long or standard?

[~Erik3.8.07~]

is a long tank better than a regular tank? (i.e. 30 gallon long instead of standard shape) Like does it give more swimming room for the fish making them happier? wonderin cause im getting ready to buy a new tank soon

[cocoa_pleco]

its better for active fish like danios. the only drawbacks are hoods are a bit difficult to find and you need 2 filters to get rid of dead spots

[dev]

Well, you migth want to have two filters in any tank to help coping with maintenance and breakdowns, but I can't see why a long tank would need it more than any other.

As long as your filter can keep up with the biochemical needs of the tank, and genereate the appropriate current suitable to your fish you don't need two.

I'm not aware of any standard tank sizes around Europe (they come in all shapes and sizes), but I can see the point with availabilty of hoods. I usually go with one from whoever manufacturered the tank, since nothing else is likely to fit :p

As for fish, different fish have different needs. Some depend more on room to swim (like most loaches) while some prefer a tall tank (like Scalare).

[~Erik3.8.07~]

i was thinking about getting angels. how active are they?

[cocoa_pleco]

angels are best for tall tanks or hex ones. they like moving vertical more. angels are basically the only fish who can thrive in really tall tanks

[Drumachine09]

angels are best for tall tanks or hex ones. they like moving vertical more. angels are basically the only fish who can thrive in really tall tanks



Its not that they "like moving vertical more", its that they grow taller than longer.

[dev]

i was thinking about getting angels. how active are they?

Funny how you asked that, since I had already answered your question ;)

P. Scalare is not very active, but it is a tall fish needing a fairly tall tank. I'd say no less than 50 cm tall. I would also reccomend 100 cm wide, with a volume of at least 250L for a group of adult angels. I'll convert those .. just give me a minute :p

edit> Thats 20 inches tall, 40 inches wide and 66 galleons.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

Funny how you asked that, since I had already answered your question ;)

P. Scalare is not very active, but it is a tall fish needing a fairly tall tank. I'd say no less than 50 cm tall. I would also reccomend 100 cm wide, with a volume of at least 250L for a group of adult angels. I'll convert those .. just give me a minute :p

edit> Thats 20 inches tall, 40 inches wide and 66 galleons.


sry i started typing my reply when you posted urs so i didnt see it but thx for the tips. But not sure what im gonna get anymore. i may end up with a 50 gallon tank iif i get the job i applied for. I was also looking blood parrots too. they looked pretty cool too have. i just hope i can get the tank for em. ive been researching and found that they grow to nearly a foot and need at a minimum, a 30 gallon tank. but i would never give a fish the minimum. I would have at least a 40 gallon if i got one. I hope i get the job. This hobby can get expensive and im broke:9:

[dev]

sry i started typing my reply when you posted urs so i didnt see it but thx for the tips.

Oh, I just thought it was funny how I happened to choose angels as an example when that was what you wanted anyway :)

You can keep angels in a smaller tank, just not as many or as big. I have a couple in a triangular 50 galleon, which they seem quite content with.

People here tend to get them small and replace them when they grow out of the tank.

Good luck with the shopping!

[Lady Hobbs]

Oh, I just thought it was funny how I happened to choose angels as an example when that was what you wanted anyway :)

You can keep angels in a smaller tank, just not as many or as big. I have a couple in a triangular 50 galleon, which they seem quite content with.

People here tend to get them small and replace them when they grow out of the tank.

Good luck with the shopping!

I don't know of anyone here that replaces their angels when they get larger. We just buy more tanks and pair them up. They are too aggressive for many to be kept together.

[dev]

I don't know of anyone here that replaces their angels when they get larger. We just buy more tanks and pair them up.

I guess most people here just get larger tanks aswell, though some of the shops here are quite flexible when it comes to returning fish that outgrows their environment.

They are too aggressive for many to be kept together.

Not at all. They can easily be kept in groups, provided the tank is large enough. They will then make a social system on who is allowed to bully who.

edit> Breeding couples of course need enough space so they can find somewhere away from the group to raise their young.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

I guess most people here just get larger tanks aswell, though some of the shops here are quite flexible when it comes to returning fish that outgrows their environment.

Most people here plan on how big there fish will get and make sure they have a tank that will be big enough for when there fully grown. We (at least me anyway) can get attached to their fish and dont like to have to take them back to the store

[dev]

Most people here plan on how big there fish will get and make sure they have a tank that will be big enough for when there fully grown. We (at least me anyway) can get attached to their fish and dont like to have to take them back to the store

Most people? While i'm very glad that you do, I strongly doubt that. I've seen enough on this forum tonight alone that indicates the same lack of knowledge as in Europe :/

Some people will even insist on getting a clown loach or some angelfish for their 10 or 20 galleon tank despite knowing better. I've seen people go to a different shop and lying about their tank size because the first shop wouldnt sell to them.

