New Start

[PERCY]

Well that's my tank set up. Started the cycle last night. Hopefully won't take too long

Tank is 5 x 1.5 x 2 ft approx 450 litres?

My plans are a load of bog wood, java fern and giant vallis

As for fish I'm thinking possibly

Clown Loach x 6
Congo Tetra x 10
Ansistrus x 4
African Butterfly Fish x6
Altum Angel fish x 6

That's just an early idea and I welcome comments on my stocking list

 

[SamLovesCorys]

Altums get huge! Not sure its high enough for them.

 

[PERCY]

I've seen them in smaller. There can't be too many people with tanks deeper than 2ft as the cost of them goes through the roof once they start getting taller. Maybe someone else can confirm?

 

[DrRob]

More like 360 litres.

I'd probably say that it's on the small side for clown loaches. Can't say much about the butterflies, I've not got a lot of experience of them.

 

[blackops]

like the look of that stock

 

[PERCY]

More like 360 litres.

I'd probably say that it's on the small side for clown loaches. Can't say much about the butterflies, I've not got a lot of experience of them.

The tank is actually 26 inches high. According to the calculator on here, filled to capacity it is 460 litres

I've heard all the stories of huge clown loaches, however the tank is more than sufficient for a very very long time

like the look of that stock

What about number wise? Too much? Too little? Or would you recommend anything else

 

[Curiosity101]

The tank is actually 26 inches high.

Are you going to have 26" worth of water depth though? If not then that doesn't count. When working out volume you should always remove substrate depth and only measure to the waterline.

 

[PERCY]

The tank is actually 26 inches high.

Are you going to have 26" worth of water depth though? If not then that doesn't count. When working out volume you should always remove substrate depth and only measure to the waterline.

I did say approx and I did say filled to capacity. I never actually worked it out previously. I doubt anyone takes the likes of the substrate etc int consideration when stating the volum of a tank. Either way it's still over 400litres and easily big enough

 

[ZoddyZod]

what is your pH? Altums are notoriously difficult to keep and demand soft acidic water.

some P.Scalare look very similar and are much more robust

 

[minnnt]

what is your pH? Altums are notoriously difficult to keep and demand soft acidic water.

some P.Scalare look very similar and are much more robust

Can't agree more. Unless you plan on trying to replicate their natural waters then it really wouldn't be fair to the fish to include them in this setup. Something around 5.5 would be ideal. A similar option would be the Peru 'Altum' which would be cheaper, mre robust and alot more forgiving of water chemistry. This way you could add more to the tank, which at 5ft would look a little scarce with only 6.

 

[PERCY]

Should I just check the PH of the water straight from the tap determine the level now?

My Lfs had wild silver angels the other day, not entirely sure what they were as they were pretty small but they looked similar to the above, only silver, if that makes sense

 

[minnnt]

You will know if they are Altums or not as the price difference will be phenomenal. Lol. I wouldn't even go with wild Scalare. You can get some fantastic tank bred 'wild type' Scalare that will be alot hardier and can look just as stunning. Check out ZoddyZod's journal in the New World Cichlid journal section. I have some Blue Ghost Koi's which are developing some faint lines but have a nice blue hue.

Leopoldi Angels are also a nice species, they have a more rounded nose.

Test the water from your tap and as it is in your tank.

 

[PERCY]

Checked my ph earlier with the api master test kit.
Ph was 7.6 with the low range test. I tried the high range aswell which gave a reading of 7.4

 

[PERCY]

I ment to say I want a red tailed black shark in there too

 

[minnnt]

Should be fine for normal Angels, but don't put Altums in there.

RTBS may pose a problem when adult with the Angels too. They may also attack you CL's as they're a very similar shape and share the same area of the tank.