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Goldfish are freshwater fish mostly found in lakes, rivers, and ponds. In their natural habitat, they do not require a filter. But will they need a filter when they are in an artificial environment? Can your goldfish live without a filter? Let us discuss this below: Goldfish aquariums must have a filter installed as goldfish produce a lot of waste. Using a filter helps maintain water quality by eliminating the uneaten food and waste materials from the water column. Filters also help break down ammonia which is otherwise harmful to your goldfish. Let us dive into the article to learn more about water filters. In this article, we will also discuss goldfish water requirements. Why do your goldfish need filters in their tank? There are numerous reasons why your goldfish requires a filter in their tank. First, a water filter helps maintain the water quality, which is necessary for your goldfish to stay fit and healthy. Second, as goldfish do not have a stomach, they produce a lot of waste that can lead to ammonia and pollute the tank water. A water filter helps to eliminate ammonia and maintain a healthy environment in your goldfish tank. So, it would be advisable to place a water filter in your goldfish tank so they can live a healthy life. Goldfish water requirements? Types of GoldfishWater Temperature ( In Fahrenheit)Water Temperature( In Celsius) Common Goldfish68-74°F20-23.3°CSarasa Goldfish 36-90°F2.2-32°CComet Goldfish 60-70°F15.56-21.11°CFantail Goldfish68-74°F18-22°CShubunkin Goldfish60-70°F15.56-21.11°CThe above table shows the water requirements of goldfish. What are the benefits of a water filter in your goldfish tank? Here are some numerous benefits of water filters in your goldfish tank: Water filters help eliminate the decaying matter, leftover food, and other chemicals from the goldfish tank. It purifies the water in your goldfish tank and creates a healthy environment in the tank. It helps maintain the oxygen level in the tank, which allows your goldfish to breathe better and stay fit. Without a water filter, you will have to change the tank's water every 2-3 days, which is time-consuming and can also cause stress to your goldfish. If you have a filtered tank, you will not have to change the water very often. A water filter helps to agitate the water's surface, which is necessary to exchange the tank's oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. It allows the carbon dioxide to leave the water and oxygen to enter the water, which helps maintain adequate oxygen in your goldfish tank. These were some benefits of a water filter in your goldfish tank. In addition to this, we recommend you place a filter in your goldfish tank so that your fish can stay fit and active. Now that we know the benefits of having a filtered tank for your goldfish, let us learn how a filter works to maintain the water's quality. How does a water filter work? A water filter works in three stages to keep the tank clean. These are biological filtration, chemical filtration, and mechanical filtration. Let us discuss it in detail below: Mechanical Filtration Mechanical filtration is the first stage of filtration. In mechanical filtration, the untreated water goes through a cartridge or mesh filter that holds the eliminated particles on the surface or within the filter. In mechanical filtration, large particles like uneaten food, debris, and organic matter are eliminated from the tank. So, mechanical filtration is essential as it controls your goldfish tank's overall health and stability. Chemical Filtration Chemical Filtration is the second stage of filtration. A water filter ensures no chemicals are present in the tank water through chemical filtration. It protects your goldfish from any toxic chemicals in the tank's water. It also helps to eliminate any discoloration from the tank's water, like foul odors. It also helps to eliminate the medications after they have completed their task. We want you to know that you must remove the chemical filtration if you need to medicate your goldfish. Activated charcoal is the most common chemical filter as it eliminates all the toxins from the water without stripping it of necessary minerals and salts. Biological Filtration Biological filtration is the last stage of filtration. Biological filtration is a process in which the beneficial bacteria clean the water in the tank. In this stage, when the water goes through the biological filter, the beneficial bacteria feed upon any nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia eliminating them from the tank. It is essential to eliminate the ammonia and nitrates from the tank, leading to stress and internal organ damage in your goldfish. These were the three stages of water filtration. Therefore we recommend you always keep your goldfish in a well-filtered tank so that they can stay fit and active. What happens if you keep your goldfish without a water filter? Your goldfish requires a water filter as it helps to purify the tank water, which is necessary for your goldfish to stay fit and healthy. Without a water filter, the tank will get polluted in no time, as goldfish are messy fish that produces lots of waste. Contaminated water can further lead to a drop in the oxygen level, which can cause serious harm to your goldfish. We want you to know that your goldfish can pass away because of the inadequate oxygen level in the tank. In