Croy's & Angel's & ??

[LadyHatred]

I didn't want to start one of these threads but, I'm fairly lost and would be ever so greatfull for some suggestions.

Im on well water, pH 300 days of the year sits around 7 +/-.

Gear:
48L x 24H x 12W = 60 gallons, Black painted back glass.
2 covers: cut-out strips on back, glass in middle, openable lids up front.
Magnum 330 Canister filter w\ 1" hose. Media: Foam and Bio bits.
AC 50 HOB. Media: *planned* sponge on intake, carbon in chamber, black silicone coated intake to reduce noticability (need extention tubes).
AC Powerhead with prefilter.
Coralife lights; 10,000K F28 T5 BP.
Hagen 250watt heater: *need submersable one!*
"Big Al's" Stingray Stand: mahogany in color, open-back centre cubboards.
Double-thick black fleece wrap, attached with velcro, to keep sun out during summer and heat in during winter nights.

60-70lb of local river gravel, natrual color.
30-50lb lace-rock, mostly grey granite, one tan.

*planned*
driftwood- branchy, tall, covered with java moss.
fake plants to start-get past the tank rescape-every-week, then get real versions once settled. Java fern, amazon sword? Looking for tall background plants and medium filler plants in and around rock/wood.

Water change sched: 50% w\ gravel vac once a week + mid-week Diatom filter session. Topoff as needed. May need more than once a week pwc during hot summer months as other tanks experience faster deteriorating water in heat.

None of this is setup yet. I'm thinking cory's for the bottom, angles for mid-level and.....? Maybe a school of bright -somethings-? I'd love a "fancy" pleco but they are poop machines.

Anything wrong with this? Any way to make it better (keep in mind, Im new at this! :P )

Cheers!
Aurora

[Northernguy]

:hmm3grin2orange: Croys ! lol
Were you thinking a pair of angels?
Not sure is dwarf rainbows would nip at the angels but they would be nice!Some kind of tetra like Congo tetras.
A dozen croys would be cool too.
Plecos do poop a lot but they good for a tank.BNs are cool if you get one thats toooooo shy! lol

[LadyHatred]

Ahh! Didn't notice I spelled it wrong. LOL :shrug: Oh look, I even got my da star!

[robflanker]

I am planning an angel, 12 harlequin rasboras, and 8 panda corys in a 30g. The numbers obv can be adjusted for your tank.

Probably 2 Angels, 2 schools of diff fish (about 6-8 each), and some corys

[wolf_eyes]

I would say even go for just one big school of something. Big school always seem more impressive to me. Harlequin rasboras are usually mid tank dwellers so I would recommend something like rainbowfish as someone suggested or maybe some hatchetfish, if you're looking for a top dweller. Just make sure you have a hood of some sort because hatchets are known jumpers. If you're just looking for a schooler and not one that stays more to the top some suggestions are: black skirt tetra, bleeding heart tetras, Sarpae tetras, congo tetras(mostly any deeper bodied tetras that grow over 2 inches should be ok)

[mac]

Not sure is dwarf rainbows would nip at the angels but they would be nice!

Dwarf Rainbows, IME are great with Angels. No trouble at all.


As for other fish to stock the tank with I would suggest any larger Tetras. As for the Rasboras, get the much larger types. Because IME the angels can get nippy at the smaller ones. Harlequins are ones that my Angel ate all the time. Also other types of small South American Cichlids.

I have found Fire Mouths work great with Angels.

Things that are long and fat, or just to big for them to eat is best, with the Rasboras.

As for Corys, I would get at least 10 of them. They are great fish. Make sure the gravel they are in is a fine grade. Because they can get their barbles damages. A better choice is using sand.

Good luck,
mac

[Taurus]

Just make sure you have a hood of some sort because hatchets are known jumpers. If you're just looking for a schooler and not one that stays more to the top some suggestions are: Sarpae tetras or any deeper bodied tetras that grow over 2 inches should be ok)

I would be hesitant on Serpae Tetras with Angels as they are fin nippers. Has anyone successfully kept Angels and Serpaes together? :help:

[LadyHatred]

Thanks guys! I think I'm going to steer clear of angel's. I read lots of conflicting info on them. Anything from "the more the merrier" to "just one or they fight too much".

I do really like the look of congo tetras and have been reading up on them. Seems to me as though they are within my ability to keep healthy and happy. A mob of those would look nice. I'll have to get some surface plants though as the lights are really bright.

And cory's (croy's!!) Hoping I can get Juli ones, they look neato. But when it comes down to it, any except albino ones will do. I am hoping the gravel I have is not too big...its a mix of sand and tiny rounded pebbles. I'll try to get a pic of it up.

Still on the fence about a pleco. Gold nuggets look decent but I've yet to find enough info, namely: how big do they get? In my search on them, I found out they are meat eaters?! o.O That has to be wrong but it was stated as that on two sites.

Oh and I -finally- shelled out the $$$ for a 50' python. Im too damn short to be doing buckets on this thing. I can JUST reach the bottom, standing on my toes ONTOP of a bucket. (blush)

[mac]

Here is link with some info on the Gold Nugget Pleco.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]


As for the Angels. IMO single works okay. Get them as juveniles and grow them up with their tank mates. And IME they are fine.

Mine is okay, as long as the fish he is with won't fit in his mouth. I know they seem to like there space. And a nice calm planted tank, with open spaces.

Good luck,

mac

[Taurus]

Oh and I -finally- shelled out the $$$ for a 50' python. Im too damn short to be doing buckets on this thing. I can JUST reach the bottom, standing on my toes ONTOP of a bucket. (blush)

Ohhhh...just had a visual of you falling in. :hmm3grin2orange:

I've seen a tank of Angels, all about the same age, swimming together without conflict. But, as they age to maturity, I can see a fight for dominance as with other cichlids. Guess it depends and the personality of the Angel. I have a mid-sized single Angel and he is the clown of the tank.

[mac]

I've seen a tank of Angels, all about the same age, swimming together without conflict. But, as they age to maturity, I can see a fight for dominance as with other cichlids. Guess it depends and the personality of the Angel. I have a mid-sized single Angel and he is the clown of the tank.

Very true. Like most Cichlids they are great when young. But turn into real characters the older the get.

mac