I will drain it and probably remove some of the plants, (the goldfish weed, etc) and add a few ‘tropical’ species, since I was more limited with the cold water. I don’t really want to change the gravel though – do you think it would be okay to just give it a really good siphoning while I drain it?
Although I take immaculate care of the tank, water testing, adding the chemicals…. I just can’t keep those goldfish alive. I had one for over a year, it was always healthy – I never fed it a lot of food either, so I know it couldn’t have been swim bladder. One day he was just sick out of the blue. I’ve got a few minnows in the tank, and they are perfectly fine, I know if it was something to do with the water or filtration those would also be sick because after reading about them I found out they are pretty sensitive little fish.
Anyway, my Mom had the same problems with her goldfish, so I am just giving up on them now – I have a small tropical tank, (one of those Fluval Edges) it is much less maintenance and I’ve had all the inhabitants for over a year with no problems yet. I have always loved Angels though, I saw a pair once which were mainly white, with some black stripes and orange spots near their head – they were absolutely stunning!