aquarium size and angelfish

Question
I am considering buying a 60 gal. hexigon tank and set it up for just angelfish and a school of tetras. My questions are: how many fish can I have for a tall 60 hexigon and are angelfish very difficult to take care of? I am a beginner hobbiest, but used to have tanks 30yrs, ago even saltwater, which was enterally different than today's standards. I have always loved fish and I read a lot and research on the internet, plus there is a great tropical/saltwater store just a couple of blocks away.  Currently, I have 2 10gal. tanks with fancy goldfish. The 2 tanks have bio filters (which cost alot) and counting up all the money I have invested in these two hand-me-down "free"tanks.... well I'm sure you get the picture!  The bug has bitten me and I really want to get into it again, big time,,, what a super hobby! Not only is it beautiful to watch, but it's a piece of nature one can't usually see in the wild...it also has the effect of lowering my bloodpressure! With no medication!

Answer
Hi Sue, WELCOME BACK TO THIS WONDERFUL HOBBY!!!!!!!
hmm... it's very difficult to certainly say how many fish could be safely maintained in any aquarium. I love angelfish, they are wonderful docile cichlids with only few occasional mild bouts of aggressive towards each-other and rarely other fish. Angelfish do need room to grow and live in peace with each-other. So going along with my experience I would reccommend about 6 maybe. If you get a breeding pair (and you probably will) out of a group you can have problems with the more timid Angels being chased and nipped. But as long as you provide plants for cover--especially tall ones to break up the aquarium's landscape it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Try to cycle your aquarium first before adding in the Angels or tetras. Swordtails usually are good hardy cyclers and should get along well with Angels. Only keep one male per tank--they tend to fight. A trio of one male to two females usually works. Try to buy all your Angelfish at one time. It is better if they grow up together. I hope you don't have the beautiful Neon tetra in mind for the Angelfish tankmates. Neons are well known for becoming food for Angelfish once the Angels grow large. Most other tetras work out fine...Even the Black skirt tetra, well-known as fin nippers have done beautifully with my Angelfish. The key is to keep a group of them together so they have themselves to play around with.

Angelfish are relatively easy to care for but they need a well-established aquarium to be healthy. Plus frequent water changes like around 1/3 twice a week. A temperature of 76-80F works well for them. A balanced diet of a good staple flake with high quality ingredients--like Omega ONE. Plus occasional feedings of frozen or freeze dried worms, brine shrimp, krill, and even crickets. Spirulina algae flakes or wafers give them the much needed vegetable matter they need in their diet. As they are babies, it is especially important to give them lots of variety and frequent small feedings. As they grow into magnificent specimens, twice feedings a day is fine.
Make sure you keep their water clean and warm, don't overcrowd them and feed them a good variety of foods. They are wonderful fish. Most are almost born handtamed and those that aren't can easily be trained to eat from your hand. It's very fun to hand feed them! Just make sure your fingers have been washed with soap and water and rinsed very well to remove excess soap residue.  

It sounds as if you are a caring fishkeeper! It's great that you are doing research before getting started. The most successful fishkeepers are the most responsible ones.
A million and one cheers to you!

My best wishes to you and your fish!!

Happy fishkeeping!
Karen~