New aquarium

[Evangeline]

I have 29 gallon two small angelfish. 46 gallon two silver dollars and two pictus catfish. My 16 gallon tank I just got a internal whisper filter and I love it, only cost $20.00. Someone is coming tonight for the three algae eaters. I dont want anymore pictus catfish my experience is when they are young they like to live in large groups once they reach full size they are more aggressive and tend to stick in smaller groups and will fight if they dont have there own caves. I think two is good and I have three caves in there. More fish more poop more to feed. Some people say they are perfectly happy housed alone I guess it depends were you read. I live in an apartment and cant have a huge tank that is going to take up my hole livingroom. The plan is to upgrade the 46 gallon sell the 29 gallon and put the angels in the 46 gallon. 60 gallons is 48 inches long correct me if I am wrong. Yet 65 is is 36 inches long same as my 46 gallon. So with two pictus catfish and minimum how many more silver dollars do I need and what is the perfect tank size thanks for any response. I did just see a 90 gallon aquarium up for sale.

[Huginn]

For silver dollars I prefer schools of six. IF (big if) you keep your water quality spectacular, with weekly changes, no over feeding and routine gravel vacuuming the 48" long tank would be sufficient, IMO. Some people are purists and say that you would need the 90 gallon. I have posed the question of pictus cats in a thread on MFK (monster fish keepers), I will provide the link. If you look down the list and read the info, most people (who are really good fish keepers and keep these and other VERY LARGE species) recommend a 55gal as idea with a tank measuring 36" as sufficient. Again, this is with superb water quality. A 55gal should be the same length as the 60gal you are looking at with the same width, just a little taller (which as far as water quality goes, has no benefits). The silver dollars would be ok in this size tank, most people say a school has a minimum number of six.

Pimelodus Pictus -- how big?

[Evangeline]

Hi I am so excited I found a good deal on a one year old 55 gallon aquarium and stand. Silly question but can it go infront of the radiator, not pushed up but a few inches infront. Its the only wall in the living room that would work.

[swolek]

If you look down the list and read the info, most people (who are really good fish keepers and keep these and other VERY LARGE species) recommend a 55gal as idea with a tank measuring 36" as sufficient. Again, this is with superb water quality.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. Pictus Catfish can survive in small tanks, like a 36''. But they're so active that it's just not enough room for them to really thrive IMO. I say this as I look at my 36'' tank that's across the room. I'm picturing an adult Pictus Catfish in there and there just isn't much space for swimming. It would be so cramped :(.

A lot of fish can survive in smaller tanks but that doesn't make it OK. The other problem with tank sizes for larger catfish is that a ton of people keep them in smaller tanks and think it's ok because they live for a while. These fish are supposed to live for 7-10 years...most people don't have them for that long.

A 55-gallon would probably work for a while (if they're babies and you just keep the pair) but if you actually have these fish for their full lifespan, you will need to upgrade at some point. If it was me, I'd at least look for a used 70 or 75 gallon. That would be a lot more stable and could house the fish longer yet will fit in the same space. There are used tanks for sale all the time (you could even post a wanted ad), no need to jump on the first ones you see.

Considering that even LiveAquaria, who sells fish, recommends a minimum of 70 gallons says a lot.

They'll be more interesting in a larger tank, anyway :). Pictus Catfish (and similar large, active catfish) tend to pace a lot and swim up and down the sides of the tank when they're in a cramped environment.

You already got good advice on the Silver Dollars :).

[Evangeline]

I have the new 55 gallon set up with a 60 whisper filter. Would it hurt to put the aqua tech 20-40 filter system in there aswell. I guess what Im asking is can I over filter doing this.

[Scarlett_O']

I have the new 55 gallon set up with a 60 whisper filter. Would it hurt to put the aqua tech 20-40 filter system in there aswell. I guess what Im asking is can I over filter doing this.

No you can not over filter.
I LOVE having at LEAST double filtration!

[Evangeline]

I promise last questions . I have decided to sell my silver dollars. So now I have a 55 gallon with two pictus catfish. I want to do this right and give it some thought so what other types of fish would be good tankmates for pictus and how many should I get. I rather be under stocked then over. I called the local pet store they said oscar or pacu I just said ok and hung up the phone. Oscars and pacus get way to big for that size tank. I was looking for one or two large interestng fish rather then a bunch of small fish. Any suggestions Also now my 46 gallon has one female betta, two angelfish and six platies. Do I hae room to add some corydoras if so how may should I buy and what tipe

[doggiedad]

i'm in the process of setting up a 55 gallon aquarium. i
don't have the money to set up the aquarium all at once
so i'm buying things for it piece by piece. so far i bought
manzanita driftwood. next, i'm going to but rocks.

[Huginn]

I promise last questions . I have decided to sell my silver dollars. So now I have a 55 gallon with two pictus catfish. I want to do this right and give it some thought so what other types of fish would be good tankmates for pictus and how many should I get. I rather be under stocked then over. I called the local pet store they said oscar or pacu I just said ok and hung up the phone. Oscars and pacus get way to big for that size tank. I was looking for one or two large interestng fish rather then a bunch of small fish. Any suggestions Also now my 46 gallon has one female betta, two angelfish and six platies. Do I hae room to add some corydoras if so how may should I buy and what tipe

You are quite right, Pacus need gigantic tanks and are really not practical in home aquaria. Tank breakers is a good name for them. Oscars need at least a 75 for one Oscar, but I would recommend bigger.
The 55 if it were mine, I might consider some of the more passive african cichlids like yellow labs and aceis if you want "bigger fish." There are a lot of other options, I like polypterids a lot. P. senagalus would be cool, or maybe a delhezi but a 75 would be better. Some of the smaller more peaceful south american cichlids, firemouths, severums, kribensis, look around on the forums and you will see lots of options. Oh roseline sharks might be kind of cool too.
For the 46 gal I can help a little more. I wouldn't recommend a betta with angel fish, it can sometimes end in problems. Be prepared for your platies to reproduce a lot. If you do not have a home intended for the fry they will overcrowd you. For tanks with angelfish I like larger schooling fish, rummy nose, cardinals, black neons, lamp eyes, bleeding hearts, rosy barbs (they eat baby plants though), penguin tetras are really cool, as are rhombo and ruby barbs. For bottom dwellers, corydoras you would have plenty of room for a school of six, pandas are my favorite along with juliis and adolfis. Kuhli loaches would probably be ok, if you want an algae eating catfish I would recommend bristle nose or rubber lips, you also have room for a pair of farlowellas if I remember correctly. I would really recommend sticking with one or two types of schooling fish along with your angels. The more you have of a single species the tighter they will school and the more you will enjoy them.
These are common size tanks with common types of fish, do some looking around at what others have done. Good luck!

[Evangeline]

Thanks for all the good info. For the 46 gallon I will get six panda corys. For the 55 gallon Im thinking of a pair of yellow labs, pair of aceis, and not sure but if still room pair of kribensis. Does this sound good.