So, how many guppies can you have in a 3-gallon tank? Technically, you can keep two guppies in 3-gallons, but a tank of this size is too small for such an active fish. Furthermore, keeping the water perimeters stable is much more difficult in a smaller tank. As a rule of thumb, 10-gallon is a minimum tank size for keeping guppies.

I know this is a rather short answer, but it will do for now. Continue reading to learn how many guppies can you keep in a fish tank, how to make ideal tank conditions, and what are the most common problems with small aquariums.

How Many Guppies Can You Keep In A Fish Tank?

Besides bringing plenty of color variations to tanks, guppies are also hardy and easy to keep, even if you never had fish before.

However, when it comes to guppies, overstocking is a big and common problem among beginner aquarists. Essentially, too many fish in an aquarium will cause toxins and waste to accumulate and oxygen levels to drop, which will cause all your guppies to die.

The tank in the video below might look absolutely stunning and the guppies seem to fit perfectly in there but unfortunately, it is not healthy at all for the guppies.

To avoid problems with your guppies and with your tank, you should learn how to properly stock your new aquarium.

When it comes to guppies you can follow a 1 guppy pet gallon rule or 1 inch of a guppy fish per gallon rule. Keep in mind, that male guppies are on average 0.6-1.4 inches long, and females are around 1.2-2.4 inches long if you want to avoid overstocking.

Furthermore, don’t forget that once set up, the aquarium won’t have the same holding capacity as it would without all the equipment in it. Hence, factor all of that into the equation.

If you want your guppies to grow without deformities and stay healthy, a bigger tank is always better. A spacious aquarium will offer them enough space to swim around and feel comfortable in their environment.

And although you can technically keep two guppies in a 3-gallon tank, they won’t have enough room to swim freely and can get sick due to poor water quality. Furthermore, guppies are very social and thrive living in schools.

Besides considering the number of guppies you can keep in an aquarium, you should also consider male to female ratio.

Guppies excel at reproducing, so much so, that your tank will be overrun with fry in a blink of an eye! Hence, you will have to be careful when choosing guppies for your tank if you don’t want them to breed like crazy.

To prevent unwanted breeding it is best to have more females than males, a 3:1 female to male ratio is ideal for guppies. You can also opt to keep only females or stick with a male-only aquarium.

Note that having a male-only guppy aquarium can be challenging since they will compete with one another and stronger males will end up bullying the weaker ones.

What Are Ideal Tank Conditions For Guppies?

The warm freshwater places of South America are the guppy’s natural habitat. Thus, it is very important that you do your best to mimic these conditions and create an optimal tank environment.

As with any other fish, you will have to make sure that the tank is set up properly and that the water is cycled. This will ensure that you have the right bacteria which will convert harmful compounds into less harmful ones.

While most people opt for a 10-gallon tank to keep guppies, you can also choose a bigger one. However, if you are set on a 3-gallon tank for your guppies, you will have to do a lot to ensure optimal living conditions and water quality.

One of the things you will need is a heater, that will maintain the proper water temperature between 75 and 82°F in your guppy tank. Place the heater on one end of the tank and the thermometer on the other end to check if the entire tank is heated equally.

As with a majority of fish, you will need a filter that will keep water perimeters stable. While guppies can tolerate different waters and pH levels from 5.5 – 8.5, the most ideal pH for them is between 7 – 7.2.

A hang-on filter will work for most aquariums, but if you have a mini aquarium you will need a mini power filter that won’t create strong currents.

And since maintaining the water quality in small tanks is problematic, you will also have to change 50% of the water twice a week to keep ammonia and nitrite levels in check.

Last but not least, you will need to create a pleasant environment by adding plants, rocks, and substrate to the tank.

When it comes to guppies, live plants are always a better option and you can add as much as you want since they will create hiding places and help filter the water additionally.

3 Biggest Problems When Keeping Guppies In Small Aquarium

There aren’t a lot of things that can go wrong when you keep guppies in an aquarium that is too big. When it comes to fish, no matter how small they are, a bigger aquarium is always better!

On the other hand, many things can go wrong when you have an aquarium that is too small.

Let’s take a look at the biggest problems:

1. Stunted Growth

How many times have you heard people saying fish only grow to the size of their tank? Probably a few times, if I have to guess.

Clearly, this isn’t true, but unfortunately, many people believe it is.

Any fish, including guppies, will have the urge to reach its full size regardless of the size of its tank. What actually happens is that the fish’s growth is stunted by the lack of space and as a result, its health is permanently damaged.

2. Shorter Lifespan

Living in an undersized aquarium will not only stunt your guppy’s growth, but it will also significantly shorten its lifespan. This happens for two different reasons.

First of all, guppies who live in small tanks get stressed out more easily. This added stress places an extreme amount of pressure on the heart causing it to overwork.

Secondly, living in tight quarters causes internal organ failure. As mentioned above, living in a smaller tank results in stunted growth.

This means that the guppy’s internal organs won’t have enough space to grow and develop normally, which ultimately results in organ failure and premature death.

3. Aggression

Last but not least, living in an undersized aquarium can cause behavioral problems.

Guppies can develop several behavioral problems and become stressed, anxious, or fearful. However, enhanced aggression is probably the most common issue.

Living in a small aquarium can cause a guppy to become aggressive towards its tank mates if it has any. This usually happens because the fish is stressed out or scared, and is trying to relieve the discomfort by attacking other fish.

Although guppies have peaceful temperaments, it is hard to turn them back to being friendly once they become aggressive and introduce them to a community once again. We explain more on aggression in guppies and solutions for that here!

It’s much easier to avoid aggression and other issues altogether by keeping guppies in a properly set up and spacious tank!

The post How Many Guppies Can You Have In A 3-Gallon Tank? appeared first on Water World Craze.

Guppies are easy and inexpensive to maintain and beautiful to look at with their vibrant colors and flashy tails. But like all other fish, they too are not immune to health problems. Why is my male guppy bloated? The most common reason for bloating in male guppies is the dropsy […]

Guppy fish are exceptionally popular aquarium pets since they look stunning and are extremely easy to take care of. These friendly fish are quick to adjust to a new home and aren’t fussy eaters. However, as a Guppy owner, you may be wondering, like other fish breeds, whether Guppies eat […]

Guppies are known to have specific dietary requirements. Whether you are a beginner or an enthusiast, you might have a few questions regarding feeding on your mind. As an experienced fish owner, I have some really helpful tips to share with you. Can you feed your guppies goldfish food? It […]

If I have more than one male guppy, will they fight? Male guppies do fight sometimes, though they are usually peaceful. Pay attention if you suspect they are fighting. Guppies that have flesh bitten out of their fins will be more susceptible to sickness. When you have a small group […]

Extremely popular with both beginners and seasoned aquarists, guppies are relatively easy to keep and bring amazing color diversity to the tank. Best known for their ability to reproduce faster than the speed of light, guppies are reputedly really tough to kill. But let’s see if this is true! So, […]

Guppies are beautiful dainty fish, but how well do they do with others? Are guppies aggressive? Guppies are not viewed as an inherently aggressive fish. They live peacefully with those in their tank and their species. They are however playful with one another and might chase each other around the […]

