New Set up Questions

Hey all!

It has been YEARS since I last kept fish. I used to have a 10-gallon tank with a Crowntail beta, 3 Panda Cories, 2 other cories (can't remember), 1 otto, and 1 albino Bristlenose pleco as well as a few bamboo shrimp. I moved across campus my pH jumped upwards of a 9 my Hardness was too hard to measure (25+ if I remember correctly) and it wiped my tank in about 72 hours. I was made, but I knew I couldn't drop the money to restart again.

That was my last time and I did pretty well with that tank for probably 3-4 years solid!

That was my last active/successful tank. I have since turned to other animals (ferrets and dogs apparently), but I am looking to return to the fish-keeping community. I am considering a 20+ Gallon tank (20 is likely the smallest) with a full setup; air stones, live plants (fish are TBD at the moment, but angels are definitely on the list). I now have a 9-month-old who loves fish, every time we go somewhere with a tank she will stare at them for hours given a chance. My 12-year-old son is very interested in the hobby as well. I currently live out in the sticks with well water (internal scream) I have it run through a softener currently, but I am wondering what conditioner I am likely to need as my water is not hooked up to a public water supply (city water) so no Chlorine/Chloromate in it. However, there is the potential for heavy metals I wouldn't mind testing for (though a home kit is preferred). So my old and new friends I ask for your suggestions on this, obviously if heavy metals or anything weird is too much of an issue I will be forced to go distilled (I use it in my CPAP, but 10+ gallons every 2 weeks to a month for a water change is not something I want to do right now!)

I need your thoughts, your wisdom, and your suggestions;

Fish suggestions are always welcome, due to the size I think I will be staying away from Betas (though I did love my beta fish) Colorful and non-aggressive is a bonus. Pictures are always appreciated. I look forward to what you guys have to say.

As a side note: I have not even set up or bought the tank as of yet! I am hoping to do so in the nearish future, but I need to know about the basics like water conditioners on well water!! I will be doing this right, I will be going through and feeding the cycle to establish it, so fish are a future thing not a high priority at the moment, the bit one right now, is actually the conditioner.

Thanks all!!!

 

I have a well and everything I've read and been told is all good things. You're already using a softner but idk what affect that would have. Well ph is usually really good. And for snails etc the calcium in the water is beneficial. I still use Prime just in case. But overall I think fish like well water.

 

Welcome back! A 20 gal is unfortunately to small for an angel but if your willing to upgrade to a minimum of 30 gallons you could make it work. I’m assuming you want a peaceful tank right? Or a semi aggressive?

 

20 was where I was starting. I was thinking of a more peaceful tank, I know angels can be semi-aggressive sometimes especially to each other. Is a 30 big enough to keep a couple or would they be going solo? I am considering some cory cats and various algae eaters as well. The size is not set in stone as of yet and 30+ would make my day. I have looked at tanks up to about 36 gallons, but still considering something larger as well. I don't want to massive yet, because I know how that conversation will go it will be about who there are so few fish to start LOL. Not something I want to have right now, but I digress!

 

A 55 gallon would be more ideal for multiple angel fish. Please try to keep schooling and shoaling fish like cories in schools of 6 or more per species.

There are red bristlnose pleco if you are looking for color. Rainbow fish have amazing color as well. And more and more species are becoming available.

 

The size is still up for debate, the cories were originally in schools of 6 (if I remember correctly) some of the pandas died off so I went to replace them, and they had a different species. All of them hung out like they had been hatched together.

I am debating a pleco. Is the Red pleco dyed or is it a genetic variant of the bristlenose? The types of fish are even up for debate, but I have always loved the look of angelfish, if they and bettas could be housed together (I know they cannot be) that could make for a beautiful tank in my opinion...Anyway you can't so what can you do? As always any suggestions for fish (and plants for that matter) are always welcome!

 

The super red bristlenose and calico bristlenose are natural variants, I would not purposly suggest died fish. Glowfish In my opinion are ok though. as they were made in a lab and now can be born that way. I tend to think that the natural color of the fish is prettier then the glowfish color, but seeing them actually glowing under a black light is awesome!

