New Oscar Tank

[10lbBass]

Hi all.

So I just bought a 75 gal tank and have been researching Oscars for a while now. The only thing that I can't decide on is the filter situation. I am thinking of these options:

1. Canister Filter, Fluval 405
2. 2 Penguin 400's
3. Canister Fluval 405 and a Penguin 400

I would love to hear what everyone's thoughts are!

Thank you.

[Northernguy]

A canister and hob are the best way to go.
I would go with a aqua clear though.Much better media design.

[10lbBass]

aqua clear HOB?

[Northernguy]

Yup! Its an awesome filter.
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It can be found for cheaper.

[EmmanuelJB]

I think choice 3 would be best. I can't wait to see pics of your tank when you get it!:shappy:

[Crispy]

Definitely canister and AC HOB. :fish:

[10lbBass]

Thanks for the input! Sounds like canister & HOB it is!

EmmanuelJB. It is gonna be awesome. I have the tank and just finished putting together the stand today. I'm more excited than a 7yr old at his own b-day party.

Sadly, all I have are the tank and the stand at this point...Which makes me wonder. How powerful of a heater do I need for a 75 gal tank? And how much light wattage am I going to need? Like 225 watts? Or is that overkill? 3 watts/gal....

[chronic]

Are you getting one or two oscars?

If you're going to try two, lower lighting can help keep them calmer. But if you are going to try and keep some plants, obviously you'll want to try and maximize the light for the plants sake, but if you have two aggressive oscars the bright light can make them crazy. Trust me lol

300watt stealth heater would probably be plenty, may even get away with 250. Kind of depends on your home too, my apt is so hot in the summer, the heaters barely do any work, but in winter they make up for it.

I used a 250 and 100 watt heater in my 80g and sump for the last year and it held the 90gallons of water at a good constant temp.

[Northernguy]

Live plants become salad with most oscars.
I agree that they do not like bright lights!
My oscars are quite friendly but tear the crap out plastic plants.I tried live.I didn't even get to sit down and they munching on them.
I wouldn't waste the money on live plants and substrate.
A 75 is also a tight squeeze for two full grown O's!

This is a great read too![Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[10lbBass]

hmmmm. You've given me something to think about in regards to lighting and heat.

As for the 1 or 2 oscar question. I was asking myself that. Haven't really decided yet. I was thinking a breeding pair would be awesome, but not if you say a 75 is a tight squeeze. When you say "full grown" are you talking about size after 1 tr, or size after 2-3 yrs?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

The difference in size between a 1 year old properly cared for Oscar and a 2-3 year old Oscar is minimal, only a couple of inches different. Either way I wouldn't recommend 2 in anything smaller than a 100. A general guide (and I stress general) for stocking Oscars is 50gal (with a minimum 36x18 footprint) for the first 2 fish and 25 gal for each additional. That however does only consider bioload, nothing to do with aggression at all.

The option of a pair of canister filters isn't a bad idea either. I wouldn't say canister + HOB is the best way, simply one way of doing it. The best way for you to filter the tank is what works best for the fish and for you. It can be done very effectively with just a single canister if you want to go that way, but it is all up to you.

[Northernguy]

A well kept oscar can live at least twenty years.
They never stop growing but it does slow down a lot after the first year.I have seen them get pretty darn big in the right sized tank.
Keep an eye on Craig's List for a 6ft tank.You will never have to worry about having two.lol

[10lbBass]

Thanks for the help everyone.

So I just got back from the lfs with a fluval 405 (AC 110 coming soon), a hood, and 75lbs of rock substrate. Now the question is: What is the most efficient way to rinse off 75lbs of rocks? I have a 50ft siphon that attaches to the faucet to help.

Also. As far as cycling a new 75gal. What is the best way to go about this? The guy at the lfs seemed to know his stuff, and recommended I hook the Penguin 400 I have on my 30gal up to the 75gal, and hook the fluval up to the 30gal. Then switch them back after the tank has cycled. Sounds logical and right to me.

...I know this is an Oscar forum, but I had to slide that cycling question in there. I have a feeling I'm going to have more questions (plus pictures:hmm3grin2orange: ) about this tank.

[Northernguy]

Get a bucket and filll it a third of the way with gravel.Stick a hose in it and let it run.Mix it as it overflows from the bucket.When you are mixing and the water flows clean then its ready.Dump what in the bucket and repeat until you are done.This is best done outside!.
If there is nothing in the 30 then move all the filters onto the 75.Split the used and new media between them.
Monitor the perameters and do large water changes accordingly.At least 50%.

[10lbBass]

If there is nothing in the 30 then move all the filters onto the 75.Split the used and new media between them.

And if there are a bunch of fish in the 30 what should I do?

Wait, can't I just take some media out of the Penguin and put it in the fluval to speed up the cycle? Or is that what you're saying? Now i'm just confused.:14: lol

[Northernguy]

Yes but you will have some kind of mini cycle in the 75.You will have to watch your perameters closely.How big are your oscars now?

[10lbBass]

Awesome. So i'm not confused. Excellent.

I actually don't have the Oscar(s) yet. I want get the tank parameters correct before I introduce them.

I'm in no rush. Just want to make sure I set up this tank properly.

[jbeining75]

Oscars are easily kept.... Take some gravel out of the 30 gallon and put it in a sock... Place that in the 75 gallon.... Keep the 30 gallon media where it is at for filtration purposes unless you are running 2 filters on the 30 gallon. A mini cycle in a 30 gallon will be way more harsh than a 75 gallon. The more tank volume the less volatility of the cycle spike on ammo and trites... Oscars are different, they have different temperments and act differently. I have 2 in a 75 gallon with swords and they haven't ripped them up. I have found that over 12 years of keeping them that larger leafed plants like swords make it alot longer than something like anub or anacharis. Just split out 3-5 territories in the tank to give them room. Live plants aren't needed though as Oscars can tolerate nitrates at 40-80 ppm easily. Not good at 80 ppm but they tolerate it very easily. my tank stays around 0 ppm ammo, 0 ppm trites, 10-20 ppm trates, 7.2-7.4 pH, 76 degrees. Low lighting should be used though so it is relatively hard to keep live plants in an Oscar tank. Fake ones last but get moved around at the Oscars earliest convienence.

Oscars are amazing fish to keep and are very preseptive to their owners. Both of my current ones will come straight to the tank front and play with my daughter and I. If my brother or friends try to get them to play the Oscars just look at them like yeah keep doing that dummy I'm not moving... :hmm3grin2orange:

[10lbBass]

A mini cycle in a 30 gallon will be way more harsh than a 75 gallon.

What exactly do you mean by mini cycle?

Are you saying I can just put the Oscar in there and he'll be fine because he can tolerate the chemical swings as the tank cycles?

[10lbBass]

Started cycling...so excited!:hmm3grin2orange:

I wonder how long it will take the driftwood to sink....