Guppies are among the most popular pet fish nowadays. They’re cute, a little flashy, and they are also fun. But are they easy to keep? Yes, guppies are fairly easy to keep. However, as you can expect, there are some things that you should bear in mind for your guppies […]

Tradition follows that if you have an aquarium that you need a filter to keep it clean or your fish will suffer, but is a filter even necessary? Can Guppies live in a tank without a filter? Yes, guppies can live without a filter, but that doesn’t mean it’s the […]

It isn’t hard to see why guppies are one of the most popular types of fish to own. They are inexpensive, low maintenance, and fun to watch. The reason they’re so fun to watch? They have quirky personalities. They are active and social but sometimes have strange behaviors. One common […]

Guppies are one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species and it’s not difficult to see why. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they are also quite easy to keep as pets. There are some signs of distress to look out for, though, including your guppies staying […]

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Fish can survive in an artificial environment without a filter for about 3 days to a maximum of a week. The number of days is mostly dependent on varying factors such as the number of fish, measures you are going to take to ensure filtration, the resources you have, and alternatives.

Now, you might also think that goldfish do really well in a fishbowl without a filter, as well as few show-fish. Or is it just an iconic memory from a movie that shouldn’t be practiced? Do you really need a filter for your aquarium? Let’s get to the root of it all.

How Do Fish Live In Natural Environment Without Filters?

This is the very first question that would come to anyone’s mind if one has to debate on the need for a filter for their aquarium.

Isn’t clean water enough for them? Don’t they just need water to ‘breathe’? Actually, no. This would be simplifying their problem.

Fish don’t just need water but the oxygen that they get from water. Still waters hardly ever have fish in it.

You can find fish in rivers or even oceans too where water circulates. But shallow ponds can also breed fish better than still waters, why? Isn’t it interesting? We’ll get there too in a while.

Role Of The Process ‘Cycle’ In Artificial Setting

Now, let’s try to understand what we are exactly trying to mimic in an artificial setting (fish tanks and aquariums) through the process called cycle.

• Fish produce ammonia and if that gets accumulated in a fish tank, it will get lethal for them to survive. It can affect their life expectancy and health.
• To counter this problem, live bacteria are added to the aquarium. These live bacteria attach themselves to the sponge and other filtering material – your standard filter. Once they start to live and breed, they consume this ammonia and create nitrite.
• Then, a second set of bacteria makes their home in the filter and consumes nitrite to produce nitrate. This whole process is called a cycle.

Since ammonia and nitrite are highly toxic for fish, it is essential to ensure there is a bacteria growth in your aquarium before you put them in it.

A filter pumps air and circulates water inside of the aquarium. When the filter stopped working for any reason, the first hit is always caused to the bacteria living in the aquarium – they will start dying off.

Still, water doesn’t have enough circulation to produce oxygen. Hence, your fish will be swimming up to get some ‘gasp’ of air. Those fish who cannot do that will suffer more.

How Do Fish Survive In Shallow Ponds?

Rivers, oceans, and freshwater lakes all have natural filtration available to them via live bacteria, water circulation, etc. However, if there are many fishes in a shallow pond, they tend to live to a quite much extent.

It is because the movement of fish in shallow water creates enough air and oxygen to circulate in the shallow pond. Also, since the space between water and air isn’t so far, thick or deep, they can get oxygen much more easily.

However, it is not an ideal environment to live in and they do not tend to survive for a longer period because of other factors such as predators, water evaporation, no frequent change of water, etc.

We also recommend reading our article here: 5 reasons why your fish are staying near the filter!

Do Fish Like Goldfish And Betta Fish Do Good In Fishbowls With No Filter?

The short and simple answer to it is – they don’t. Any new fish-keeping hobbyist might be in such an illusion.

Doing this will either make your resolve stronger in maintaining the fish better or leave fish-keeping as a hobby altogether. Maintaining fish is not an easy or cheap job.

As we have cleared it before, clear water is not enough for fish to survive. People generally tend to keep fishbowl with the idea of saving space and money. Why buy filters when you can fill it up with clean water?

Without a filter, you will have to regularly filter water, changing it, and refilling it – maybe every day or at least every 2 days. Otherwise, you will observe your fish dying. In such cases, it is better to have a fish or two in a bowl, nothing more than.

Moreover, it is never a great idea to fill the fishbowl close to its brim. In every aquarium, it is always beneficial to fill the bowl or a tank till half or little over half if there is no filter there. In case we have a filter, then you can fill it close to the brim.

We all remember iconic stills in movies where a hero or heroine will be observing a fish in a bowl, swimming, all clueless – while our protagonist muses over it. But as a fish keeping practice, this is tedious work and even harmful.

After all, they never show what happened to the fish in the bowl as the movie ends. Did it ever have a happily ever after? These are the questions we need to ask.

How To Save Your Fish During A Power Outage?

The downside of having a filter would be keeping it vulnerable to a power outage. If your area has power outage issues, this is going to create havoc for the fish.

Your fish can survive this if you are ready to save them on time. Let’s first tell you the simplest and basic solution to it.

Getting a generator or inverter will help your filter, heater, and everything running smoothly. Inverters are generally cost-friendly for a longer term than generators as it needs fuel and the former needs batteries.

If you do not want to keep your fish vulnerable to the power outage, especially when you cannot be around to change the water and do the needful – it is good to invest in the inverter. If you want to go for generators, it can work out nicely as well.

Now, let’s get to the part where you cannot always afford to have an inverter or generator. There is nothing to feel bad about it but you have to be proactive about saving them.

You have a time window of 24 hours maximum to make the necessary arrangements!

This is how you can do it.

Buy an additional water tank where your fish can swim. Fill half the tank with the existing water and exactly half of it, nothing more.

Balance the population. The idea is to make fish swim in the water and induce circulation through their movement. If it gets overcrowded, shift half of them in another tank.

If you have larger fish, it is always a good idea to buy a kid’s pool (bathtub) and shift them there.

If you have plants in the tank, do not add them. Aquatic plants also need oxygen they get from water. This way, they will not be competing for oxygen. You can keep them stored in a plastic bag filled with water.

Do not feed the fish. They can live up to 2 weeks without food. The reason not to give food to them is that it will dirty the water. Filter always cleans food particles along with water circulation and pumping air. Leftover food will also deplete oxygen present in water.

Do not mindlessly add live bacteria to the new tank. The live bacteria may be able to eat ammonia, but it will not be able to properly form a second set of bacteria that eats nitrate. This will not produce a cycle that we are intending to create. Instead, it can get toxic for your fish.

The best thing to do would be to check the ammonia level in the water, pH as well as water temperature. It should be according to the needs of the fish. Just when the ammonia level rises in water, you would need to change it.

In case you are doing this for bigger fish and shifting them to a kid’s pool, make sure that you cover it with a net so that they do not jump out of water.

If these things get really tedious for you, you can ask your friends for help and shift your aquarium to your friend’s place who has an inverter or generator available to them.

Make sure that when you refill the water again in the tank, do not put the fish and wait for it to create a cycle. It is better to add ammonia in the water and wait for it to create a cycle, and then add fish back to the tank.

