JakeTeque

Quick Question -

I want to upgrade my tank size for my Oscars in the next couple months once I have some $ to work with, but I was wondering why deep sand is recommended for them? The tank they are in now has pebble-like substrate. Do they like to dig around ?

Thanks for your help.

lew2000

Yeah Oscars like to dig and will even move rocks/wood around and even seem to like to go after heaters sometimes. I used small rounded gravel.

pepetj

There are pros and cons in using either sand or gravel.

If you aim at using the good combination of reversed flow UGF + other filter(s) to improve mechanical filtration (Oscars are the messiest fish I ever cared for) then you should go with gravel, just make sure you get a somewhat deep layer to protect the UGF grid-assembly.

Otherwise I am quite certain sand will be a better choice. Don't expect the substrate to remain at even levels since they will recreate the landscape at will/need. Sand is way easier to clean when vacuuming and keep reasonably clean.

I placed a DIY mechanical filtration with a 370GPH submersible powerhead + Marineland canister attached as prefilter. It keeps the substrate quite clean from solid debris at the left hand side of the tank (paired-off Oscars claimed tank territory).

I am trying to establish plants in the tank (mixed but encouraging results so far) so I might upgrade the substrate in the particular area where plants are left alone -if respected or ignored is hard to tell- with either a bottom layer of Eco Complete or by using a long, not too wide, barely tall clay pot (if I ever find one) for the plants (Vallisneria americana, Tropical hornwort, Anubias barteri so far so good; Swords, Anubias Afzelii, kind of total disaster).

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Shawnie

Ive never had goodluck with plants with oscars..but each is different I guess...as much as these guys dig and tear up the bottom, id use gravel and not sand...they put the subtrate in their mouths and spit it back out constantly...sand in the gills isnt fun..not to mention deadly gasses that could be built up in the sand from over turning it all the time could be deadly also...make sure you share pics with us

JakeTeque

So my oscars aren't gonna be superdepressed if they only have gravel?

Shawnie

not at all

JakeTeque

Cool!