What to Add?

I posted a little while back about my son's three goldfish. Well, due to a power outage taking out their air filter (of course this had to happen while we were away from home for the weekend!) we only have one left. Not sure how the little bugger made it, but he's going strong. However, he is going to be moved to a 30 gallon by himself next month, and I was wondering what I could put in there with him?

I realize that he's going to get rather large eventually, but certainly I can fit some other things in the tank, right? I've been looking into cool-temperature fish, but I'm not really sure what would do well just yet.

Perhaps I should just replace the two goldfish that died?

One of my favorite cool water fish is the white cloud mountain minnow. That said, if you want goldfish they are probably better off in their own aquarium. Since they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, etc., an all goldfish aquarium could be very special.

Thank you very much for the quick reply!

In another thread I started, it was suggested that 30 gallons was a suggested minimum size for three goldfish. Is that correct, or does it depend upon the type(s) of goldfish? The one I have right now is a comet goldfish, but I really enjoy the look of shubunkin goldfish. Eventually I'll be upgrading to a larger tank, but it'll probably be awhile before I do that, so I don't want to overload the 30.

Goldfish are messy, but they're also pretty tough. If you use a good filter and do partial water changes twice a week, a 30 gallon tank should accommodate quite a few. Live plants will also help keep the ammonia under control. After the tank is well established, you can check ammonia once or twice a week for a while and establish a pattern. Once you are familiar with the aquarium's cycles, you can adjust maintenance schedules and water tests to fit.

Well, from what I've read, one goldfish per five gallons of tank space seems to be the going recommendation. That means I can fit about 6 of the little (for now!) guys in there. I've already picked up a bit of hornwort and put it in both my betta and goldfish tanks... my pleco promptly started eating the stuff. Is that normal? I really do mean 'eating', too... there's a hole.

I'll be starting the 30 gallon at the end of next month, probably. The sole inhabitant of my 15 gallon is fine for now, I'm sure.

for a 30 gallon tank you may keep neon and cardinal tetra and clown loach along with gold fish...

I thought tetra and loaches preferred warmer water?

no there's no such conventional rule like that..generally one can keep this fish along with discus or etc.since discus need 30 deg temp so you may say that they need warmer water.but that's not...they can live almost in every cond except highly cool or warm...

I still think you're safer with a goldfish only tank. Plecos are omnivores and usually feed at night. If he's pigging out on hornwort, he probably needs his veggies. You may want to try putting in an algae wafer after you turn out the lights.

That's likely the problem with the pleco. I do put in algae wafers, but I've been doing so at my lunch time, rather than his. I'll start putting them in later in the evening, and see if that changes things. Thanks once again, John!