These steps should help you save your fish in time and give them a happily ever after (unlike those innocent and clueless fish prisoned in a fishbowl).

The post How Long Can Fish Survive Without A Filter? appeared first on Water World Craze.

Yes, you can have all-male guppies in one tank but you need to take care of aggression issues. Male guppies are aggressive in their approach towards a female when mating. When there is no one to impress, they dominate the lesser ones. Make sure you keep at least half a dozen males when going for all-male guppies in a single tank.

While you can always have all-male or all-female guppies in one tank, which one should you go for as a breeder or as a beginner? Continue reading to find out.

Male Guppies For The Show And Pomp Of The Tank

Male guppies are thought to be more vibrant and colorful than the females. This is not always a true story, but their subtle physical differences might lead people to think so. In such cases, beauty can definitely be in the eyes of the beholder.

To illustrate you with some differences between a male and a female guppy, let’s start with their size. A female guppy can grow as long as 6 cm whereas a male guppy will grow as long as 3 cm.

Another physical difference between the two is that males tend to be slender while females tend to be rounder and boxier, especially when they get pregnant.

A difference that becomes more of preference when prepping the tank for the show is the length of their fins. Male guppies have a more vibrant, colorful, and flowy tail fin than the females.

They are typically more vibrant and colorful to attract females for breeding. This makes them visibly more attractive to be kept as a show pet.

A male guppy’s slender, petite body with flowy tail fin makes it look magical and charming when swimming in a fish tank. Hence, people are more tempted to have all-male guppies in one tank.

Make sure you have at least one gallon of water for each guppy so that they can swim comfortably. If you want to know how many guppies you can keep in your tank without overcrowding it, we highly recommend reading this article. It will explain everything you need to know!

The Appropriate Sex Ratio

It is always recommended that one should keep two females per one male guppy in a tank. This way, the male guppy will be occupied and will not pester one lone female for breeding.

They breed pretty quickly and aggressively. Hence, the ‘load’ of satisfying the male should be shared between multiple female guppies.

Keeping this ratio in mind, you can increase or decrease the number of guppies in your tank. Since they mate fast and produce their young even faster, you need to keep an eye on it.

Some of the guppies are known to eat their fry. If you are trying to save them, try to keep a separate tank for the breeding couple. (We also recommend reading our article on aggression in guppies here!)

Once the fry is ready to be independent, you can release them in the community tank or give it away to other breeders.

All-Female Guppies Tank And Its Challenges

If you want to have guppies for its show quality while controlling the population, go for all male guppies. Another reason why the all-female guppies tank is not always preferable is due to the population issue.

One might think that all-female guppies may never have a population issue. But here is the situation – milt.

Milt is sperm of a male fish and female guppies can store it and use it for reproduction for as long as 10 months! A legacy of a dead male guppy can be kept alive by its milt stored in a female guppy.

They don’t need to breed ten times to store milt. They can do it once and the milt can stay in for about 10 months.

This can cause a lot of suspicious ‘virgin’ birthing and you will be utterly confused when you add all-female guppies to the equation. A beginner will not be able to understand it at first.

They might not look pregnant at first. But if you closely look at their gravid spot (which is near to their anal fin), you will get a clue.

The darker the gravid spot, the more chances of your female guppy of being pregnant. Also, you might even start observing subtle features of their fry in their abdomen.

If you are up for a challenge and can patiently place fry in another tank and do away with them for months, you can have an all-female guppies tank.

Compatible Tank Mates For Guppies

Guppies generally have a peaceful disposition unless they are breeding. Males tend to chase females until they breed and this can happen multiple times. But to other species, they are potentially harmless.

However, when you are going for all-male guppies, you need to keep an eye on aggression issues. Territorial and aggressive tank mates should always be avoided. Also, fishes, which have different water current and temperature needs, should be kept separately.

The best tank mates for guppies are platyfish, molly fish, swordtail fish, cory fish, danios, rasbora fish, and clown loaches. They all can live peacefully and have a similar diet, temperament, and water temperature requirement.

There are also other less compatible but vivid options for tank mates like tetras and gouramis but they can grow defensive and aggressive.

The main requirement is that you need to have enough space in the tank for everyone to live peacefully. The more space they have, the less territorial they will feel.

Make sure you also create hiding space for timid and fearful fishes. Also, the size of fishes should be almost equal to each other so that they do not bully the less dominant one.

Diet For Guppies

Guppies are omnivores. Their main source of diet is proteins so make sure they get plenty of it from their fish food. Check the ingredients and make sure it is filled with a high concentration of protein than the others.

Fish flakes are often a good choice of food for guppies. Avoid products that have more wheat and soy in it, as it makes it less nutritional for the guppies.

You can also feed them live and frozen food. Feed the guppies twice a day. They should consume the amount of food you put in in two minutes. Anything more that lingers will be a waste. Start by dropping food in low amounts and then observe when they start feeling full.

We highly recommend reading our guppy diet articles below:

Common Diseases In Guppies

When you are breeding them in community tanks and with other guppies, any of your guppies can be prone to common diseases such as fungal infections, ich, fin rot, etc. You can take the following preventing measures:

• Keep a check of water temperature and change it regularly
• Rinse and quarantine things before putting it inside the fish tank
• Make sure each fish has enough space to swim freely. No overcrowding the aquarium.
• Give them a well-balanced diet in variety to keep their appetite healthy

Medication and your vigilance will help you identify any kind of discomfort that your guppy is going through. Keep an eye on these signs to keep them all healthy and happy together.

The post Can You Have Only Male Guppies In One Tank? appeared first on Water World Craze.

The benefits of the correct tank size should not be underestimated. The size of an angelfish’s aquarium contributes to how large they get, their general health and will determine their behavior towards any other companions they might have.

It’s instrumental for a happy angelfish and when you meet their needs you can get a glimpse into sometimes playful nature. To best accommodate their requirements you first need to understand their make-up.

Read further to get a glimpse of why a larger tank is necessary, the minimum aquarium size needed, and other accommodations necessary for your angelfish to be happy.

Understanding the angelfish

To get the right tank for your angelfish, first, you need to understand them. Their size, who they cohabitate well with, and where they are originally from. Angelfish are great to have when the right conditions are meet and the beginning of that is getting the correct tank.

Even though they are an easy-going breed, as long as you have correct conditions, they do have specific needs as far as the room goes. Part of that is due to their shape and overall size.

The aquarium size is also important for community tanks and the angelfish’s overall behavior towards their tankmates. Thankfully, the aquarium setup for the freshwater angelfish isn’t complicated, but knowing some things now will make your life easier, overall.

A healthy angelfish will get large

Not only will they get large they grow in height rather than length. Looking at one you will see a tall fish that flat. While most fish grow in length as well as height, the angelfish will grow in height rather than length.

In the wild your freshwater angelfish will grow to be at least 10 inches, they can grow to that height in captivity. However, you will need a large tank with only a few fish. Typically if you have a community fish tank the most your angelfish will get is 6 inches in height.

Their size came to an advantage while in the wild. Since they are on the larger size in a smaller environment they had very few predators. While being flat they can sneak into crevices to get algae.

