goldfish drama

Question
Hi Christy.. you have helped me with my Betta , now I am hoping you can answer a Q about a goldfish .. Can 1 goldfish live in a 10G tank with an airstone .. with frequent water changes.. As opposed to a bio-filter set up ... ? (looking for EASY ! :P )
Thanks, Melanie

Answer
Hey Melanie
I think the 10 gallon would be ok(what kind of goldfish? Some stay smaller and would be better for that size tank), but only with good filtration and frequent water changes, and no other fish in the tank.  I don't recall if you were in the US, but Walmart sells some ok filters fairly cheap-around 20. for the size you would need. Also check ebay, or this sites pretty good as well, but the shipping is a killer, and sometimes it's just not worth it with shipping factored in:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Shop.cfm?N=2004

Also check at your local pet stores.  The one I went to in FL had a bulletin board, I bought a used Magnum canister filter for 20., she even knocked off another 5.00 for no reason lol.  

If you do get one, get one that will put out at least 200 gallons per hour output, slightly more like 300 would be fine as well.  

I've never really thought about your question before at least dealing with goldfish, I suppose if you were changing out about 50-75% of the water every day, it may work.  But that's a lot to do everyday, and a filter would be easier.  
The main thing with filters is you want surface agitation-which the air stone would provide, and mechanical filtration to remove solid wastes-which your daily water changes would remove, and biological filtration-the beneficial bacteria to remove/convert the ammonia and nitrites.  If you're doing that large of a water change everyday, that would remove the ammonia from the tank, thus not allowing the cycle to start.  

But the downside to all that, doing that large of a water change, everyday, might be stressful on the fish.  Especially if your ph drops or rises a bit after several hours. Or, if you miss a day in there of water changes, or go away for a time, that ammonia is going to build up and stress or kill the fish, because it will start to cycle.  

My opinion, it'd be easier for you and better for the fish to just buy the filter :)

Hope that helps and good luck!!

Christy