Posted by oglefun21 on March 12, 2003 at 10:40:28:
In Reply to: Re: Algae growth & Best Items in tank for an AngelFish posted by ladiblu on March 10, 2003 at 13:42:39:
:::Can anyone tell me the best way to control/prevent algae growth?
:::Also what would be the best items to have in a tank with an AngelFish? Right now I have nothing except a small layer of rocks on the bottom because it seemed everything would get in the way of his fins/veil (not sure what exactly the veil is, I do know I was told it is a Veil Angelfish when I bought it.) I am still very much a novice to all this even though its been 6 yrs. I just know to keep clean and keep fed. :D
:::
::Hi! What size tank do have and what size is the angel? You are right not to crowd it. So, mostly just use your common sense about it. If it looks too crowded it probrably is. Depending on the size of tank.
::Good tank mates are any of your live bearers, platties, etc. Also, I really like the rummy nose tetras with angels. At our LFS (local fish store) there is the most beautiful planted aquarium, it very natural looking, lots of plants as a back drop, and really only has like 3 angels. I think it must be about 55 gallons. But, it has this beautiful school of rummy nose tetras in there that are just wonderful. Don't forget, they need to be in a school though! I think other than those fish they might have a few oto cats I think they are called, an algae eater, I have a few of those and they work really good without eating all your plants! I love pleco's, but they get so big!!! Oto's just get about an inch, so you might need a couple if you have bigger tank. Also, they have a rainbow ram. Just a beautiful, pleaceful aquarium.
::I have a Koi angel, very small still in a 29 gallon with a platty, one lone baby platty, two oto cats, and two lonely neon's. I need to get some more of them, but have not had a chance, started with 6. They are a little sensitive so I might try the rummy nose instead and see how they work.
::Let me know how things go for you!
::Hanna
::
:Thanks for response. I have a 20gal extra tall (like two 10's ontop of each other). The body of my angel is about the size of the palm of my hand, @ 3"x3" its tail, top fin & bottom fin are also 3" ea. The two long white things that protrude from the bottom of the front of the fish are longer @ 5" long. At one time I had a Dalmation Platy (it too had the same long white things from the front - very different looking), red platy (who ended up being preg. when I bought her so when she died I had her baby for awhile. I also had a school of about 7 neon tetra's, I had fancy guppy's (beautiful tails), a lemon tetra, a cat fish and an algea eater. Not all at once though. :) They all died one way or another, I think angel ate some of the neon tetras, it also ended up killing the algea eater. It ALWAYS went after it and when I found it dead it looking like it had puncture marks - like bites. Some of the small fish ended up dying because they got themselves stuck to the filter. The dalmation didn't last long, I think it was old when I got it.
: Whenever I put live plants in the tank they end up uhmm disintegrating. I used to have some pretty shells, coral, little castle, but my LFS kept telling me to take them out because that is what was causing a problem and making my fish die. Even though they have similar in their tanks. I know the algea eater and live plants help with Algea, just havent gotten around to replacing the algea eater, and with the plants just sort of melting away to nothing on me in about a week I'm not sure what else to do. That's why there is nothing in there at the moment but the angel fish. I would also like to get some sort of bottom feeder to help keep the bottom of the tank clean. I was told Cory Cats were pretty good for that.
: Did you read my previous post about my Angel fish playing dead?? Any idea's or seen anything like it? I know this sounds stupid but like I said in the other post, Do fish sleep??
: I'm going to post a pic of my Angel and soon as I do I will let you know the URL. Do you have a pic of your's, I have never seen, nor heard of a Koi Angel and would be interested to see what they look like.
Hi Again! You know, I am wondering if the reason your angel has been eating some of your other fish isn't that, well, first off, they do eat neons quite frequently I have heard, natural food source, and secondly, it could be bored. Sounds like a pretty big fish. Not that it is crowded or anything, sounds like it has plenty of room, just that perhaps there is not a lot of room to swim and explore and therefore picking at tank mates sounds like a good thing to do. It wouldn't be the first time to hear of an angel picking at smaller fish.
Regarding the coral and the shells, unless they are sealed, you could tell if they are by seeing if they are very very shinny and smooth. If they are sealed they are OK, if they are not, then do not put things from the ocean into a freshwater tank. Good rule of thumb, just to be on the safe side.
As for your plants, what type of lighting do you have on the tank? A regular type bulb is probrably not going to do it. You are going to need some intense light to keep plants going. I have two florescent type bulbs-to tell you the truth I am not sure what they are because I bought the aquarium set up from someone who made it them selves and so what ever it has it what I got. I keep the lights on from about 7:30 am to about 8:00 or 9:00 pm. My plants grow so fast I have to "trim" them once a month. Also, do not run an undergravel filter when growing plants. It disturbs their root system. And, plants need sufficient substrate, gravel, etc. to grow in. A small little bit of gravel will not do it. They need a few inches of substrate. I prefer that flourite gravel because it is real fine and plants love it! But, any ol gravel will do, you just need a few inches of it.
What I have in my tank for decoration is driftwood and plants. The fish love them both. The driftwood kept my baby platies alive, they camoflauged themselves with it and hid in all the little crevices. The plants are a food source for everyone and help to buffer amonimia and stuff, so keeping them alive is helful for the whole aquarium, plus they are so pretty to look at.
Sound like you have a pretty angel, mine is still tiny. What does yours really like to eat? Mine will only eat frozen brine shrimp. Any suggestions?
Hanna
