Angels and filters

NGerdes

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Jan 19, 2003
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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?
 
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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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