Larger tanks combat aggression

Your freshwater angelfish is naturally accustomed to lakes and ponds in South America, even though they have been bred in captivity since the late 1920s, this length of time has changed their parenting habits which are non-exist in captive angelfish.

This time, however, has done little to change their preferences for their space and current. If you have more fish simply you need more space.

They are used to having their territory and if there isn’t a lot of space to be had they will make sure everyone knows that what little there is theirs. Smaller tanks or tanks with lots of fish will cause them to lash out at everyone including their species.

So even if there are recommendations for their size if you can afford it, the larger the better.

Angelfish do better with larger numbers of their kind

Being alone is not healthy for the angelfish. Even though they have a reputation of being aggressive they still want to be with those of their kind. Otherwise, the singular angelfish can exhibit aggressive behavior towards its tankmates.

The recommended gallon amount for the angelfish is just 20 for one fish. However, in the wild, they aren’t a solitary creature. They move around in shoals of the same species both for protection and help finding food.

If they are alone or in small numbers they will pick on other fish or event ones in their same species. Owning an angelfish is easy, preparing for them is the tricky part.

At the very least get a pair so that they will have someone of the same species, but if you can, get up to 6. You will find that their typical defensive behavior will calm down.

So when getting an aquarium to think about how you want the result of your tank will be. If you plan on adding to your angelfish population then get a bigger tank now. We show you exactly what tank size and shape you need.

If you get multiple angelfish you should also read our following articles. They will help you to set up everything correctly so that you do not lose any of your fish.

The best tank for your angelfish

Most of the struggle with an angelfish is setting up the right conditions for them to live peacefully. One of the first things that you will need to consider for your fish is the aquarium.

Not only is it where it will spend it’s days, but also the dimensions of the tank will make it a more content fish for those who are around it. Getting the wrong tank size for your angelfish could lead to lethargy and/or aggression in your fish.

A lot of the aggressive reputation that the angelfish has is tied to the size of their aquarium. This could be because the aquarium is less than the recommended size or because they have more tankmates than they would like.

The angelfish like to have their own space even if the tank has other inhabitants. If they don’t get that space they will bully the other fish for it. Some of the bulling will be obvious like biting or hitting other fish with their fins.

Other aggressive behavior such as producing chemical signals to the other fish in their waste will be less clear. If you find that your other fish shy away from the same areas that you angelfish inhabit or are hiding from them entirely it’s time to upgrade your tank size.

Below are a few things to look out from when buying your tank. Before purchasing think about what you want your set up to look like at completion. If you contemplate that now it will be easier for you, overall.

Tank size

Angelfish are happier in a larger environment. So even if there are tank recommendations if it is within your budget opt for the largest tank you can get. This is especially true if you plan on getting multiple fish.

They tend to be territorial, a smaller space that they have to share will bring that out and you could lose a couple of other fish.

Thankfully, there are standard guidelines to follow for the tank size. The standard recommended size for one angelfish is a 20-gallon tank. If you plan on getting more than one each additional angelfish will need 10-gallons.

Even though they are a shoaling fish they need their own space, even with those of the same species. You will use the additional 10 gallons for every additional angelfish that you bring into the tank.

To break this down for two angelfish you would need a 30-gallon tank, for 3 angelfish a 40-gallon, for 4 angelfish a 50-gallon, and so on.

Tank shape

Part of the angelfish’s appeal is their proportions, they don’t grow long or even very wide, but they do grow in height. Due to the dimensions of the angelfish a taller tank is better than those that provide a lot of width.

At the very least your tank should be 18 inches high. If you can get a 20-inch tank that would be better.

Why larger is better

The freshwater angelfish socially are shoaling, meaning they spend time together social but do not swim in the same direction such as a schooling fish would.

The impact on your tank size is this, angelfish are less aggressive with a group of peers and they like their individual space to search for food.

With a larger tank, you can use décor or plants to split the space between them. They will still be able to swim all over the tank, but it will give them their own space.

This idea only works if you have two angels together, any more than that and it will be difficult for you to accommodate this idea.

The Marine angelfish setup

While they are not as common as the freshwater angelfish you can keep a marine angelfish as a pet. The saltwater angelfish has 86 species within its family so make sure to research your particular fish for the best tank size and environment.

That being said the majority of marine angelfish are reef dwelling creatures. They typically live in shallow water rarely living more than 20 meters deep.

The saltwater angelfish’s diet is a reflection of the environment that they live in coral, algae, and various smaller invertebrates that come along.

The reason that freshwater and marine angelfish are often confused with each other is due in part to their similar looks. They both come in beautiful colors and patterns, though the saltwater angelfish has much more of a variety.

Their similar shape and habitat, the marine angelfish also like to hang out on the edges, contribute to similar tank setups. There are a few differences, the saltwater angelfish needs a much larger tank.

Their natural environment is the coral reef and there is also the saltwater aquarium to deal with.

Tank size also matters to the marine angelfish. The smaller species can be housed in a 50-gallon tank. If you plan to get a medium to large angelfish, go get the 100-gallon tank.

The marine angelfish is beautiful and comes in a variety of colors and patterns, but to keep them you need to upgrade to a saltwater tank. Specifically for the saltwater angelfish, you need a reef saltwater tank.

A lot of the same tank qualities that the freshwater angelfish need is the same for the marine species.

Saltwater tanks

If you are thinking of making the change to the saltwater aquarium there are a few things to understand beforehand. The set up for a saltwater tank will be more expensive than a freshwater one.

Things like salt, live rock, and powerhead are needed for the marine aquarium that isn’t for your typical freshwater one.

There is a lot more thought that needs to go in a saltwater tank as far as compatible species goes. The ocean’s terrain is a lot more varied than you would find in freshwater rivers and lakes.

You will need to first focus on the type of saltwater aquaria such as reef, live rock with fish, or fish only. Then the process of choosing compatible fish within these types of environments.

Most people who make the change to a marine aquarium start with the fish only variety then move into either a live rock or reef tank. Depending on what you keep in your tank the marine tank isn’t too complex on upkeep, but it isn’t one that someone should start with.

Current in your freshwater angelfish tank

Something else to consider about the angelfish setup besides the tank is the current level in your aquarium. In the wild, the freshwater angelfish’s natural habitat are ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams.

Even when they are found in rivers they will spend time together on the edges where the water is less swift. Their body is adjusted to this style of swimming. They typically stay in the middle of the tank and float around.

Luckily, the freshwater angelfish don’t need a complicated setup, different from the saltwater angelfish which is a distinct species. But the current that flows through the water is something that you need to pay attention to.

Think about the environment they naturally live in. They prefer calmer waters so they can just cruise about.

You can test to see what level they prefer. I wouldn’t set it to high at first, start at a medium flow. High flow in your fish tank could exhaust them to the point where they just stay in one place.

If you notice that initially, they enjoy the unsteady waters watch to see if they continue to like it. Sometimes angelfish will respond positively to a higher stream then grow exhausted with the effort needed to swim.

The angelfish will give a few tale tail signs that the flow of water is too high for them. The symptoms of too high of a current are hiding, lethargic, and aggression.

