Angelfish Tank Ideas?

[nikkifro8994]

My boyfriend (almost fiancee...he has to buy a ring, then it's official) really wants an angelfish tank. I think the only way for me to convince him to let me have a giant tank is to have at least one angel in it. My only problem is that I know absolutely nothing about angelfish. I've only kept 5 and 10 gallon community tanks. We wouldn't be getting this tank until we're married and settled into our own place. So about a year and a few months from now. I'm just doing preliminary research to decide tank size, tank mates, etc.

We were thinking of getting a 55 gallon with 2 or 3 angels and some other fish. I might be able to convince him to let us have a 75 gallon. I think 100 gallon is out of the question. I love oscars, but I'm pretty sure they are a species only type of fish. Discus and Jack Dempseys are also in my list of favorites. I like the big fish that don't like anyone else. Is it possible to keep angels with larger cichlids? Or would I be safer with 2 or 3 schools of larger tetras like white skirts? I've read that they eat neons. Maybe a species only tank with 6 angels? As for bottom dwellers, should I get one BN Plecoptera or a school of Cory cats? The tank will have sand substrate, a few good pieces of driftwood, and lots of plants, preferably live, but silk will do too.

Any and all suggestions are welcome as I've never kept larger tanks.

 

[attibones]

I'm looking into building an angel tank too within a year or two. Mum going to be building my own, though, and I plan to make it 100-125 gallons. I'm not so sure about the issue with larger cichlids, but my stocking is going to be six or so angels, huge school of hatchet fish, huge school of corydoras (probably albino because they are soooo cute or panda/skunk/bandit, basically any of the black and white ones), a couple of plecos, probably pit bull, and two pairs of apistogramma, but I don't know which species. I'll also have some shrimp colonies.

You should avoid narrow-bodied small fish like neons, and go for the deeper bodied schooling fish, if that is the way you want to go. Almost any community cats will work well, most small cichlids, and I've heard reports of gourami getting on with angels, but you would have to be careful if any of them are breeding. Lots of plants will be necessary too.

 

[nikkifro8994]

As much as I would love to have a 100+ gallon tank! I seriously doubt if he'd agree. I think I'll go with a group of corydoras and a school or two of larger tetras. Probably 8 or so in a school? How many angels should I add? Any other fish that can live peaceably with angels? I like barbs, but I know they tend to nip and I don't want them to terrorize the angels.

My uncle used to breed angelfish. He had built a fish house in the back hard for all of his tanks. I don't plan on intentionally breeding any fish. I've had my share of raising platy fry from a fish that was supposed to be a male. If the fish decide to breed and the fry survive, so be it. I may trade the fry in for store credit at the LFS when they're at a decent size.

 

[attibones]

If you like barbs, try cherry barbs. They have tons of personality but are far less nippy than other barbs. They also look great in a large group. In my experience, females tend to stay together and males tend to do their own thing, but when these guys are in breeding condition they are so much fun to watch. I had eight in a 55 gallon, but if you really want some cool displays, I would at least double that.

If you have a 55 gallon, I would think a proven pair would be the best you could do long term. Of course, the bigger you go the more you can get. I'm not sure how many would be appropriate for tanks in the 55-80 gallon range. If you didn't want to pay the extra cost for a proven pair, start out with a bunch of juvies and see who pairs up, but make sure you have other homes lined up for the others!

In regards to breeding, if it happens, I hear these guys can be pretty nasty. I think most people remove the angels and put them in another tank to breed and raise the fry in the additional tank to keep the adults from attacking other fish while breeding, but I'm not positive.

 

[nikkifro8994]

If they breed, can I just remove the eggs?

 

[attibones]

Yeah, you can, but they may still try to protect the brood. It would be worth a shot though. I don't know much about keeping aggression down between breeding angels and other fish. 

 

[nikkifro8994]

Maybe just one angel then. Like as the centerpiece fish.

 

[nikkifro8994]

So I'll have an empty 29 gallon tank. Can I keep a single angel in a 29? Maybe with a group of panda corys and a school of tetras? I was thinking runny nose or black skirts.

 

[fluttermoth]

What are the dimensions of the tank?
 
Size is more important than just volume when you're thinking of larger, or odd shaped fish, like angels.

 

[AeonMapa]

In a 29 gallon tank you can keep a pair of angels. I'd suggest getting six and keeping the ones that pair up. I would go for a 55-75 gallon though and try and keep all 6!

 

[star4]

I have managed to keep some larger cichlids with angels. IF you can get hole of them, a green flier (Archocentrus centrachus) a single one not a pair works quite well with angels, Aquidenes Metae (yellow acara) are the most placid of the acara I have kept and currently have two in with angels. 

 

[nikkifro8994]

It's a standard 29 gallon: 30 inches long, 12 wide, 18 high.

If rather do the 29 gallon than a 55, even if I can only have a single angelfish. I already have the tank and equipment. I've decided to break down my saltwater system and convert it to freshwater. Saltwater is too demanding right now. Maybe in a few years I'll try again with a large setup and a sump plumbed in. So I'll have an empty tank, a filter, a heater, lid, lights, and sand if I can keep it.

Side note: how do I convert a system from salt to fresh? Can I leave the sand in and just rinse it very very well with tap water? Or should I remove all of the sand, rinse it, and add it back? Do I need to replace the sand entirely?

 

[AeonMapa]

what kind of sand is it? If its coral based sand you cant use it as it will affect the PH. Otherwise a good rinse will be all you need for the tank and other equipment. A 29 gallon planted tank will be a great set-up for a pair of angels. Like I said earlier you can start with 6 little ones, it'll be a lot of fun watching them grow and establish pairs over the first few months. Once you see a definite pair form you can remove the rest and give the pair room to grow to their full potential.
This set up will give you some room for a few tank mates, you could go for a bristlenose pleco, corys, maybe even a dwarf cichlid or two (apistogrammas or rams) and a small school of a larger tetra species (emperors are one of my favorites and get too big for angels to eat).
 
What are the dimensions of the 29 gallon? For angels you will want a tank at least 20" high to give them adequate swimming room.

 

[nikkifro8994]

Is 18 inches high enough? The tank is 30 long, 12 wide, and 18 tall.

I have live sand. Silica stuff I think. I know it's not crushed corals.

So a pair of angels, a school of large tetras (8 or so?) and a group of panda corys (6-8)?

 

[attibones]

Eighteen inches is considered the absolute minimum. I would only keep a young angel or two in the tank if you planned on moving them on to a larger tank at a year or so of age (but only do this if you already have the larger tank set up!) but this isn't the roomiest of tanks for an angel fish. This is definitely not a suitable tank for more than one adult. But you should be able to keep some tetras (not "large" but fish that can't fit in an angel's mouth) and the pandas would be okay too. Angel fish prefer warmer waters than pandas can handle, I believe, but you'd have to double-check that. I think I was looking for this kind of information a few months back and was a bit disappointed.
 
Also, you can't use live sand in freshwater set-ups.