All in all, I like to mention that most serious shops will let you return fish, which for me sounds better than letting them suffer in an unsuitable environment. Works for both the ignorant and the arrogant :)

[gm72]

dev, with 15 posts you hardly have room to speak as to what us "regulars" plan as far as introducing fish that will eventually outgrow a given tank. Erik's comments were directly related to such. I may be over-generalizing your comment, and if that is the case then I apologize sincerely. Some new individuals here seem to think they have a vast knowledge base, so perhaps that is where you are basing your comments. Let's all be more accurate in the future, please.

This forum offers an enormous amount of knowledge if you understand enough to filter through the muck.

[Bill M.]

heh.. this place is so like highschool.. the freshman come in thinking they know more than anyone, and the seniors are like, "You, freshman, stop being stupid." I would cal myself either a Sophomore or a Junior on this forum, even though I am a senior in highschool.. hah... GM.. ure just a senior altogether! hehe.. just kidding!

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, it is like the highschool jungle.

[dev]

dev, with 15 posts you hardly have room to speak as to what us "regulars" plan as far as introducing fish that will eventually outgrow a given tank. Erik's comments were directly related to such. I may be over-generalizing your comment, and if that is the case then I apologize sincerely. Some new individuals here seem to think they have a vast knowledge base, so perhaps that is where you are basing your comments. Let's all be more accurate in the future, please.

This forum offers an enormous amount of knowledge if you understand enough to filter through the muck.

I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I was speaking of the population in general, and was not attacking the experienced and knowledgable regulars on the forum.

When I said that I have seen enough on this forum alone to doubt that most people consider the adult size of the fish, or know what they demand of a tank, I was refering to the number of times I've seen regulars correct new members to the hobby, and what people say they were told by the shop etc.

I have great resepect for the effort done here and in other online communities, to spread knowledge and share experiences, in order to make this hobby fun for everyone. Even the fish.

[SkarloeysMom]

Perhaps your respect for the forum was a little lost in the translation. When I read your posts they did seem to come across with a bit of an arrogant tone. Its obvious from your signature link that you have a lot of experience and could contribute much to the conversations on this forum. Sorry that this thread got you off to kind of a bad start.

[Lady Hobbs]

Those with experience know what size their fish will get and plan accordingly. Those that have purchased fish that will grow too large for their environment are the folks still new to the hobby and have made a few mistakes, which we all have done at some time or another in this hobby. In that case, we advise them to return their fish. I know of no one who intentionally buy fish to have them grow too large so they could return them. They are our pets that we have raised and cared for and have grown strong attachments to them.

I wish my angelfish knew they were all supposed to live in harmony. It only happens when they are small fish before they have reached maturity and pick their mate.

Please post only what you are knowledgable about or it causes confusion to those just getting into the hobby. I continulously tell folks here of all the problems trying to have a tank of angels has caused me because I was given the same wrong information. Angels are cichlids and behave like cichlids. They are territorial and down right ugly when they spawn to others who come in their area.

They may tolerate each other again after they spawn but in 3 weeks the whole thing will start again.

Don't be upset because you were corrected. We all get corrected now and then.

[dev]

Don't be upset because you were corrected. We all get corrected now and then.

Being the new guy on the forum, I don't want to make this into a long argument, so I will let myself, Fishbase.com and the rather large school of P. scalare at Bergen Aquarium stand corrected :-)

[~Erik3.8.07~]

ok works for me so lets put all this behind us and hope for a good future of sharing info and swapping stories:19:

sry we got off to a little bit of a rocky start:22:

[gm72]

Great replies to both Erik and dev and end to the situation. Good work, folks.

[Rue]

I hate being the 'new guy' on the forum...:c4:

[jdogg730]

This forum is so funny, so much drama and all we beginners ask for is a little help. If you have experience then lend us a hand, some of the tones are out of line, we all need to just help each other and get past who is new and who has experience.

[cocoa_pleco]

one of the reasons beginners can get annoying is they just ask one question then bam, theyre gone. however, we all have to start somewhere

[jdogg730]

Very true pleco, but you have def been one of the helpful ones. I understand what you are saying, its almost like use the forum and move on.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

i stuck around . . . but then again i had a whole lotta questions lol:9: