What to do with this tank?

[Steve]

A buddy of mine just gave me a tank and black lacquer stand for free. The tank is a Marineland 20g extra high (20" long x 10" wide x 24" high). Obviously not a good tank for most species. Wondering what I could do with it. The height tells me angels, but would the 10" depth be to small for angels?

 

[Ron]

A pair of angels would be alright. IIRC, 20H is the common size used by breeders for them (and your 20xH wouldn't be a far stretch from that).

Other ideas - you could really stack a small collection of tropical community fish in a tank like that. Something that swims at the top, verses mid-water, verses the bottom.

Or keep with cichlids, go with a small tang of some kind (shellies, small lamprologus sp. pair, etc) and then a dither for the upper portion (danios, maybe guppies, etc).

I use to have a small tank close to those dimensions many years ago. Kept a large group of guppies for a number of years, then eventually switched to using it as a fry growout tank.

[Steve]

Are there certain angels that stay smaller than others Ron? I'm not too up on the different types of angels but if I could fit a pair in there like you mentioned then I'd certainly like that because I have always wanted to have an angel tank. I think a pair of angels in this tank set up down in the office area with the big tank would look pretty nice maybe.

[Ron]

For all of the different types of angelfish, there are only 3 species:
Pterophyllum altum
Pterophyllum leopoldi
Pterophyllum scalare

P. altum are typically only sold as WC. I don't know the details on why it's difficult to breed them in captivity.

P. leopoldi - I haven't seen these available, but maybe others know more?

P. scalare - these are what you find most commonly sold as "angelfish". There are many different genotypes. It's like discus. It's also why I like my malawians better.

You might get some different sizes based on the quality of the breeding, but for the most part, there isn't one you can buy that isn't as large as the rest.

Here is a good breakdown on some available types: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/cichlid/angelfish-genetics.php

[linuxrulesusa]

Are there cartain angels that stay smaller than others Ron? I'm not too up on the different types of angels but if I could fit a pair in there like you mentioned then I'd certainly like that because I have always wanted to have an angel tank. I think a pair of angels in this tank set up down in the office area with the big tank would look pretty nice maybe.

Ditto what Ron said.  You have three kinds of angels.  But almost everything you'll find in the hobby is a variant of P. scalare.  My advice would be to get a bag of 4-5 and grow them out.  When two survive, you have a pair.  Seriously, they will kill each other off once they pair up.  Now, you may end up with two females that have decided to get along and share the tank. 

You don't want like 50 in the tank because of water quality issues, even if they're dime-size.  If you keep up on water changes they could work though. 

Another interesting option might be a SA biotope with hatchetfish for the top (keep a tight lid), tetras for the middle, and some smaller catfish like Bumblebee catfish (max ~2") plus maybe a pair of checkerboard cichlids for the bottom.  You'd need lots of plants (live or plastic) and some good caves for the bottom dwellers, but it could work.

[Ron]

You don't want like 50 in the tank because of water quality issues, even if they're dime-size.  If you keep up on water changes they could work though.

From prior posts on here, Steve is always above and beyond when it comes to getting water changes done. 

Another interesting option might be a SA biotope with hatchetfish for the top (keep a tight lid), tetras for the middle, and some smaller catfish like Bumblebee catfish (max ~2") plus maybe a pair of checkerboard cichlids for the bottom.  You'd need lots of plants (live or plastic) and some good caves for the bottom dwellers, but it could work.

^Sounds like a nice setup!

Another thought that popped into my head, but you'll need either a sponge filter or a canister filter to pull it off ... with that much height you could try a paludarium. Not sure if you have enough overall space for it without doing a clever custom background that would maximize water space while allowing a substrate/soil to be placed in the upper portion.

[linuxrulesusa]

You don't want like 50 in the tank because of water quality issues, even if they're dime-size.  If you keep up on water changes they could work though.

From prior posts on here, Steve is always above and beyond when it comes to getting water changes done. 

My observation too!

The paludarium is a neat idea too.  Mudskippers are fun but hard to source.  Red-bellied newts show up sometimes at the MCAS auction.  Then there's all the various frogs...I'd think turtles might be too much for a tank that size but I'm not up on all the varieties.

[mibwb]

I breed angels pairs in 20 talls not much different in tank size then yours and just use a tall sponge filter (if breeding,if not breeding a HOB is fine otherwise they will lay eggs on tubes every time)  Altums are mostly wild caught, I've seen tank bred once. .cost more because they are fragile (their fins) hence they are mostly collected small,  very few color variations..can be challenging...they like room....they get BIG...up to ten inches in fin height or more and don't like change....like a natural habitat. .tree roots, tall plants to hide in..just like their home..do stress easily, will jump (need to use a lid) need soft water( they just do better in it), live food (will starve themselves..large caught) if you're unlucky...my experience. . ect..  More work than scalare. Besides, scalare come in lots of colors...easier to breed and get from anywhere. Leopoldi are smaller than scalare..are wild caught , not easily available, I guess not a big call for them...I've only seen available three times in the last two years . . color variations almost none .  It all comes down to what you're going to do, look at them or breed them.....get what catches your eye.

[Steve]

Thanks for the the info on angels much appreciated. The paludarium is a neat idea and one I had not considered, but I think I'm going to go with a nice pair of angels as suggested. No real desire to breed them, mainly just to look at and enjoy. Probably do a very thin background for it and a little bit of manzanita branch and some live plants or something nice and natural looking like that is what I am thinking now.

[mibwb]

Sounds like you're going with a pair of scalare...might I suggest a pair of my favorites Pinoy pariaba veil fin angels....they pop in any tank....they are bigger than standard angels...have wider body.  If you could get pinoy pariaba veil fin or wide fin with pearlscale and you made natural setting. ..would be a show stopper...they also come in blues, greens....

[Steve]

I'll have to look that up and see what they look like. I've never had angels before so I just started doing some reading up on them last night and still have a lot to learn about them.