Our 4yr old son wants his own tank

so our 4yr old son wants his own tank....a reefer in the making, but for now I'm thinking a small freshwater tank with one or 2 goldfish. It's been like 25 yrs since I had a freshwater tank, this might sound strange but I don't remember anything about getting one started or taking care of one ;D. I think it's as simple as tank, gravel, hang-on filter, heater, treated tap-water....add fish, regular partial water changes. You freshwater guys out there, am I even close?

 

Sounds about right Thermometer if you have a heater so you don't have a fish fry

Edit: Don't forget a lid for the tank too! Goldfish have the urge to jump out sometimes

 

don't forget an airpump and stone since you won't have surface agitation

 

+1 to both. I wouldn't worry about water changes though. Just make sure you vaccum the rocks every couple weeks if keeping goldfish, they are very dirty. Guppies are also hardy and are not as messy. The bacteria starter works well in freshwater tanks IME.

 

Goldfish and guppies? Skip the hob filter and the heater, goldfish are a coldwater fish. Just a little corner air driven filter.

 

FW is still pretty easy . Don't forget to cycle the tank. Frequent partial water changes are a good idea. Nitrates will build up with no plants or other form of export. AFAIK Goldfish live in cooler water and don't require a heater as long as your house temp doesn't drop too low.

 

Tell him to get a paper route and buy his own!

My little one had a 2 gallon with a black goldfish in it for a year or so. It was pretty easy to keep. Just some water changes every week or so. I don't even think we used a heater.

 

My 5 year old little brother likes my tanks. He is learning the names of the fish and the corals and stuff, I quiz him on it all the time.haha

 

This is exactly what came to mind when I read this post hahahaha.

I actually have a nice little goldfish tank. 10 gallons of love. One goldfish, two cory cats and a chinese algae eater. Also have two CF screw-in type bulbs at about 7500K and elodea plants and some other kind of FW plant.

I have not vacuumed the gravel in over a year. I have a simple in-tank power filter, airstone, and several FW snails. The tank gets once monthly 2-3 gallon water change and we have to prune the FW plants once a month.

The fish are happy and healthy with almost no work on my part (well totally no work on my part - the tank is my GF's hahahaha) - and there is also NO heater.

The cory cats and the algae eater seem to do 100% fine in the cooler water. The plants still grow well - and of course - the goldfish is happy and growing like a weed!!!

Need to upgrade to a 30long ASAP for her!

 

Thanks for all the responses, I was thinking of picking up one of those 5g kit tanks at Petco and just have 1 goldfish. I probably don't need a heater, our house stays at 68 (night), 70 (day), hopefully he'll be OK in those temps, if not I'll add a small heater. The only reason I prefer to not have the heater, is because those things go bad and could create a risk should my son stick his hand in the tank.