Conditioning Your Tank for the First Time - Chemicals to Alter Your Aquarium Water

There is only one water conditioner you need, and that's a dechlorinator.
via firsttankguide.net

If you use tap water, it's imperative that you use a water conditioner to break down those harmful metals that could potentially kill your goldfish.

In my first days of fish keeping over 10 years ago, I would put my poor goldfish in a tank filled with unconditioned tap water, only to find my fish dead the very next day.

Don't make the same mistake! Keep that water conditioned. I've been personally using AquaSafe for years, and it works very well. Plus, it's cheap and you can pretty much find AquaSafe in any pet store you frequent.

Treating Ich in Your Goldfish Aquarium

Ich (also known as ick) is a common goldfish disease that can often show up when the immune system is lowered due to stress or poor water quality.

Luckily, there are medications and even at-home treatments you can use to get rid of ich. If you want to go the less stressful route, gradually raise the water temperature a few degrees and buy aquarium salt (following the recommended dosages for disease treatment). Another method is to buy ich treatments directly from the pet store (medication can range from $5 to $15, depending on the brand and where you live).

The following is a great video that walks you through the process of how to treat ich with medication.

Remember: the best cure for any disease is prevention. Always maintain good water quality by using a freshwater testing kit and changing 25% of the water weekly for proper goldfish care. And if you can, catch ich early by staying attentive to telling goldfish disease symptoms before ich spreads and turns into a disaster.

Changing Your Aquarium Water for Proper Goldfish Care

Goldfish are very messy and excrete a lot of waste, which can quickly release harmful toxins into the water that can be dangerous (even deadly) for your goldfish. Uneaten goldfish food can also cause water quality problems, as the food decays and clouds your fish's environment. For this reason, you should strive to at least change 25% of your aquarium water once per week for proper goldfish care.

In order to keep up a regular water changing routine, you'll need a water siphon, a bucket, and a nearby sink (so you don't have to lug all that water all over the house). You'll also need a water conditioner to neutralize harmful metals in tap water before you dump the water into the aquarium - this step is particularly crucial, since tap water that is not conditioned can kill goldfish (or any species of fish) within minutes. A testing kit is also useful to have around, since you'll always have a good grasp of how well your tank is doing (and can prevent drastic ammonia spikes before they happen and potentially harm your fish).

The author of the following video does a terrific job showing the necessary steps for a regular water change routine.

Changing the water of your goldfish aquarium may seem difficult at first - and it can even appear daunting - but over time, with practice, you'll find that it's really not that bad. It will even become a habit, just like showering or going to the bathroom, as you start changing the water every week. And your goldfish will appreciate the hard work and effort you put into maintaining a healthy aquarium environment.

Happy fish keeping!