If you notice them staying only where there is a blind spot in the stream or hiding completely then it could be because the current from your filtration is too high. All of the things that you are trying to fight by getting them a bigger thank.

You might think that it would be better, yet some sort of filter is necessary for the overall health of the aquarium. They have a healthy appetite so as a result, they need a filter to clean out the inevitable waste that will come.

Even if your filtration system is too high of current for your angelfish you don’t have to replace it. There are a few ways you can reduce the flow of current in your tank.

• Décor of assorted sizes
• Plants, real or plastic
• Move the output nozzles in a different direction

To use these methods efficiently think about the angelfish’s habits. The angelfish tend to swim in the middle of the tank. The idea is to block the currents from where you angelfish is typical hangs out.

That way your filter is still moving the water, but your fish are unhindered from swimming where they want.

Décor like caves force the water to move around it creating bubbles of still space where your angelfish can cruise. Plants near the filter, whether real or fake, don’t block the flow of water, but they will soften it to a speed that your angelfish can easily swim in.

You can also move the nozzle of your filtration system to places that you know your angelfish don’t go. Play with these methods and see works best for your angelfish.

Like with most breed information, it is a commonality between the species as a whole, but it doesn’t mean that your particular fish will act this way. Some cats like to swim, dogs that don’t like attention, and angelfish that like a high current.

Pay attention to your fish’s habits instead of going by secondhand information. You will get a better understanding of what is best for them.

As far as fish go the angelfish don’t require a ton of adjustments for them to live an enjoyable life. That’s why great for beginners who want to start with and are beautiful enough to please those who have taken care of fish for a long time.

The post The Right Tank Size And Shape For Angelfish appeared first on Water World Craze.

In the wild, betta fishes are found in shallow waters like floodplains, rice paddies, and canals. So one might think that using artificial lights in their aquarium may not be too good for them. But, are betta fish sensitive to light? And if they are, what are the effects? Betta […]

Betta fishes are considered as the second most popular fish for simple home aquariums. They are so popular that one might think that like goldfishes, they just tend to wander in their aquarium and do nothing. Which may lead you to the question, are betta fish smart? Betta fishes are […]

The colorful and hardy betta is one of the favorite pet fish to keep for both novice and seasoned aquarists. While they love to interact with their owners and will always be happy to see you, many people believe that bettas are lazy. But is this really true? So, are […]

With their flashing colors and long slinky fins, bettas are one of the most eye-catching fish species you are going to see in a pet store. Besides their good looks, bettas are also known for being resilient and easy to keep, which makes them hard to resist. But, are betta […]

Are your betta fish going to live a long and happy life in a small tank? The answer is no they are not happy, and they will eventually get sick and die because of the poor habitat. A little too harsh? Good! Many fish stores sell betta fish in smaller […]

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To have a well-rounded ecosystem in your 10-gallon tank, you need to have all sorts of colorful fish that beautify the corner.

With a tank this huge, you have the opportunity to fill it up with as many species as you want. However, since bottom-dwelling fish are an important part of the aquarium, the question here is ‘what type of bottom dwelling fish can you keep in your 10-gallon tank?’

The answer to what type of bottom-dwelling fish can you keep in your 10-gallon tank is not a definite one. Bottom-dwelling fish play an important part in the ecosystem, and that is the part of cleaning up their homes.

Therefore, you need to think carefully about the choices you make because there are over a dozen species that can keep your 10-gallon tank populated and attractive.

Before we get to the list, here are a few more things you need to know:

Knowing Your Fish

When you step into a pet store, more often than not, you get confused when it comes to selecting the inhabitants for your aquarium.

The staff at your local store may present you with a lot of options but keep in mind that most of them might just be trying to increase the sales and earn their commission without really listening to your needs.

Even worse than this is following the name tags on the display tanks that are supposed to clear your doubts but may be flat out wrong.

Therefore, the question remains… How are you going to fill up your 10-gallon tank? Here are a few tips:

• Do your own research (This article can serve as a guide)
• Learn in-depth about aquarium care and the different species of fish
• Keep in mind that some fish may be appropriate for your 10-gallon tank but they may not be easy to take care of

12 Bottom Dwelling Fish for Your 10-Gallon Tank

1. Cory Catfish

This species of bottom-dwelling fish is one of the most popular ones. They remain tiny and do not normally grow longer than a few inches. They are highly compatible with other species, but most importantly, they are omnivores.

This means they not only keep the tank clear of algae, but also eat any dead fish and anything else found at the bottom of your massive tank.

2. Otocinclus Catfish

These can be another great addition since they only grow up to 2 inches. They are called by several other names like Oto cats, algae scrapers and dwarf suckermouths.

Brown algae are their personal favorite – so there goes your worry of cleaning up the tank often.

They are also a bit sensitive and tend to do the best when they are added to an established ecosystem.

3. Siamese Algae Eaters

As their name suggests, Siamese algae eaters love algae no matter what the type is, therefore any algae that might be toxifying your tank may not be found the next morning.

As these fish age, they will need alternative food like pellets, but rest assured algae will not be a problem anymore.

You should not confuse them with Chinese algae eaters that grow more than the Siamese do.

4. Snails

Another popular species of bottom feeders that enjoy sucking on smooth surfaces so you will always find the sides of your 10-gallon tank clean.

They are highly efficient at their jobs so you will find them sucking day and night. However, you need to be careful since some snails reproduce faster than others do.

The Mystery Snail is one of the best choice since they do not reproduce fast and are compatible with other fish.

5. Amano Shrimp

The Amano shrimp is adaptable to various tank environments and are one of the most productive algae eaters in the family of shrimps.

Another cool characteristic of the Amano shrimp is that they will eat any leftover food that will otherwise turn into bacteria.

They only grow to an inch and a half, and are a great friend to other fish.

In addition, they are beautiful to look at with their spotted translucent bodies.

6. Crayfish

While this will sound odd to many fish enthusiasts, Crayfish are actually excellent bottom feeders. They even devour dead fish.

Apart from that, they are colorful and vibrant with their bright blue color, so it makes sense to keep them in the tank to do the dirty work.

One thing about crayfish that you need to know is that they get insecure if they do not find a hiding spot; therefore, you need to make sure your tank has plenty.

7. Kuhli Loach

Loaches have a unique personality and love to live in groups with other species of fish, so there is passion and it is seen in their movements around the tank.

They really enjoy digging in the gravel of the tank and find their meal.

They are so dedicated and persistent with finding their food that they may even move decorations and are often found stuck under those items at times.

One thing you need to take care of is to prevent them from crawling out because they are sneaky and like their time out as well.

8. Plecostomus Catfish

The Pleco fish lives between 20-30 years and may grow as long as 2 feet. It not only constantly feeds but is nocturnal too.

The moment you switch off the lights is when Pleco fish starts its day.

However, when it grows to 12 inches, it will eat a lot and poop a lot, too, but rest assured your algae problems would not remain.

9. Corydoras Catfish

They are cuter than Cory Cats and flit around and scour the bottom of the tank all day.

Usually, they stay small, but other species in the family may grow to different lengths.

They are also quite peaceful but you might notice some squabbles unless you keep them in a big group.

