Stocking Advise For 2 Tanks

[zzooter1]

Hi everyone. Right now I have a 30g with pair of angels and africian knife fish. I had noticed algae, so i transferred a regular pleco in the tank to help out with the algae.

Turned out my knife fish bullied the poor thing, so I transferred him(pleco)back to his 20 gallon that has 2 diamond tetra, a juvie angel and glass catfish ( I had 2 and lost one today for unknown reasons, and I am torn up about that.)

My water has tested fine on both tanks for a couple of months (and never thought I would make it cause there always seemed to be something wrong)

My question is, would you add tank mates to the angel/knife fish tank? I know they would have to be on the bigger size b/c of knife fish. Are there any other fish options for me for that tank?

And is there enough room in the 20g for another type of fish? Both tanks have plants and plenty of hiding places for everyone.

Any advise or ideas would be appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[Wills]

Hi sorry to say it but your tanks not ideal for the fish you are keeping at all.

The African Knife, though considered a smaller knife fish still grow to 10 inches to a foot long..... So ideally need at least a four foot tank of reasonable depth and due to the angels a good height.

In your signature it says he is up at 4 inches already so no wonder he is attacking other fish given their need for space not just on size but also due to their weak electric field...

In the 20g why do you have a common pleco in there? Any plans for future upgrades? Huge fish needs a huge tank.

Ideally you need more fish for your schooling fish as well.....

Just being honest I would stop with the small tanks and just go get a big tank you obviously like big fish so go get your big tank Believe me its the best option to do

Wills

 

[zzooter1]

Hi sorry to say it but your tanks not ideal for the fish you are keeping at all.

The African Knife, though considered a smaller knife fish still grow to 10 inches to a foot long..... So ideally need at least a four foot tank of reasonable depth and due to the angels a good height.

In your signature it says he is up at 4 inches already so no wonder he is attacking other fish given their need for space not just on size but also due to their weak electric field...

In the 20g why do you have a common pleco in there? Any plans for future upgrades? Huge fish needs a huge tank.

Ideally you need more fish for your schooling fish as well.....

Just being honest I would stop with the small tanks and just go get a big tank you obviously like big fish so go get your big tank Believe me its the best option to do

Wills

Thanks for your reply Wills! To answer your questions, I am actively getting ready for an upgrade at least 55g. Due to economics, I'm searching for a great condition used tank (not gonna happen overnight..lol)

I also have someone to come in and help rearrange the room I plan to keep the bigger tank in, so all of that is in the works
But the knife fish leaves the angels alone, and would not be able to eat this pleco (I dunno almost 3 inches) so even when I get a bigger tank (and I know plecos get big) I already know I might not be able to keep them together. And in my OP he was there to help me with algae control. I'll just have to try the algae remover chem I got at the store.


So your advice is not to add to the angel/knife fish tank? Which is fine, I like peaceful tank mates rather than too many fish that wouldn't get along.

But for my 20 gallon, what do you think about adding 2 more glass catfish and 2 more diamond tetras? I know the pleco will be an issue if he outgrows before I can upgrade.

And yea, somehow I found I like big fish

 

[Wills]

A 55 is still too small for a common pleco - you need to be looking at smaller species like Bristlenoses and Bulldogs. I understand the economics of it all, big tanks are expensive. But if you have large growing fish you need to find the tank quickly or rehome

Its not that I wouldnt add more fish to your 30 its more a case of I would get your knife out but there are other fish that would do well in there. The Diamond Tetras and Glass Fish would do well in there as they are quite large for schooling fish and will appreciate the space - then I would up their numbers to at least 6 of eaach.

Wills

 

[zzooter1]

A 55 is still too small for a common pleco - you need to be looking at smaller species like Bristlenoses and Bulldogs. I understand the economics of it all, big tanks are expensive. But if you have large growing fish you need to find the tank quickly or rehome

Its not that I wouldnt add more fish to your 30 its more a case of I would get your knife out but there are other fish that would do well in there. The Diamond Tetras and Glass Fish would do well in there as they are quite large for schooling fish and will appreciate the space - then I would up their numbers to at least 6 of eaach.

Wills

Gotcha. Thanks for the names of the other types! Looks like mine and his best choice is a new home with a tank bigger than 55g.
Thanks again