should I add and should I treat the fish with anything? I would appreciate if anyone can give me very detailed information regarding this period such as how many water changes, how many times they should be fed, how much salt, etc...

Out of the 16 fish, 5 or 6 will move to the main 55gallon tank gradually [one fish every week], and any fish that doesn't look great to me I will sell to any of the local stores and just keep the best ones.

Thanks in advance!

[Hamad]

Finally the fish arrived, it was hell...Originally the fish were sent out of the farm to arrive here in the UAE at 1am. At the airport they had to move the box to another plane which was supposed to land at 2:30am, but that plane also got delayed and arrived in the UAE at 5am!!! It took me an hour to get them out of customs and then two hours drive back home and I got them here at 8am.

That means the fish were boxed for 7 extra hours because of delays, two bags were almost out of oxygen and unfortunately when I added them to the tubs [after letting the temperature balance for 30 mins then 20 mins introducing water slowly, all in all it was 50-55 mins until they were added to the tubs] two fish were already not in good health, one developed swimbladder problem and the other gasping for air, another two are also so/so. There is 0.3% salt in the water and I didn't want to do anythig else as what they have could be just stress and maybe tomorrow they'll get better.

Fortunately, all the others adjusted perfectly and running around like crazy, two even were chasing each other already!

I took lots of pictures, no side view shots though but soon once they're relaxed and doing well I will take some. The majority are far from being show quality but they're not ordinary either and together as a batch they look simply stunning!

I think making 100% water change tomorrow will be too much stress, I will do 50% tomorrow instead - no food of course for the whole week.

Thanks a lot guys and later tonight I'll post the pics...