addition, contaminated water can also lead to a build-up of ammonia in the tank, which can cause stress and internal organ damage to your goldfish. Therefore, it will be challenging for your goldfish to survive without a filtered tank. So we recommend you not place your goldfish in an unfiltered tank as it can cause severe damage to your fish. Instead, your goldfish must always be placed in a well-filtered tank to grow properly and stay fit and healthy. Consider adding a Fluval High-Performance water filter to your goldfish tank, as it helps maintain the tank’s water quality by eliminating harmful chemicals. You can buy it from Amazon Fluval High-Performance Aquarium Filter. How long can your goldfish survive without a water filter? Your goldfish will not be able to survive for more than 3-4 days without a filter in their tank. Therefore, a water filter is necessary to purify the tank water and maintain a healthy environment. Without a water filter, the water in the tank will get contaminated fast because goldfish produce a lot of waste. Contaminated water can cause a drop in the oxygen level, resulting in the passing away of your fish. We recommend you always keep your goldfish in a filtered tank so they can stay healthy and active. What are the different types of water filters you can use in your goldfish tank? Several types of water filters are available in the market for your goldfish tank. The water filter you choose should be dependent on your tank size. Here are some water filters that are best for your goldfish tank. Canister Filters Canister filters are one of the best filters for a big-size tank. As we are talking about goldfish, you will need a big tank for your fish. So canister filter can be an ideal option for your goldfish tank. Canister filters are placed below the tank where the water flow helps circulate the contaminated water and turn it into good-quality water. Canister filters are easy to clean as it is placed below the tank. HOB Filters HOB filters are another excellent option for your goldfish tank. HOB filters are placed at the back of your tank so they do not occupy much space. HOB filters are cheaper than canister filters but have fewer benefits than canister filters. HOB filters are ordinary in small tanks but do well in big tanks. Internal Filters Internal filters are placed inside the tank. One of the internal filter cons is that they occupy a lot of space in your goldfish tank. These are some filters you can use in your goldfish tank. How to keep your goldfish without a filter? Here are some ways to keep your goldfish without a water filter: Frequent Water changes Goldfish are messy fish that produce a lot of waste, resulting in fouling water quality. So, you will have to change your goldfish tank's water frequently to maintain the quality of the water. We would recommend you change your goldfish tank water every three days. Place aquatic plants in the tank. You should place aquatic plants in your goldfish tank so that the tank is well-oxygenated. A lack of oxygen can cause serious harm to your goldfish. Java fern, Anubias (Anubias barteri), and java moss can be ideal options for your goldfish tank. Also read: Do Goldfish Eat Plants? Avoid Overfeeding You should avoid overfeeding your goldfish by feeding them as much as they can consume in under 4 minutes. We want you to know that overfeeding can lead to digestive issues in your goldfish and excess waste in the tank, requiring more frequent water changes. Also read: What Happens When You Overfeed Goldfish? Avoid Overcrowding You must avoid overcrowding the tank if you have a tank without a filter. As goldfish excretes a lot, it will contaminate the water quickly, requiring more frequent water changes. Clean your tank A dirty tank can lead to severe health issues in your goldfish. So, you must clean your tank regularly to maintain a healthy environment. You must regularly clean all the debris and leftover food in the tank. Therefore, maintaining a goldfish tank without a filter is not easy; a little ignorance can also affect the health of your goldfish. So, keeping your goldfish's health in mind, you must place a water filter in your goldfish tank so that your fish can grow properly and live a healthy life. Conclusion: Goldfish require a filter as it helps to purify the tank's water and create a healthy environment. A water filter helps to eliminate the ammonia and nitrates from the tank. Without a water filter, your goldfish tank's water will get contaminated quickly, which can cause severe damage to your fish. Goldfish will not survive for more than 3-4 days without a filter in their tank. We recommend you place your goldfish in a well-filtered tank so they can remain fit and healthy. Related Questions: Can goldfish live in a bowl without a water filter? Goldfish can live without a filter in a bowl, but they do not have a good quality of life. A water filter is required to purify the tank's water by eliminating all the toxins from the tank. So, we advise you not to place your goldfish without a filter as it can cause harm to your fish. In addition to this keeping, your goldfish in a well-filtered tank will be much better than in a bowl. Do goldfish need light in their tank? Goldfish require light in their tank but also prefer dark as they sleep when it is dark and quiet. So you must ensure to turn off the aquarium lights at night. The light in the goldfish tank should be moderate. References: ResearchGate