Tropical Fish Forums

[bumper]

I agree that goldfish should not be kept in bowls, but if they are, would fresh tap water or cycled aquarium water be the best environment? I believe the idea behind the bowl is that we do not want to cycle the water, and therefore we change the water more frequently. Let's say that you are to use cylced water, will the bacteria in the water convert the waste into unsafe levels of nitrate in a small amount of time? Could cycled water suppress the amount of ammonia in the bowl so that we do not have to change the water as frequently? Thanks for the imput.

[anonapersona]

The needed bacteria are not in the water, they are on surfaces. So adding used water will only mean that the water is already contaminated with things that need to be changed out.

The fish might benefit from adding used gravel, but not used water.
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59 gallon planted
55 gallon cichlids
110 and 58 gallons 17 adult discus

[Oscer]

I agree with anonapersona, but if the tap water contains chlorine, or other chemicals that can cause harm to your fish and they are not removed beforehand, and are replenished weekly with water changes; in the long run this will be bad for the fish.

The other option (which is not the best, as stated before) is to treat the bowl as a semi-open system, to the tank.

Does all that make sense
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Years of fish keeping = Good advice

[bumper]

Okay, so if I were to add some gravel from an existing setup, would that affect the bowl in any way? Would it be to the fish's benifit or not? Or, would you be better off with fresh gravel, and fresh water (changed every week)? Thanks.

[Oscer]

IMO, I think you should use gravel from the existing setup, because this will act as a bio filter. But is a bio filter realy needed, no but it won
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Years of fish keeping = Good advice

[bumper]

There would be no filter. So aged gravel and fresh water would be the best. Thank you.

[Oscer]

It
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Years of fish keeping = Good advice