Angels and filters

[NGerdes]

I posted a thread a while ago, but have some more specific questions now. I have inhereted a free 45 gal tank and have been contemplating how I want to set it up. I currently have three Dwarf Gourami's that I think I will move from my 10 into the 45. I want to add some Angels and Neons or Cardinals. Someone said on this board not to put the tetras with the Angels. So here are my questions (sorry so many)....

I was wondering why not put the tetras with the Angels?

And if I can't, would I be able to but a smaller breed of Rasboras with them?

And would the the Angels be good with the Dwarf Gouramis?

I wanted to have live plants in the aquarium, is there any filters that are better for planted aquariums, and what kind of plants are a good beginner plant?

[OrionGirl]

Neons are angels food source in the wild. Once an angel hits adult size, neons tend to mysteriously disapper. ANy small fish is at risk, so I would go with a larger fish instead. Check out cardinal tetras--similar appearance to neons, hardiness depends on acclimation and source, but they get a bit bigger and will be safer with angels.

Not sure about the gouramies and angels. I have dwarf gouramies and they tend to be bullies. I'd worry they might harrass the angels. However, you might try it, and be prepared to seperate them if needed.

What lights do you have on there? How deep (top to bottom) is the tank? Some low light plants to try: anubias barteri, crypts, and floating anachris or hornwort.

You can start fishless cycling the tank now, and have a few weeks to think about it. Kick start the cycle with some gravel from the ten, and it will go faster.

[morleyz]

I second everything of OG's, but I would strongly suggest you not mix in the gouramis with the angels. As OG said they tend to be bullies and will definitely bug a slow swimming, long finned angel. In the long run your angels will be better off with an equally docile fish of similar size.

On a different note...what part of IL are you from NG?

[NGerdes]

Honestly, I don't know about the lighting yet. I haven't even got the tank yet, just planning ahead. I'm getting it from my fiance's dad and will be picking it up this weekend and haven't gotten a real good look at it yet, it might even be smaller than a 45. I'm just going I don't have exact measurements, but it looks about 24"W 36+"L and 24"H. Not sure though, actually I think it may be bigger than that. It has the basic hood that came with the tank and I will replace the light inside with whatever light I will need. I will just leave the Gourami's in the tank for now. Does anyone have any other suggestions on tankmates for angels, or should I just scrap the angels and think of something new? I will probably get some kind of loach or cory for bottom activity and maybe some sort of pleco. I conteplated some sort of a cichlid tank, but I don't think I know enough about them yet to get into that yet. I don't know what combinations will work and things like that. I am already planning a fishless cycle. I just know that when I started my 10 about a year ago, I didn't plan near enough, so I'm trying not to make the same mistake again.


I'm from a small town in northwestern Illinois called Walnut. About 50 miles directly east of the Quad Cities.

[morleyz]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0337&view_records=1

Take a look at the profile for angels...at the bottom they have some links for "suitable tankmates"...you might browse through there and see if anything strikes your fancy. You'll be happy to know that you can have angels and cichlids, as angels are cichlids ;)

[NGerdes]

Thanks for the link, I never knew that was down there. Any cool ideas for fish combinations. Maybe something to go with my Gouami's? Anything will do though.

[Cichlid Woman]

I've never been able to keep dwarf gouramis in a community tank without some serious nipping going on. Haven't tried the larger species of gouramis, though--I don't know if they'd be as nippy or not. I'm keeping angels with black neon tetras with no problems, so far--the angels are only about the size of a quarter right now. My experience with "regular" neon tetras is they always get eaten, by whatever else is in the tank at the time. My lfs calls them "floating light-snacks," and I tend to agree.

Kribensis is a dwarf cichlid that does okay with angels. The angels don't bother my cory cats either. There are lots of dwarf-cichlid choices that would work. And if you get the angels small, chances are they won't consider the tankmates they grow up with as food later on.

-- Pat

[FASTRAKR]

Have I got something wrong with my dwarf powder blue gourami? It is the most docile fish in the tank. The regular 3 spot gouramis and pearl gouramis are the ones flying around the tank chasing each other.

[Flohrie]

I have Neons with Angels, I'll message when they start dissapearing ;)

[scott wilson]

I have 3 angels in a 55 gal tank with many fast moving fish (clown loaches). My angels are a bit more active than most angels I have seen. They are quite healthy and large, and I also have a pearl gourami in the tank with them. The only fish that occassionaly bother the angels are the clown loaches (they mistake their long-flowing fins for food at feeding time because they are such vivacious eaters). The angels don't seem to mind, however, because they attack the frozen bloodworm cube with same amount of excitement and energy that the clown loaches do. The smallest fish I have with my angels are Indian Glass Fish. The angels never bother any of the fish (except for occassional picking on each other). My tank is heavily planted with all plastic/silk plants.