6-7 months ago I was going to buy giant danios, very pretty, but large. I decided on austrailian rainbow fish instead, OMG they are so gorgeos and colorful, and big, I didnt think they would get that big, but I have room in my 55 so its all good. there are many smaller rainbow fish you might like. Though you might not like the price. The dwarf neon rainbows are nice. and the celebese if you go with a 30. If you did 55, electric blue acara are my other new favorite, I was lucky to get 3 babies super cheep from a guy breaking down a fish room on craigslist like a month before covid started. They are personable and peacefull, but you cant keep too small fish with them.

I recently got a lot of very nice sword plants from canton aquatics on ebay. Swords an anubias are very hardy plants. I have an order of plants coming from dustin's fishtanks, I heard good things about them and I orderered from him a mix and a large anubius.

 

Hey all!

It has been YEARS since I last kept fish. I used to have a 10-gallon tank with a Crowntail beta, 3 Panda Cories, 2 other cories (can't remember), 1 otto, and 1 albino Bristlenose pleco as well as a few bamboo shrimp. I moved across campus my pH jumped upwards of a 9 my Hardness was too hard to measure (25+ if I remember correctly) and it wiped my tank in about 72 hours. I was made, but I knew I couldn't drop the money to restart again.

That was my last time and I did pretty well with that tank for probably 3-4 years solid!

That was my last active/successful tank. I have since turned to other animals (ferrets and dogs apparently), but I am looking to return to the fish-keeping community. I am considering a 20+ Gallon tank (20 is likely the smallest) with a full setup; air stones, live plants (fish are TBD at the moment, but angels are definitely on the list). I now have a 9-month-old who loves fish, every time we go somewhere with a tank she will stare at them for hours given a chance. My 12-year-old son is very interested in the hobby as well. I currently live out in the sticks with well water (internal scream) I have it run through a softener currently, but I am wondering what conditioner I am likely to need as my water is not hooked up to a public water supply (city water) so no Chlorine/Chloromate in it. However, there is the potential for heavy metals I wouldn't mind testing for (though a home kit is preferred). So my old and new friends I ask for your suggestions on this, obviously if heavy metals or anything weird is too much of an issue I will be forced to go distilled (I use it in my CPAP, but 10+ gallons every 2 weeks to a month for a water change is not something I want to do right now!)

I need your thoughts, your wisdom, and your suggestions;

Fish suggestions are always welcome, due to the size I think I will be staying away from Betas (though I did love my beta fish) Colorful and non-aggressive is a bonus. Pictures are always appreciated. I look forward to what you guys have to say.

As a side note: I have not even set up or bought the tank as of yet! I am hoping to do so in the nearish future, but I need to know about the basics like water conditioners on well water!! I will be doing this right, I will be going through and feeding the cycle to establish it, so fish are a future thing not a high priority at the moment, the bit one right now, is actually the conditioner.

Thanks all!!!

If you have water with a higher ph African cichlids would be a good fit for you. I have three angelfish in a 29 tall and it’s working great for me.

 

If you have water with a higher ph African cichlids would be a good fit for you. I have three angelfish in a 29 tall and it’s working great for me.

I thought Cichlids were difficult to care for. Do you know if they are or not?

 

It depends on the species of cichlids. Angelfish are a very peaceful cichlids whereas a convict cichlid not so much. If your talking tank conditions cichlids will need clean water to thrive but it’s not all that difficult once your tank is established. I do think angelfish are a great choice nonetheless, if your doing a community 30gal. tank I would do one because they are territorial. If you put 4-5 corys in there you could easily keep two angelfish. Love to here what you end up doing!

 

Well it will be a bit, we have some debts to pay off still and we are going to FL in August so it will likely be after that when I start to establish the tank. I am thinking of a community but the size is a consideration as well. I might go with angel(s) depending on size and some bottom dwellers like cory cats and plecos. The specifics are way up in the air still though there is that LOL.

