Hi Sajacobs and welcome to the forum,

If you'd like to keep more than one goldfish, the minimum stocking is 20 gallons for the first fish and 10 gallons for each additional fish. So you could get a 30 gallon tank and quite happily have 2 goldfish, or even a 40 gallon tank and have 3 goldfish
It would save you having to upgrade again, if you wanted a companion for your goldfish.

Which fluval tank were you looking at in particular?
For goldfish the longer the tank the better, so goldfish can have plenty of swimming room.

Another thing to consider for tanks, is a decent amount of filtration. As goldfish are very messy creatures they need filtration that's 10x the tank size. So for example a 40 gallon tank would need a 40 gallons per hour filter.
Generally external filters can be a good way to go, as they have more space for media and the beneficial bacteria than internals.

You may need to do lots of regular water changes on the two gallon tank, possibly even twice a week or more. If you've been monitoring the water quality, may I ask what your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are? Also did you cycle the tank before adding the fish?

Best of luck!

I think your goldfish would benefit from having a friend or two, goldfish are sociable creatures after all!
I currently only have one goldfish, but that's because my tank would be overstocked if I added more! But I am working on a larger set up for her to have friends. Maybe a 30 gallon would be a good way to go? It's only a little bigger than a 20 gallon
I can understand if a 40 gallon would be too big.

I personally wouldn't put anything but snails in a 2 gallon tank, it's too small for any fish in my opinion.
By the time you add a filter, heater and plants in there, not much space really left for a Betta! A 10 or 15 gallon tank would be much better for a Betta fish, if properly suited to its environment i.e. lots of plants and hiding places.

As for buying tanks and equipment separately or as sets? I think it depends.
I know in America (not sure which shop) but people here have mentioned a Dollar per Gallon sale on tanks. So you could get a nice sized tank quite cheaply. However I can appreciate a 20 - 30 gallon tank is quite large, so you will need a suitable stand. I often find the stands are sometimes the most expensive part!

As for filters, the cheapest brand I've seen is by a company here called All Ponds Solution, but I believe the same thing is available in America as AquaTop. They are external filters often with UV built in. So by all means look into them and see if it's something you like the look of.

Trying to figure out which Fluval tanks you are referring too... you'd want a long tank definitely, not a tall one. Maybe just post a picture!

Another option is to see if anyone is selling any tanks in your area, sometimes there are local Aquarist Societies that will have tanks spare for a good price, or checking ads in the paper/internet that kind of thing

I'm sure the others will be by soon with more help and advice!

I'd definitely go for a 30 gallon if I were you, that's a really nice size for a beginner since it's big enough to basically handle itself and the chance of temperature or pH fluctuations is a lot smaller
Personally, I find that small tanks are of course cute, but they stop being cute when someone tries to keep a fish far too big for it inside. goldfish will easily reach a body length of 5-6 inches (fancy) or even 1 foot! (long-bodied).
My mother keeps two fantails in her 25 gallon, but almost every time I'm home she's asking me if I don't want to take the bigger one (4 inches without tail) into my 83 gallon...
So you might get a little problem with the conscience as the goldfish grows and you see that it doesn't have too much swimming room.

A 30 gallon tank shouldn't be too expensive since it's a pretty average size. You may want to look into some used Juwel tanks maybe? They're usually very stylish with beautiful stands...

That sounds awesome! I bet it'll look great Did it have a stand?

Awww yay! Do show us photo's once it's set up 

200 liters???  Wow that's like a super mansion.  I had a nice talk with a customer at the pet store.  He said his tank was 250 gallons.  Can't imagine taking care of it....never mind housing it. 

So looking for more help.  I was checking out my new filter as I was setting up bertie's temporary home.  There's not one bit a info on how much water it filters.  Just says it's for a 30 gallon tank.  Has only a two filter process.  Since I'm setting up the new tank maybe I need a better filter.  Can you folks guide me?  I have no clue what to get.  Wouldn't a 3 or 5 step filter system be better for messy goldfish?  Or a high flow?  Or one you can control the amount of flow?

I want to set this up right.  Just stick with the kit filter or move into something better?

The flow on this in new filter is sad. It's one that hangs on the edge of the tank. So I have it ruuning on this three gallon tank.... It barely circulates the water.

I'm going to make the investment and get something better. So what do you think of fluval?  I was reading mixed reviews on amazon.

Anyone else who wants to boost about their filter? 

Thanks S

That was helpful.

My pet store recommended your brand. Cheaper than fluval. But he passed a comment about fluval having extra cleaning steps. This guy knows his stuff - has 4 large tanks. He still felt aquatop was over all a great buy.

What's the UV capabilities?

I'm also getting a air bubbler. After reading so much hear and knowing how dirty goldfish tanks get - anything to keep pumping oxygen into the water is helpful.

It's good to cover your bases.

Ohhh....I didn't realize that about the air pump.  Thanks for clarify.  I do like the way it looks too

I'll read your review.  Thanks so much.

If you are going to buy a fluval internal then you should look at the"U" range, the U3 should be more than adequate

not had any probs with my fluval 4 Nossie...must admit I only use the top outlet rather than the spray bar setting...and I replaced the bio-balls with a sponge pad

After input here and a bit of research I went with the fluval c3 (up to 50 gallons). At my pet store the fluval was only $10 more than aquatop.

I'm disappointed with it. It's making a ton of noise. Great flow but so noisy it's driving me crazy. I found people who recommended a bit of Vaseline on the propeller.  Did that and still noisy. So I'm going to returning it and trying another one.  If that one is a flop, I'll go with aquatop.

scrivens: I think we're talking about different filters? Mine is an internal one that doesn't even have a possibility to add bioballs since the filter media is like sheets that are put into two halves of the basket, if you know what I mean
Like this:
[image]

I've seen that one! Yeah, so they're different, I bet yours is a lot better since it's not designed for the water to flow up and down and back up again.. D:

I agree.  Who would think fish filters would cause so much passionate discussion?

On a side bar....my fluval appears to be getting quieter.  Hurray!  I'm hoping it will be silent soon.