10. Synodontis Catfish

They are really active but also shy at times.

Like the Synodontis Catfish, they may squabble amongst themselves but they are peaceful and ignore the smaller fish in the tank.

The best part about these species is that they are fun to watch when they wiggle out of their hiding to cruise around the tank for food.

11. Botia Loaches

Their small appearance is interesting and their behavior is quite intriguing too, but some of their species can grow to a certain length that may not be suitable for a 10-gallon tank.

They are fun to watch since you will find them manically scouring for substrates at times or lounging like a kid in front of a TV at other times.

They prefer being in big groups if you want them to be non-aggressive.

12. Geophagus

The name of this species literally translates to earth-eater or sand-sifter.

They are known for taking mouthfuls from the ground, sifting through it and then spitting out the rest.

They have several species, amongst which some of them might grow too long to fit in a populated 10-gallon tank while others may be too aggressive.

Here is some advice that may come in handy – surround the plants by big rocks to avoid them plowing through.

Other bottom-dwellers

Like the 10-gallon tank that you might not want to overpopulate, without overloading you with information, here are a few other bottom-dwelling fish that might interest you:

13. Adolfo’s Cory 14. Bandit Cory 15. Pictus Catfish 16. Kribensis 17. Twig Catfish 18. Fresh Water Shrimp 19. Panda Cory

20. Weather Loach

The post 12 Amazing Bottom-Dwelling Fish For A 10-Gallon Tank appeared first on Water World Craze.

Can Guppies live in a tank without a filter? Yes, guppies can live without a filter, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best idea. Filters create a clean environment for your fish so without the filter, you will have to recreate this manually. If you are a beginner don’t try to raise your guppies in a filterless tank.

It’s already an adjustment owning fish and it is even more work for a filterless tank. Ease yourself into instead. For those who do have the experience, there are things that you have to do to keep your aquarium clean for your fish.

Read further for the manual process of cleaning your tank, things that will help filter out the water naturally, and the best filters for guppies if you are a newbie.

When is it ok for guppies to not have a filter?

The filter does several things for your fish. It cleans the water by removing leftover food, anything that decaying in the tank such as plant life, chemicals, the inevitable waste that comes from your fish.

Obviously, your fish can live without a filter, because they do in the wild, but their natural environments are a lot larger than your average tank so the gunk will be either eaten by other fish and the toxins flow away naturally.

Your filter helps create a similar environment for their smaller containers. The filter also creates a current while cleaning the tank for your fish, mimicking their natural environment.

Without a filter, you have to create this environment manually. The process of keeping fish without a filter takes consideration, time, and a lot of planning. Which if you are an experienced fish owner will be a rewarding experience.

Taking care of anything gives a closer bond to those involved. You will also know your fish and their habits better than you ever could with a filter.

However, if you are new to fish just get the filter instead of diving in the no filter fish tank. Give yourself time to adjust to owning fish period. Once you are comfortable with them and their eccentricities then you can advance to not using a filter.

How to keep guppies without a filter

To make your tank filterless there are a few adjustments that you will need to take. We discussed what the filter does, now you will need to create this environment manually for your fish.

It isn’t an easy adjustment, but many people feel that it is worthwhile in the end. Expect to spend more time on tank care and become more knowledgeable about the chemicals that are needed to keep your aquarium clean.

You will have to perform regular tank maintenance on your tank.

Without the filter pulling out all the toxins from uneaten food and waste you will manually have to clean the tank. The most common filterless method is to change the water. When setting up your tank make sure it is clean.

Change the water weekly or biweekly with a 20-50% rate, starting at 50%. Depending on the amount of fish that you have you might have to clean the tank several times a week. Keep an eye on the toxin levels in your tank to see how often the water should be changed.

During the changing process focus on getting any uneaten food, dead plants. The decaying matter will dirty the water causing your fish to become ill. Trim any plants that are growing out of control or are starting to wither.

A common process for fish is the cycle, otherwise known as the nitrogen cycle. For aquariums that don’t have a filter this process is not necessary.

The cycle is mainly for the filter itself and without one, you can skip this step. Stick with water changes instead of trying to cycle a system without a filter.

It is easier to keep an unfiltered tank if it is on the larger side. A smaller tank seems easier, but in a smaller tank the toxins created by your fish build up more without the space to move around.

Even if you don’t have a filter there still needs to be some sort of current in the tank. You can do this by adding air stones and an air pump. The air pump will create a flow around the tank. Air stones are porous stones that diffuse air into the tank.

Other ways to keep your tank clean

Along with treating the water and cleaning it out periodically, there are a few things that you can do to help you out when keeping your aquarium clean.

Things such as plant life that will absorb the toxins in the water and put out biomass, which is plant matter. Also having a few fish that feed on the leftovers from other fish will decrease the amount of decaying matter.

Plants will help keep the water clean.

Plants in your tank, while beautiful, are not just for aesthetics. They provide a safe space for your guppies from others who might be more aggressive.

For unfiltered tanks, they help with the pollutants in the water.

Chemicals such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and ammonia (NH3) along with its bi-product nitrates are absorbed by your plants. In return, they put out oxygen. Since you will not be using a filter this cycle is helpful to both you and your fish.

If you don’t have anything that is cycling out the waste products that your fish produce they could suffocate on their byproducts.

Another benefit of having plants in your tank is the competition it creates for the naturally for other plant-like organisms such as algae. Without live plants in your tank algae will multiply.

Unlike live plants that take that which is dirty and make it clean algae likes to take the clean and make it dirty. They will feed on any oxygen in your aquarium to multiply taking it away from your fish.

Algae grow in the tank due to the water, they also love to feed on the chemicals your fish produce and any uneaten food. Due to the same food source having plants will limit the amount of algae.

The amount of plants depends on the size of the tank and the amount of fish. For aquariums, without a filter, it’s best to keep quite a few plants. The more live plants in the tank the fewer chemicals and algae, plus there will be more oxygen.

What we want to avoid are plants that need a lot of fertilizer. Since you don’t have a filter to clean up the mess adding more decaying matter will change the chemistry of the water.

Some good options include:

• Hornwort
• Java Moss
• Anubius nana
• Wisteria
• Egeria Densa
• Ferns

Guppies hang out near the top of the tank so you can stack your aquarium with mid to bottom-feeding fish to help clean up after them. When stacking your tank make sure that the fish are compatible with each other and live in similar environments.

Otherwise, you will have bigger fish preying on your smaller fish. Smaller fish, like the guppy, do better in tanks that don’t have a filter because they don’t need a lot of oxygen.

Aquariums without filters can’t sustain large numbers of fish. It is just too much waste to handle and you would need to do water changes almost daily.

While the guppy fairs well without a filter that doesn’t mean that all fish will. Check each species of fish that you plan on introducing into the filterless tank for the right environment.

What are the best filters for guppies?

Due to the amount of work needed most people to opt for a filter. Especially if you are a newer fish owner. Your guppies don’t like a lot current in their water so an adjustable filter is necessary.

Sponge filters are typically recommended, however, guppies do fine with power filters as long the current can be adjusted. Luckily there are filters available to make your life much easier when owning guppies.

