Some Angelfish questions:

[Chiclid_Mike]

I'm in love with angelfish, but i want to know if i can keep them, in a 20 gallon aquarium with 10 black neon tetras. I have 2 angels, and would like to keep them even when they are full-grown and want to know if this tank is suitable.

If it's not, i've also read about P.Altum and wondering if they are a more suitable species? I don't know much about them, but maybe they are smaller?

Also can you tell me why my peat fiber in my filter hasn't really made the water a tannish colour?

If [acronym:c710c3abaa="Normal Output Fluorescents"]NO[/acronym:c710c3abaa] angelfish are suitable for this aquarium, then can you tell me more about the ram cichlids?

[Jchillin]

Welcome to AA (thanks for explaining the spellling thing

Angels and neons just don't go well together. They can while juvies but after that, the neons will make a nice snack. P.Altums are the wild strain of angel and would do the same as P. Scalare.

Rams are a better choice for that sized tank. Were you considering Bolivan, German Blue or Gold? You could get 2 for that sized tank.

Are you using Peat to soften your water? Peat shouldn't change your water color so much to be visible.

[acronym:2b192b6906="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:2b192b6906].

[Chiclid_Mike]

Lol thanks, now when i asked my ifs about the neons, they ARE depper bodied and wouldn't get munched on by the angels, but whatever, i'm just gonna give the angels away ( i was planning to) And as you said about the rams, does it really matter which of the three i choose? Or where you just wondering?

[Blazeherd2306]

Believe me a 7" angel will munch on black neons. From the pictures I've seen they aren't much deeper bodied and angels can extend their mouths to make them alot bigger. [acronym:5d39ac66b4="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:5d39ac66b4] opinion 20 [acronym:5d39ac66b4="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:5d39ac66b4] is way too small. Angels height can be as tall as 10" and in a 12" high tank(I'm assuming its a 20 long) it won't give them alot of room.

And as you said about the rams, does it really matter which of the three i choose?

German blues seem to be harder to keep than bolivians and unless you've researched them alot then you might want to choose bolivians.

[Fluff]

Actually, the altums get taller and I don't feel would be suited for anything less than a 30g tank. As for tank size and angels, depends on who you ask. Most say 30g but my books say 20g min. But, like Jchillin said, neons are a natural food source for adult angels. If you choose to do the rams instead (fine choice either way), I'd go with the bolivians. The german blues, while much nicer to look at, aren't as hearty. There is a thread on here about keeping them you could check out.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=53378

Are you trying to do a black water tank?

[Chiclid_Mike]

Alright thanks, it's great to know which fish i'm getting (The Bolivian Rams) and then, should i get 2?

Yes, i am trying to do a blackwater tank, any tips?

I'd like to know how to make the substrate along the bottom of the tank mud, as i know in the wild Rams like, but i don't know how without clouding the water?

Seen it once in a zoo, small tank with rams and mud, looks really nice.

[Meredith]

I have been looking into using peat to soften my water a bit. I am still not sure if this something I want to do, but I found this page. It has a lot of info on using peat.

[Fluff]

No, sorry. I have no idea on blackwater tanks or mud bottoms. Here is a sight I found on making a black water tank. [acronym:22f0733355="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:22f0733355]

http://joshday.com/blackwatertank.htm

As for the bolivians, if you can, I would get a pair.

http://www.wetpetz.com/bolivram.htm

[Chiclid_Mike]

Alright thanks a lot

[Chiclid_Mike]

I read the info on peat (both pages) and read that oak leaves help darken the water? Ok, but where do i put the oak leaves in the tank?