In this post, we will discuss the topic “How many Angelfish in a 30-gallon tank” and all steps of setting up an Angelfish aquarium.
How many Angelfish in a 30-gallon tank?
A 30-gallon tank can fit up to 2 fully grown adult Angelfish. They will have plenty of space to hide and establish their territory. A 30-gallon tank also allows you to have some good tankmates, building a community.
What you should know about Angelfish
Angelfish are wonderful freshwater fish. They have a semi-aggressive temperament. However, they remain peaceful most of the time. Their peculiar triangular shape and colours attract many hobbyists attention.
They are not demanding fish and can be awesome community tank inhabitants. They grow up to 6 inches long and 10 inches tall. For this reason, they require more space than the general rule “1 gallon per inch of fish”. In captivity, they can live for up to 12 years.
They are omnivorous fish. It is usually recommended to feed them with live foo, some fresh and boiled vegetables, freeze-dried items, and industrialized flakes and pellets. They need to be fed twice a day.
Angelfish tank tips
Angelfish are native to the Amazon River basin. For this reason, tank and water conditions must resemble this environment, with calm warmer well-planted waters.
Water parameters
High-quality water is highly recommended, you can get the required gallons from a local store. This would guarantee the water is free from contaminants and diseases. Also, define a parameters test routine. pH should range between 6 and 8, and temperatures between 78 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Angelfish requirements for water hardness are between 3 and 8 dKH.
Tank size
As stated at the top of this article. Angelfish are medium-sized territorial fish that occupy well-plated areas. For these reasons, they require more space than the general rule proposed (more than 1 gallon per inch of fish). The most accepted and recommended tank size equation is: Total size in gallons = (fish average height +10)* number of fish in the tank.
This equation would give a tank size with enough space to set the substrate, plant, the whole tank equipment.
Additionally, they are not schooling fish. Although, they prefer hanging in groups, as they feel safer in the company of conspecifics. A 30-gallon tank can house 2 fully grown adult Angelfish.
Water filtration system
Having a good filtration system is strongly recommended. Additionally, it is also suggested to set up a water change routine of 10 to 25% changes biweekly. Also, Angelfish prefer slow-moving flows.
Plants and Substrate
Angelfish appreciate well-planted environments with fine sandy substrate. Thus, it is recommended to have some plants like Java moss, Java fern, Acharis, or Amazon sword in your tank, as they will resemble the Angelfish natural habitat.
Additionally to the natural resemblance, live plants will also provide, hiding spots, safety feeling, and help you with water quality maintenance.
What are the best tank mates for Angelfish?
Angelfish are mostly peaceful fish, although they can get aggressive and territorial sometimes. Several species can become good tankmates to Angelfish and others must be avoided.
Younger Angelfish tend to be more tolerant and social than older ones. Thus, introducing them to tankmates while young is a manner to reduce the aggressiveness chances.
Some of the Angelfish tank mates are listed below with their compatibility grade and specificities:
Bristlenose Pleco – 10/10
Bristlenose plecos are also natural to the Amazon River basin. They are bottom-dwellers and feed mostly in algae and sunk leftovers. They have an extremely peaceful temperament and are incredibly easy to care for.
Similar to Angelfish, these fish also enjoy tanks with live plants. They make awesome tank mates to Angelfish and will assist you with algae cleaning. Their temperature requirement is between 70 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit and they can grow up to 6 inches.
Corydoras catfish – 10/10
Corydoras catfish are also great additions to the community tank with Angelfish. They are easy fish to take care of and have an easy-going relaxed temperament. They enjoy living in small groups of 3-4 Corys.
There are several types of Corydoras catfish. Thus, it will be quite easy to find one that can fit very well into your 30-gallon community tank. In general, they grow around 2.5 inches and require temperatures between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keyhole Cichlids – 10/10
The Keyhole Cichlids are hardy peaceful fish. One of the most peaceful Cichlids, they are very popular among aquarists. They are not fin-nippers and have incredible personalities.
Their temperature requirements vary between 74 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also an easy species to keep and grow only up to 5 inches.
Molly fish – 10/10
Molly fish are very famous fish within home aquariums. They get along easily with a huge variety of tank mates. They are known to have loads of different colour patterns and can breed quite easily. Thus, avoid keeping both genders together if you are not planning to breed them.
They are easy fish to keep as they are quite hardy. They only grow up to 3 inches and their ideal temperatures should range from 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Platy fish – 10/10
Platies are one of the most recommended fish for beginners. They are hardy, soft tempered, colourful fish. They also breed quickly and could easily overpopulate a tank.
They are very easy to take care of and temperatures should range from 68 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit for them to thrive. They grow up to 2.5 inches.
Must-be-avoided fish with Angelfish?
As stated above, Angelfish are semi-aggressive fish. This means they can get somewhat aggressive in specific circumstances. Among these are when they feel threatened, in the presence of intruders, or while protecting their offspring.
Accordingly, some fish species should not be introduced as tankmates to Angelfish. Or because they will threaten and nip at the Angelfish, because they are also territorial fish, or they could be bullied or devoured by the Angelfish.
Oscars and Convicts are aggressive territorial Cichlids should be avoided. Barbs are also not good tankmates as they are fin-nippers. Smaller fish species should also be avoided as they would easily become Angelfish prey.
Conclusion
In this post, we discussed “How many angelfish in a 30-gallon tank” and all steps of setting up an Angelfish aquarium.
If you have any thoughts or doubts, feel free to drop us in a comment below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How many Angelfish in a 30-gallon tank
Can I keep Angelfish in a 30-gallon tank?
Yes, Angelfish are semi-aggressive territorial fish that require plenty of space to swim and explore. Thus, a 30-gallon tank can keep comfortably 2 adult Angelfish with some tank mates.
What size of tank does one Angelfish need?
An Angelfish require around16 to 20-gallon of space to live. However, they prefer being kept with some conspecifics for safety purposes.
What can I put in a 30-gallon tank?
Some fish species can do very well in 30-gallon tanks. Some of them are Cichlids, Tetras, Guppies, Rainbowfish, Molly fish, and Platy fish.
What fish can go with Angelfish?
Angelfish tankmates should be peaceful fish species. They cannot be small enough to be eaten by the Angelfish or large enough to eat the Angelfish. Also, fin-nippers should be avoided. Otherwise, they could injury the Angelfish fins. Some good Angelfish tankmates are Corydoras catfish, Dwarf Gouramis, Zebra Loaches, and Rainbowfish.
How big do Angelfish get?
Angelfish can grow up to 6 inches in length and 10 inches in height. For this reason, they require more space than other fish and do not follow the “1 gallon per inch of fish” rule
Can Betta fish live in a 30-gallon tank?
Yes, the minimum tank size required by Betta fish is 5-gallon. Thus, a 30-gallon tank would be enough to house a Betta fish and some tankmates, as well as to set some plants and decoration.
References
Angelfish Care Guide. https://www.aqueon.com/resources/care-guides/angelfish
Angelfish Complete Care Guide, Size, Life Span, Tank Mates, Breeding. 2020. https://fishlists.com/angelfish/
Jason. 2017. 15 Great Angelfish Tank Mates (Complete Compatibility Guide). https://www.buildyouraquarium.com/angelfish-tank-mates/
How Many Angelfish Should Be Kept Together? https://helpusfish.com/1/13/how-many-angelfish-should-be-kept-together.html
How many Angelfish? 3 Methods for Calculating How Many Angelfish You Can Put in Your Aquarium. 2012. https://aboutangelfish.com/how-many-angelfish-3-methods-for-calculating-how-many-fish-you-can-put-in-your-aquarium