Aqua Clear Filter

This filter is quiet and allows the user to adjust the flow of current to match the needs of the guppy without losing filtration efficiency. It also comes in five models so the size of your tank can be accommodated.

uxcell XINYOU XY-380

This is a standard sponge filter that can be used as the main filter on smaller tanks and a secondary filter on larger ones. Due to its size don’t use this in tiny tanks, it’s the perfect fit for a 20-gallon tank.

If you notice that your guppies are struggling with the flow created by your filter (pump) then place barriers such as plants and décor redirect. Don’t use any material that is not intended for tanks because it might poison your fish.

Make sure you are comfortable with having guppies period before trying out an aquarium without a filter. Setting up your tank wrong can cause your fish to die, so just be patience and take each step at a time.

The post Can Guppies Live In A Tank Without A Filter? appeared first on Water World Craze.

But, can I keep a single angelfish in a community tank? Yes, you can keep a single angelfish in a spacious community tank. Keep in mind that angelfish can become quite aggressive if not kept with the right species. Thus, you will have to make sure that you have compatible and friendly tank mates before you add an angel to the community.

This is a rather short answer, but it should satisfy your curiosity for now. Continue reading if you want to find out what is the best way to introduce an angelfish to a community tank, and what are good options for angelfish tank mates.

Can A Single Angelfish Do Well In A Community Tank?

While lots of people love keeping angelfish in groups in species only tanks, many others want to add an angel to a community tank.

Angelfish are social creatures, and keeping one in a community is only possible with the right tank mates. When in a healthy environment and surrounded by compatible tank mates an angelfish will be content and thrive.

Keeping an angelfish in a community means that you will have to meet its basic needs, such as equipping and decorating the tank properly, picking out the right tank mates, and ensuring that the tank is big enough for the whole community.

Meeting the angelfish’s basic needs is an important factor that ensures its happiness. However, many owners wonder are angelfish better suited for life in pairs and groups.

If this is one of your biggest concerns, you can rest assured! A single angel will do absolutely fine in a community tank.

Keeping multiple angelfish in a community can cause pairing and that pair can become very aggressive towards other tank mates.

Like other cichlid species, angelfish are territorial and can become aggressive, especially if they aren’t kept with the right species.

For this reason, juvenile angelfish are a better option for community tanks since they are non-aggressive while still young. Furthermore, female angels can eat smaller fish and will harass all other tank mates during spawning.

• We also recommend reading our article: Do angelfish get lonely?

How To Introduce An Angelfish To A Community Tank?

Due to their intensive personality and territorial nature, you may need to do a bit more than just add an angelfish to a tank and hope for the best.

Basically, you have only two options, either get a young or adult angelfish for your community tank.

While you can’t go wrong either way, if this is your first time owning an angel, you may want to consider getting a juvenile. This way you will get a better understanding of this species and get to know your new fish from the start.

Young angelfish are also small, meaning that yours will grow up around the rest of the community and be less likely to eat them once it reaches its impressive adult size.

Furthermore, juvenile angels aren’t aggressive and are less likely to nip or attack any other fish in the tank or fight over territory.

If you decide on a juvenile angel, just add it to the tank and make sure to observe the dynamic for the next couple of days. In most cases, a young angel will settle nicely and enjoy being part of a group.

However, if you notice that another member of the community is harassing the angel, get the bully out into a separate tank to calm down. After a few days in isolation, the bully will learn the lesson and you can get him back into the community tank.

On the other hand, adding an adult angelfish to a community tank can be a bit tricky. However, it isn’t impossible!

In this case, it is essential that you have compatible tank mates, ones that aren’t overly aggressive to attack the angel, or too small that can easily fit into the angel’s mouth and be eaten.

Generally, you can start building your community by adding an adult angelfish first and later introducing different species one step at the time. Or you can add the adult angel at any point if you are certain that other tank mates are peaceful and don’t have aggressive natures.

Again, it is very important that you observe the community for the next couple of days to see how the new angel is settling in and are there any changes in the dynamics.

On the first sign of trouble, remove the aggressive fish into a time out and place it back into the community after a few days.

Are Male Or Female Angelfish Better For A Community Tank?

While it may not seem like something you should consider, the gender of an angelfish can be an important factor in maintaining peace in the community.

Generally, keeping a single male angel is always a better option since they don’t have any of the aggressive tendencies that are seen in groups or pairs.

Female angels, on the other hand, can false spawn even if there is no male angel in the tank. During this period a female will be aggressive and guard the eggs for a few days by attacking any other fish that comes near them.

However, considering how hard it is to determine the sex of angelfish there is a big chance that you end up with a female in your community. In this case, you can transfer the female in another tank, clean the eggs, and then get her back into the community to avoid aggression.

What Fish Can You Put With Angelfish In A Community Tank?

Choosing tank mates for angelfish can be difficult since they are predators in the wild and usually eat any fish that they can fit into their mouths.

Considering that angelfish can be aggressive, they are best paired with peaceful and non-aggressive species that aren’t so small to be perceived as an easy meal.

The following fish are a good option for an angelfish community tank:

• Corydoras Catfish (Cory Cats)
• Platies
• Bristlenose Pleco
• German Blue Ram
• Swordtails
• Keyhole Cichlids
• Guppies
• Mollies
• Bolivian Rams
• Malaysian Trumpet Snails
• Lemon Tetras
• Head and Tail Light Tetras

Note, while all of these fish are suitable tank mates for an angelfish, you should be careful and keep an eye on dynamics when keeping small fish.

If you plan on keeping small fish, introduce them while the angelfish is young and small. This way, the angel will see them as tank mates and not a meal.

What Wish To Avoid In An Angelfish Community Tank?

Certain fish can either be preyed upon or are aggressive, and should never be in the same tank with an angelfish. Knowing which species to avoid will help you create a peaceful and healthy environment for your angelfish to thrive.

Species to avoid include:

• Neon Tetras: Are small and will easily become prey to an adult angelfish.
• Cardinal Tetras: Are slightly larger than Neon Tetras but not large enough for an adult angelfish to have problems eating.
• Blackskirt Tetras: Sometimes trigger attacks, so it is best not to keep them with angelfish.
• Harlequin Rasboras: Are also small and usually end up eaten by angelfish.
• Shrimp: Angelfish eat shrimp so it is best not to keep them in the same tank.
• Aggressive Fish: Any aggressive fish should never be kept in the same tank as an angelfish since they will bully it. Species to avoid include, Jack Dempsey, oscar, silver arowana, most barbs, and most sharks.

The post Can I Keep A Single Angelfish In A Community Tank? appeared first on Water World Craze.

What size of tank do you need if you want to get an Angelfish? For each Angelfish you own, you will need at least 10 gallons of water. If you have a pair of Angelfish, the recommendation is that you double that size and add another ten gallons.

Angelfish can grow to be at least six inches in length. They’re big fish – they’re going to need lots of room to move around in the tank. Obviously, the more fish you have, the bigger the tank you will need.

A general rule of thumb is to not go with the smallest fish tank you absolutely need. If you have a pair of fish, they want to have their own space or they might start fighting. Did you know that the shape matters too? Read on to find out more.

