36" x 18" Footprint Tanks - Which One?

Clurin

Clurin

Melf
Sep 14, 2005
157
0
0
44
Maynard, MA
Well, the 40gal Breeder tank I bought used (36x18x16) ended up leaking from the bottom when it was full of water. Instead of going through the hassle of trying to find the hole and attempt a self-repair, I am planning to sell it as a reptile tank and buy a new tank.

My question is this:

I would like to stock the tank with a A. Cacatuoides harem, and now that I have to get a new tank, a small group of Angelfish. I already have the stand for the tank, so the 36x18 base size is a requirement. I will probably also have a school of either tetras or hatchetfish. Which of these tanks is the least amount of height necessary for Angels:

40G Breeder: 36x18x16
50G: 36x18x18
65G: 36x18x24

I am guessing it's the 65, but would the 50 work? Is the 65 even large enough? It's been years since I had angels, and I know I didn't house them correctly when I was younger. I guess a sub-question is also whether or not the angels will work with the Cockatoos.

I was going to go with a double-tube strip light on the 40, should I go with a triple on anything taller, or would a double work for medium-low light plants? Once I figure out which tank to go with, I will probably pose this question in the plant forum, but any suggestions people have can certainly go here as well. :D
 
I would think even the 40 breeder would be high enough, but hey bigger is better right. I can attest that apistos work very well with angels. The apistos will not allow the angel to "hang out" on the bottom too much, but hey that's what you want really. Two strip lights will be sufficient to grow java fern, anubius, bolbitis, and crypts at a decent rate in the shorter tanks.
 
I would go for either the 50g or the 65g, myself. Angels would look much better and feel more comfortable in the 65g. Apistos would do very well in any of the tanks listed. 40g breeders are great grow out tanks for fry.
 
The angels in my avatar are in a 30 along with a pair of Kribs, a dwarf gourami, a butterflyfish, and a Synodontis. They've spawned several times so it can't be too bad. The hood has a single T-8 lamp and I grow java fern and floating water sprite. To answer your question the taller tanks allow more room to seperate the Apistos from the angels.
 
I decided to go with the 65g. The price difference wasn't big enough to skimp. ^.^

So now the question becomes, how many Angels can go in there if I plan on 1 male and 4 female apistos? What smaller (not small enough to be eaten) mid-to-upper level schooling fish would make a good "background" to the centerpiece cichlids?

I have sponges and floss sitting in the filters of my two other tanks to jumpstart the cycling, and I may add some bio-spira to push it along even quicker. The tank should be into the store on Tuesday, so I'm figuring shortly after Thanksgiving I will add fish.

Thoughts? Ideas? Should I make a new thread? =)
 
hatchet fish, or pencil fish (might become snacks when angels get older) They should start to become more available since it is the start of the rainy season in SA.

I don't have any experience keeping multiple angel pairs, so don't know how much space they need. I would just do one, since when the cacatuoides spawn they will have to defend agains the other female cacs and the angels. The fewer "fry predators" you have, the more chance you have of getting fry out and into grow on tanks.
 
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