can angels co-exist peacefully with gouramis?

Question

I have 2 dwarf neon blue gouramis. I was considering a couple of pearl gouramis as well as an angel or two after cycling is complete. (do angels prefer to be in pairs?) I also would like a pleco of some type right away. The tank is a 44g and is in the cycling process (only up & running with just the 2 fish for just under a week) but I notice a little algea growing on my real plants. Do I have to wait for the cycling or could I add one more. My amonea level is 0.

Answer 1

You are going to need at least a month to finish cycling. Honestly you should have started with the pearl rather than the dwarf gourami for cycling. (Pearl gourami are very hardy, while dwarf gourami are less so.) Also into the 2nd week you'll want to watch the nitrites as well as add 1 teaspoon of salt per 5 gallons.

I'd hold off on the angels until you are finished cycling. As far a co-existing the dwarfs will figh only with each other, but you got plenty of space for them both. The pearl gourami will not fight with anyone other than a rare chase of other pearls. Both these fish aren't semi-aggessive like angels,or most gourami. The angel should be fine in a pair or 2 pairs. They do get aggressive as they get older. The pearls should be fine as they get big, while the dwarf will just hide.

Answer 2

First, wiat until the cycle completes before you add any more fish. Your ammonia is at 0 becuase the fish aren't producing enough for it to register yet, but it will.

An angel or two and a pair of pearl gourami should be a nice addition to the tank I think. They should do just fine together. The algae you see on your plants came in with the plants. It willl die back before long due to a lack of nutrients in the water and that's a good thing. It will probably return at some point in the future so be watching for it. If you leave the tank lights off most of the time it will die back more quickly.

MM

Answer 3

With a 44 gallon tank, you'll need more than two fish to get the cycle started, so go ahead and get them.
I have kept gouramis and angels together for years without a problem. They can both be a bit aggressive once they're large, but tend to be more peaceful when small and do not seem to build aggression toward fish they are housed with as they grow.
If you are seeing algae already (which is likely due to the live plants) you can add the plec as well. If he cleans up all the algae, he may start munching on your live plants, or he could always eat the flake food the rest of the fish do.
Personally, I'd also add a couple of small schools of tetras for some flash, but that's just me.

Answer 4

When someone tells you to use more fish to cycle a tank,read no further,just hit delete. The best way to cycle a tank is with no fish at all,just a cap-full of ordinary ammonia and good aeration. The cycling process takes several weeks(5 to 6).There is no way to hurry it along. You are growing bacteria colonies,and that takes time. Adding cycling cultures won't help, the bacteria you need are present every where but they don't function until they have grown colonies on the surfaces in your tank and filter. Don't add any more fish now,or for several weeks to come,and when you do,go very slowly to allow the bio-filter to grow with the population. Your ammonia level is 0 because the ammonia hasn't begun to form yet. Do some research on the "Nitrogen Cycle" and this will all become clear to you.-----Good luck.----PeeTee-----P.S. Don't add the ammonia now,this "fishless" method is only for tanks with no fish at all. Unfortunately, you have already committed to a slower cycling method.