How big does the fish tank need to be?

You’ve settled on an Angelfish as your pet. Now you need to make sure you have the right home for it. There are four main things to consider:

1. How many fish you want to put into the tank; 2. The size of the tank, or how much water it can hold; 3. The shape of the tank, rectangle, round, etc.; and

4. How many decorations you want to put in the tank.

When talking about the size of the fish tank for your Angelfish, you need to consider more than the amount of water the tank can hold. While the ideal amount of water is 10 gallons for one fish (or roughly 38 litres), you have to add more water if you have more fish.

Another way to figure it out is to go by a simple guideline which stipulates that for every inch in length your fish is you need two gallons of water.

You’re Angelfish will grow to be about six inches, if not more, so you’ll want to calculate on what size they can be. So, doing the math, one fish with six inches of length will need 12 gallons of water. Two Angelfish will need a minimum of 24 gallons.

Angelfish can share their home with other species of fish, but remember one Angelfish needs 10 gallons of water. If you purchase a pair, you’ll have to double the size and add some more. Add in the other species of fish and you may require an even bigger tank.

Make sure you do the research for all of the fish. Different species require different amounts of water. If you don’t look into all of the information, you may have stressed out Angelfish that don’t do very well.

Why we recommend having more than 10 Gallon per Angelfish

1. Decorations take up space

You’re going to want to consider what flora and decorations you are adding to the tank. Will your plants be live or plastic? How much space will they take up?

Every item you add to the aquarium takes up more space, which means less space for the water and the fish.

Here are some items that you may want for your fish tank:

• Something to cover the bottom of the tank, like gravel, stones, crushed coral or sand;
• Plants, real or plastic (make sure you do the research on these);
• Fun decorations like Dory or Nemo statues;
• Water Filtration System; and
• Heater for the water.

If you buy a 10-gallon tank and put a whole bunch of decorations and plants in there, plus a filter system, chances are you aren’t getting 10 gallons of water in there. You’re going to be shorting your fish some much-needed space.

Your fish will also have to navigate the clutter. You won’t see their pretty colors nearly as much as you’d like to.

2. Your Angelfish may not thrive if they don’t have enough water

The more water you have in the tank, the safer it will be for your fish unless you plan to change the water quite often.

With every fish there is waste. That food has to go somewhere, right? It might sound gross, but yes, they are pooping and peeing in that tank. The more water there is for the fish, the more diluted the waste will be. This makes the tank cleaner and less prone to disease for your pets.

The more fish you put into a small space, the higher the waste to water ratio will be. Make sure that you follow the guidelines on the amount of water for your fish, or you may end up with disease-ridden little fellows who aren’t going to make it.

3. Angelfish pairs are territorial and will need more space

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have two or more Angelfish and two of them decide to pair up, they will get territorial. They’ll want their space for their babies and will not hesitate to defend it.

So, if you don’t provide enough space for the Angelfish, and extra for their buddies, you’re going to end up with some fights on your hands.

4. Cleaning will be easier!

Having more water in the tank is also more convenient for cleaning it. Ideally, you’re cleaning your tank bi-weekly. If you’d like to go longer, get a bigger tank. The more room there is, the lower the waste to water ratio will be.

You’ll get to spend more time enjoying your fish, rather than cleaning up after them.

5. More room for big personalities

Also, fish have different personalities, just like humans. Even if we’re living with people that we get along with, sometimes we need some extra space from them. Your Angelfish are going to feel the same way.

Try to give them enough room that they don’t have to be in each other’s faces the whole time.

What’s the best tank shape for Angelfish?

Don’t forget to think about the shape of the tank, too. It’s possible to have a 10-gallon tank that is too shallow for an Angelfish, like this one, even though it’s well suited for others. But with a height of 7.1 inches, it’s not going to comfortably fit an Angelfish.

Remember, Angelfish can grow to six inches in length, sometimes more. If you have a tank that shallow, your fish won’t be able to swim up or down. Get your fish a nice hexagonal tank, though, and they’ll be able to stretch their fins out quite a bit more.

There are also tanks that are narrow and tall. These will also not work well if you’re fish reach their potential size. The thin tank won’t allow them to turn around easily, and it will be even more congested with the decorations on the bottom.

Your fish need a big space to move around in.

The shape matters for all sizes of tanks whether it’s 10 gallons or 55 gallons. The height of the tank will determine whether it will work for your Angelfish or not.

We explain everything you need to know about tank shapes and tank size for angelfish in this article!

Can I just use tap water to fill the tank?

Angelfish are originally from the Amazon River. The water there is soft, warm and has a gentle current. The water from your tap is probably not going to be the same.

When getting a fish, you’re going to want to get your water checked out if that’s what you’re going to use. Some things I recommend you consider are:

• The dGH level, or how hard the water is;
• What is your tap water treated with, for example, Chlorine; and
• The pH level, or acidity, of the water.

Ideally, the water coming out of your tap is potable, meaning you can drink with it or cook with it. If you’re in a community where potable water isn’t a guarantee, I’d go with something different, like distilled water. Ask the pet store staff which is best.

The dGH level of your water can play a role in how well your fish do. Angelfish prefer a dGH level of 0.6 to 2. The recommended hardness of water in Canada is between 4.4 to about 5.5.

Some communities have a hardness level of over 11 dGH. So before you turn on the tap water, you’re going to want to check the hardness levels.

Rather than hire someone to do the testing for you, you can purchase your own test kit here.

There are also many chemicals added to our tap water to make it safe for human consumption. While that’s great for us, it’s not necessarily so great for your fish. Chlorine, nitrates, ammonia and other chemicals can cause significant problems for your finned pets.

Finally, there is the pH level that you need to consider for your fish. This pH level tells you how high the acidity in your water is.

Angelfish prefer an acidity level between 6.5 and 6.9. To put this in perspective, Canada’s guidelines for pH levels range from 6.5 to 8.5. If you want to look into the pH level of your water, get this test kit as it is a 5 in 1 tester.

Keeping all of those things in mind, if you do want to use tap water, you’re probably going to have to look into products you can use to regulate these levels in your tank water.

What other types of fish can I have with the Angelfish?

Some fish work together and some don’t. Angelfish are no exception to this rule.

It can be hard to predict the behavior of each fish. Like people, they may have a different temperament than the average of their species. When you’re introducing new fish to the tank, watch them for a bit to make sure they get along.

Angelfish can be placed with several different species of fish and do well with them. Your best bet is to ask at the pet store. They’ll know which fish will work together.

If you’re still in your planning stage and want to get a general idea, you can check out this handy chart. After doing some research you can ask educated questions and help narrow down your search.

Angelfish belong to the cichlid family of fish, which contains over 2,000 different species. They are peaceful fish, only prone to aggression during feeding and breeding times. If you get them some tetra neighbors or some nice bottom feeders they will work out fine.

You’ll want to watch that you don’t get fish that are aggressive or even kind of aggressive. These kinds can stress your poor Angelfish out and cause problems in the tank. Especially any fish that likes to nip at fins.

The Tiger Barb fish is one that often causes issues because it will nip at the long, elegant fins of the Angelfish.

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