Thanks for the suggestion about Cichlids I have seen them in various places and thought they looked awesome, but never been brave enough to attempt it. Given their colors, I might try it this time! But that is some serious research in compatibility as well

 

Welcome back I'm not very well versed on stocking a tank but did want to mention. If you are considering a 55 gallon tank I will suggest you upgrade that to a 75. It is the same height and length as a 55 but is 6 inches deeper from front to back. Instead of 12 inches it is 18. That extra 6 inches gives you much more space for planting and I am sure your future fish will appreciate it too. I would love to switch out my 55 for a 75 but I know that is never going to happen.

 

Welcome back I'm not very well versed on stocking a tank but did want to mention. If you are considering a 55 gallon tank I will suggest you upgrade that to a 75. It is the same height and length as a 55 but is 6 inches deeper from front to back. Instead of 12 inches it is 18. That extra 6 inches gives you much more space for planting and I am sure your future fish will appreciate it too. I would love to switch out my 55 for a 75 but I know that is never going to happen.

Currently my wife has no idea what size tank I am planning, but when I show her the size she's gonna be "WHAT?!?!?" So a 75 might be out of the questions at least for now hahaha but I appreciate the input. I may just do it anyway but I might end up with a house of fish instead of a place to live LOL

 

If flowy and colorful are the appeal for angelfish and you're looking to keep your tank a little less aggressive, you might want to look into some of the available gourami species; pearl gourami in particular are both vividly coloured and peaceful, so they might do well if you've got other fish in mind.

Also, just to provide alternative options; how do you feel about shrimp as a bottom feeder, rather than a pleco?

Good luck with the setup!

 

If flowy and colorful are the appeal for angelfish and you're looking to keep your tank a little less aggressive, you might want to look into some of the available gourami species; pearl gourami in particular are both vividly coloured and peaceful, so they might do well if you've got other fish in mind.

Also, just to provide alternative options; how do you feel about shrimp as a bottom feeder, rather than a pleco?

Good luck with the setup!

Depends on the shrimps. I used to keep Bamboo shrimp two of them in my tank. In fact you can probably find one of my old posts about finding one of my bamboo shrimps in the filter that he decided to climb up. He was mia for like a month. It was hilarious he was massive when I found him. anyway, I like the plecos as they are very gentle fish and the species that are not 'common pleco' are smaller in my experience and I think they look cooler as well! Shrimp are a great addition if you had a species suggestion I'm all ears!

 

Currently my wife has no idea what size tank I am planning, but when I show her the size she's gonna be "WHAT?!?!?" So a 75 might be out of the questions at least for now hahaha but I appreciate the input. I may just do it anyway but I might end up with a house of fish instead of a place to live LOL

I guess living in the dog, oops I mean fish house might not be a lot of fun. Speaking from a wife's perspective it is better to keep the wife happy

I love the little shrimp in my shrimp bowl but I will freely admit that plecos are my favorites. Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar is only 5.5 inches long and that is as big as he will get. There are some bristle nose plecos that are even smaller. Little Red. my little male super red BN is only 3 maybe 3.5 inches long. I also have to say corys are a very close second favorite for bottom feeders.

 

I guess living in the dog, oops I mean fish house might not be a lot of fun. Speaking from a wife's perspective it is better to keep the wife happy

I love the little shrimp in my shrimp bowl but I will freely admit that plecos are my favorites. Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar is only 5.5 inches long and that is as big as he will get. There are some bristle nose plecos that are even smaller. Little Red. my little male super red BN is only 3 maybe 3.5 inches long. I also have to say corys are a very close second favorite for bottom feeders.

My 10 gallon that I had for years before the pH and hardness spiked out everything I had a Bristlenose named Sticky (when I first got him he would not come out of the bag so I had to chase him out with my hand. He latched onto my wrist and gave me a mark) I loved my corys they were hilarious to watch at night piled up like they didn't have a huge tank to spread out a little bit. I even had an oto that tried to be Sticky's buddy. Sticky was a grumpy old man, but at about 5" they do some serious work!!! Also, the bamboo shrimps are the housemaids of an aquarium. I saw them eating any and everything. The only animal I have ever seen to actively eat brown algae. Figure that one out! LOL