🏠The Angelfish tank: 240 L, hardware and start-up
Angelfish : A 240 to 300 L tank at least 50 cm tall, for a group of 5 to 6 juveniles or a bonded pair. Do not house it with neon tetras or shrimp, which it will eventually eat.
In short: 15 cm long and up to 20 cm tall, 240 to 300 L for a group, water between 24 and 28 °C. A majestic, slow cichlid, peaceful in appearance but territorial when breeding and a predator of very small fish. Its tall silhouette demands a tank at least 50 cm high; do not mix it with neons or shrimp, which it eventually eats.
240 litres minimum: why that number
For a group of 5+ Angelfish reaching 15 cm as an adult, plan 240 real litres — and remember a big tank is more STABLE, hence easier, than a small one: parameters drift slowly, leaving time to correct. At this volume, check your floor’s load rating and use a dedicated stand: a litre weighs a kilo, decor not included.
Hardware: filter, heater, lighting
A filter turning the volume over three to five times an hour, a heater around 1 W per litre set to 24 to 28°C, backed by an independent thermometer — built-in thermostats sometimes lie, and lighting on a timer at 8 to 10 hours a day: any longer and the algae win.
Substrate, plants and start-up
Nutrient substrate under fine sand or quartz, robust plants (anubias, vallisneria, Java moss) and wood to structure the territory. Then patience: a complete nitrogen cycle (3 to 4 weeks, nitrites back to zero) before the first Angelfish — the step every hurried beginner pays for dearly.
Frequently asked questions
What tank size for Angelfishs?
A real 240 litres minimum for a group of 5+ — below that, parameters drift too fast to catch.
Does a Angelfish need a heater?
Yes, about 1 W per litre set to 24 to 28°C, with an independent thermometer double-checking the thermostat.
The guides that apply to you
- Fishless cycling: the ammonia method
How to cycle a new aquarium without fish using the ammonia method: dosing, duration, seeding and testing for a reliable cycle before the first fish.
- Brackish aquarium: which species and how to set it up
Between fresh and salt water, brackish has its own favourite fish and rules. Which species to choose, what salinity to aim for and how to set up a brackish tank as a beginner.
- Aquarium in a rental: what are the rules with your landlord or flatmates?
Setting up an aquarium in a rental raises three questions: floor load, water damage and landlord agreement. What to check before investing in a tank.
- Aquarium stand: the weight mistake beginners keep making
An aquarium stand must bear 1.5 times the tank volume in kilos. Calculating the real weight, furniture to avoid, levelling: avoid the fatal mistake.