New aquarium

[Evangeline]

I am so excited I got a used in perfect condition 46 gallon bowfront aquarium that came with everything including fish. They gave me lots of there water to which is good. I have two silver dollars, two japanese algae eaters, two baby angelfish and two baby pictus catfish I just bought. I love pictus catfish they are so fun to watch dance across the tank. They are under two inches long so tiny.I may down the road have to get rid of the silver dollars as they may outgrow the tank.

My other aquarium is a 29 gallon. It has One japanese algae eater, six platys, one sordtale, two female bettas.

I also have another tank with my african clawed frog. I wish I had a camera I would send pics.

[twoisplenty]

Nice :) I would be careful though because those pictus catfish will eat smaller fish such as your baby angelfish.

[Huginn]

Congrats that is a score.

Agreed with twoisplenty, pictus cats are awesome, but they have huge mouths. Any fish will eat anything that fit's in it's mouth. I would also recommend getting rid of the silver dollars early, they can be nippy when they get larger and your angel fish are slow moving with big fins that are targets. Also, just having water from an established tank doesn't help. The nitrifying bacteria that you need to help the aquarium "balance" lives in the filter and in the gravel, also in whatever porous surfaces you have in there like driftwood, rocks or fake decor. It doesn't really live free swimming in the environment, that being said I wouldnt be surprised if you have a minor bacterial bloom and some cloudy water within the next 4-5 days.

Good luck with your new fish, those baby angel fish are fun to watch grow.

[Evangeline]

How do you get rid of the cloudy water if it becomes a problem.

[twoisplenty]

Cloudy water is a sign of poor water conditions, Usually caused by overfeeding. Routine weekly water changes of 25-50% should keep water crystal clear. Try cutting back on your feedings as well and remove any uneatten food after 5 minutes.

[Caty M]

I"d say the pictus cats are going to be too big for the 46 gallon tank too. They grow to six inches and are really active. I have three in a 180 gallon and think it's too small for them too sometimes.. they are FAST!

Eventually they are probably going to eat your algae eaters and your angelfish.

[Huginn]

How do you get rid of the cloudy water if it becomes a problem.

As twoisplenty said, it's a sign of poor conditions, but I will also add it is also "new tank syndrome." Mine got a little cloudy for a couple of days when I moved 6 hours away, but all of the water tested in appropriate ranges (0 nitrite, 0 ammo and less than 20ppm of nitrate). It is better to prevent it than it is to "fix it." First off, don't buy anything off of the shelf other than a water condition (I like stress coat or prime). All of those gimmicks that say, "instant cycle" or "no more cloudy water" or "less water changes" are BS. I recommend the same as twoisplenty, once a week change 25-50% of the water, gravel vac and change your filter pads on alternate weeks (this keeps your bacteria colony from getting completely wiped out), feed lightly. Imagine that the fishes stomach is about the size of it's eye, that is all they need. Those pictus cats will gorge themselves but they don't need it. More food means more waste, more waste means higher ammonia, higher ammonia means dead fishies. I feed every other day and my fish have always been a healthy weight. Live plants will help keep your water clean as well.

[swolek]

Congrats! :)

As others have said, I'd rehome the pictus cats and silver dollars. They need more space and the pictus cats are predatory.

Also watch the algae eaters. If they're the species I'm thinking of (hard to say for sure since pet stores make up so many names, haha), they become aggressive and predatory as they age...changing from a diet of algae to a diet of fish. I'd instead recommend some bristlenose plecos...they are awesome, hardy algae eaters that come in different varieties. A few would be perfect for your set-up.

[Huginn]

Congrats! :)

As others have said, I'd rehome the pictus cats and silver dollars. They need more space and the pictus cats are predatory.

Also watch the algae eaters. If they're the species I'm thinking of (hard to say for sure since pet stores make up so many names, haha), they become aggressive and predatory as they age...changing from a diet of algae to a diet of fish. I'd instead recommend some bristlenose plecos...they are awesome, hardy algae eaters that come in different varieties. A few would be perfect for your set-up.

These, rubber lips, or clown plecs! I love them all.

[Evangeline]

I have had pictus catfish in the past. One in a 35 gallon and two in a 75 gallon. They were never aggressive and were very healthy and happy. I wouldnt trust them with small fish though. I will keep an I on the algae eaters. I heard they get aggressive as they grow. Could I take the two angelfish out of the big tank and put them in the 29 gallon. Would that be big enough for two angels.