[pvtschultz]

Hello everyone! I am a recovering reefer (actually a cheap protein skimmer pump tried to burn my house down and killed my prized fish and I decided that was going to be the last straw) and am starting a Angelfish tank. I plan on incorporating bits and pieces from my reefing days (I had a planted community tank before the reef tank) and hoping on achieving a smartly stocked, planted angelfish tank. So here is parts list for my plan for a 90 gallon (48" x 18" x 24") community tank:

1. I have about 60 pounds of now dead live rock that was base rock from my reef tank. The rock is all aragonite. I'd like to build a pair of vertical pillars from the base to the water surface with them. Is the buffering properties of the calcium carbonate going to be too much for angelfish?

2. While I have about 4 gallons (50 pounds or so) of aragonite reef sand, I don't think that it will be the look that I'm going for so I'll prolly sell it to another reefer and use a natural colored river rock for the substrate or the "special" stuff for plants. Any words of advice?

3. Lighting will be two VHO fluorescent lamps and a pair of NO fluorescent lamps. I am thinking about using 36" lamps to create shadows at the ends of the aquarium. I could always use 46.5" lamps for 220 watts+.

4. I am going to incorporate a 20 gallon sump in the stand (flashback to reefing days) which will house the heaters and a Magdrive 5 pump (550 gph at 0') for flow and bring the gross volume to 110 gallons. I'll incorporate the mechanical/chemical filter setup into the sump and am considering sectioning off a third of it in the event that I'd need a grow out tank for babies.

5. I intend on incorporating CO2 injection in the future (I get free gasses from my bro-in-law )

6. My planned stocking goes as follows:

-8 angelfish
-2 pair of blue rams
-shoal of neons (~20 or so) that'll maybe become snacks...
-Corys (half-dozen or so)
-Hatchet fish (half-dozen or so)
-1 dwarg gourami (wife really likes them)
-possible shoal of Rasporas (R. hengeli)
-other tetras? (half-dozen blacks or others...)

What do you think? Am I totally off my rocker? I kept a community tank for about two years before my 4 year stint with reefing. I'd like to collect the eggs of the angelfish and try growing them out but then again I may never find the time either and let nature take its course. The tank will be mainly SA but my wife will surely interject some fish for color or character which I tend to allow withing reason and compatability limits.

All thoughts will be greatly appreciated!

 

[shef]

Wow, that's crazy! I don't have much to say about your angel set up but what kind of skimmer was it? I have a reef set up too and what I've been told is a cheap skimmer so I'm just wondering.

 

[DeadFishFloating]

G'day pvtschultz

1. I have about 60 pounds of now dead live rock that was base rock from my reef tank. The rock is all aragonite. I'd like to build a pair of vertical pillars from the base to the water surface with them. Is the buffering properties of the calcium carbonate going to be too much for angelfish?

I don't know how high this will push your PH, but I would think you don't want your PH going over 7.5. Some where between 6.5 and 7.5 would be good. Personally I'd go the planted and driftwood look with as little rock as possible.

As for the rest, I've gotta get ready for work now, so if no one else has commented when I get home in 14/15 hours I'll comment then. However this thread might be a good read for a start. I would definately only start with two adult pairs of Angels, and see if the tank dynamics would allow for a third pair.

 

[pvtschultz]

I was thinking about getting eight juveniles and letting nature run its course (plus it to cheaper that way and I get to watch them "grow up").

The pump was a no-name Chinese unit which I'd be suspicious of. When it comes to pumps, you get what you pay for and the little extra cost is cheap insurance.

 

[hollyfish2000]

Just a few random thoughts:

1. I'd really recommend using Eco-complete plant substrate or Seachem's version. It makes running a planted tank so much easier. I would second the poster who said plants and driftwood should be the focus not big rocks . . . You can get some fabulous driftwood in interesting shapes that will break up line of sight a bit in your tank.

2. I'd recommend starting off with C02 from the beginning. This will cut down on the algae you might encounter and give your plants a good start. With 220 watts you're at a bit more than medium light, which will give you a lot of options in terms of plants and makes C02 even more desireable. Plant heavily from the beginning. I'm going to assume you know what plants you want. For my angels, I like the look of lots and lots of swords, with some crypts, anubias, java fern, onion plants, and vals. I'm not sure about having shadows on each end, which means you basically wouldn't have plants there. Instead, you might want to create shadows by planting heavily with plants that will go up and cover the surface. My vals and onion plants right now are so long they are covering about half of the tank. It's working well because I have some lower light plants below them (anubias, etc.) and they are doing well with the shade from above. (if that makes sense)

3. One thought instead of neons are rummynose tetras. I have them in a tank with two angels. They are great and none have been eaten. You mention black tetras. If you mean black skirts -- don't! They can get pushy and nippy. But I love my black phantoms, which are attractive (the girls have red in them).

Good luck! sounds like a fun tank.

 

[ginner]

Harlequin Rasboras are also a great choice. They're a very hardy little fish and they look great darting around the tank. I've had great success keeping them with Angels and in my experience they are unlikely to be eaten.