[FishmasteR2002]

I disagree with the comment that stated that Dwarf Gouramis are not good community tank mates. I had a pair(m/f) in my 29G which at the time also had two small angels. They got along just fine. To tell you the truth I found the Dwarfs to be very timid and they usually kept to themselves. You can keep pretty much anything with angels except for most tetras(size and tetras like to nip) and barbs. You can try danios(zebra not leopards). Try rams because they do not get very big and are rather peacful. Rasboras are also great(any species). Also as far as filtration for plants HOT and HOB filters are fine as long as you keep the waterline up so that there isn't that much surface disruption. Reason being is that surface disruption causes gas exchanges and loss of CO2 for your plants. You might want to get a cheap CO2 injection kit(ex. CO2 Fizz Factory) so your plants will grow better. Also get Laterite for the substrate and plant supplements(trace elements work well too). You will also need a full spectrum bulb($20 to $30) and if you are lazy(like me) get a timer for the lights. Good Luck and let us know what you decide to go with. :)

[NGerdes]

I'm still not sure what fish to go with. I guess the problem is that I'm not really sure if I want to move my Dwarf's from my 10 into the new tank and find some more fish to go with them and start new with the 10or leave them an start completely new with the new tank. Any opinions? I do know that I want a planted tank, the only problem is, I live in the middle of no were and don't the closest LFS, while have good fish selection, has next to nothing for plants. Are they hard to have deliver and are there any problems with this? And what place is good to order from? Couple more questions (if you can't tell, I'm not very good at deciding on things) I'm not sure what kind of substrate to use. I kind of want sand, but I'm afraid that it will be to hard for me to maintain. Any suggestions....... If you can't tell, I'm open to anything at all......


Thanks for the help.

[Botch]

Do consider a southeast Asian biotope. For such a setup you can move your dwarf gouramis to the 45.
Add a school of 12-15 harlequin rasboras end some pearl, zebra or leopard danios. If you go planted, a group of six or seven cherry barbs is a good idea as they eat algae.
For the bottom, I suggest pygmy chain loaches (or a group of any of the other popular, small loaches).

Plants: Crypts do well in low ligting and the hygrophilia species are quite easy to take care of. Crypts and hygro will do well in normal gravel or even coarse sand.

Filter: A small cannister is the best, but an AquaClear 500 of even 300 is a good second choice and much more affordable.

[tyler]

botch, nice sig line. douglas was a good man.


ngerdes, aquabotanic.com has a fair selection, and i've never seen negative feedback. also, check out their forums for a very knowlagable bunch of plant geeks. :D

[Aynjul]

You can keep pretty much anything with angels except for most tetras(size and tetras like to nip) and barbs. ... Rasboras are also great(any species).

I'm also trying to figure out other fish to go with what I'm hoping to put in my 55 gallon tank. I was wanting to have an angel or 3, a redtail shark, a dwarf gourami and some tetras.

Very quickly I was told to nix the tetras because they're small enough that the angel(s) (when fully grown) would eat them. From what I've seen rasboras are the same size as tetras. So how could rasboras be ok and tetras not? :confused:

Also could anyone please recommend some fish that like to hang around near the top of the tank that can go with those in my list? It seems I've got mostly fish that would hang out in the middle and bottom.

Thanks!

[sumthin fishy]

Y'know, some people would tell you to open your own new thread since this ones 3 years old, but with the current trend at AC you hardly see long informative posts like those here. And this shows you are actually searching your topics, good job :thm:

I think your stocking list is OK. Id personally go with 2 angels. For the top, hatchets (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=883) are a good choice. they stay on the top 2 or 3 inches most of the time. Just make sure your lid fits tight lol. Some of the taller bodied tetras would do better than the neons, such as black skirts (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1563) or serpaes (http://aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0223&view_records=1) . Now Im no expert on keeping gourami with angels, but aestetically, I prefer one type of centerpiece fish. So I would nix the gourami. I personally dont like the red-tailed sharks, and would go with a small school of larger cories, but thats just my oppinion.

[Aynjul]

I actually did start my own thread. The thread kinda died after I was informed that tetras and guppies would be dinner and the rainbowfish I was contemplating got bigger than I thought. So I started diggng around to see what I could find.

I understand about the one centerpiece fish thing. I was just having a very hard time finding fish I like the looks of that would go with the angels. So I guess was just falling back on the gourami because I like them and have kept them before (years and years ago though).

I really think the sharks are neat and would love to have one. I would be willing to mark it off my list in order to make room for other fish that would get along better with the rest of the group.

Thanks for you help though. I really appreciate it. I'll look into the hatchets and cories. If you think of any other fish that might do well please let me know.

[born2lovefish]

If you put small tetras with angels, the tetras will turn into the most $ feeders you will ever buy...

[Aynjul]

This is a brand new tank so if I were going to add tetras and angels it would be at the same time (once the tank is good and cycled) and they would both be pretty small. I have recently come across some people saying if they grow up together they'll be fine. I think I've given up on the angels and tetras anyways though. I noticed that several of the fish I like are from the SE Asia area so I'm going to try just sticking to fish in that particular region. Hopefully this way it won't be such a headache to figure out what to put together. Thanks!