Posted by KT_2002 on December 05, 2002 at 04:06:27:
In Reply to: 55 gallon aquarium/pond ......need help please posted by jondancer on December 01, 2002 at 13:07:39:
A fifty gallon aquarium isn't a pond, even if you want to call it one. Not only is it much too small to be a pond (the water to fish ratio in a decent pond is MUCH higher), ponds actually do require maintance to be healthy. Also, if you replace evaporated water without removing some water, you will eventually run into problems because disolved solutes in the tapwater will build up to toxic levels. Water evaporates but salt and other things are left behind. As you add more water (which contains more disolved solutes) the ratio of solutes to water increases until your fish start having problems.
Water changes are simply an aspect of fish ownership (like walking a dog or cleaning the cat's litter box). The only way to avoid water changes would be not to have fish. That said, they arn't that difficult to do - All you need is a siphon and a bucket. For a single aquarium it will only take 15-20min to remove 20% of the water and replace that with fresh, decholorinated tapwater. And even less time if you are in a hurry:-)
To make your fish grow the fastest, keep their water as clean as possible (frequent partial water changes), feed them a quality fish food, and maintain the tank at a consistant cool temperature (a tank heater is nice even in coldwater tanks, because it reduces temp. fluctuations that can upset the fish). Goldfish are designed to grow big - all they need to flourish is good care and a little attention to detail.
Good luck!
