Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have just added some new goldfish to my system today. It's a new system and I have just completed a fishless cycle - hence the fish only being added today.

Water tests:

pH: 6.7
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrate: 50+
temp: 16°C

I have pellet food (2mm) that doesn't seem to float for very long and the fish just don't seem hungry. They are big goldfish, all over 20cm. I'm the kind of person who will just wait for them to get hungry and then one day just find them all belly up because they starved! So I do I wait or is it the food? or the temp? Apparently they are cold blooded...

I don't want to over feed to tempt them and get spikes in the ammonia, etc.

Any suggestions are much appreciated

Too cold and too new. Give them one pellet a day, they will grab it eventually.

Thanks:-) will give it a try.

When he says too cold, he doesnt mean too cold for them to survive, just they wont want to eat alot over winter.

If the fish were fed well before you got them (before the shock of a new environment), you could probably not feed them for a week and they'll be just fine. I know they can last a while without food. Not saying you should not feed the fish, just that they can go for awhile without food.

Goldfish are a hardy species.

I have one in a aquarium that i have to hand feed from time to time. I dont know why he cant swim properly, he just does not seem to like to. Perks of being one of those stupid funny looking ones i suppose.