Deku

I finally after much convincing was allowed to get a 125gallon or a 150gallon tank meaning a 6foot long by two foot wide and two foot tall (i think thats what they told us) and I read that I can keep two oscars in there OR One oscar and a sydnotis catfish or some sort of catfish OR an oscar with some cichlid. Any suggestions? Seeing as the min is 75 for an oscar >_> Iam ready to have an oscar I wouldnt mind two. Or atleast one oscar with some sort of catfish that would be pleasing. And that way they will have enough space to swim around and turn around and be happy. Which brings me seeings as its a 125g OR a 150 (I havnet gotten it yet getting either one the following week) is rather larger ummm well What filtration would be good for a tank that size? x_x and what kind of hood would be good to prevent jumping? And I got a question about cycling. How would I cycle a tank that big? I heard I can go into the grocery store and get pure ammonia from some sort of bottle but does this really work? does anyone have a fishless cycling proccess? I was told to just get minnows and use them for cycling and wait for the oscar to eat em. Dx but that sounds too harsh...any other way to go about it?

Nick G

A 125gal should be fine for two Oscars, plus you'd have room for some Convicts or Jewels too. As for cycling, I don't recommend using fish to cycle, pure Ammonia will work, or you could use filter media from an established tank to speed up the process.

Deku

I might go all out and just go for the 150g that I saw :P And get like One black tiger oscar and one albino/lemon tiger oscar and...Just one sydnotis catfish. Or just stick to one oscar xD and spoil it silly.

Iam extremly determined on that oscar :P Though other fish are pretty and all, oscars are just a jewel to me xD Hopefully though I didnt annoy amanda that much x_x;; Iam just pretty much <3 this fish. <3 fish obsession <3

aquarist48

Good morning. 2 Oscars and a cat fish would do fine in your 125 or 150. If you have the option I would suggest going with the 150.

As Nick suggested, it would be much easier to take some filter media from an established tank and put it in the filtration of the new tank/filter. Too, if you can add some gravel from the established tank that will help also along with the filter media. This is called "seeding" your tank. Seeding your tank just about gives you an instant cycle. You can add a fish or two but not too many at one time or it will throw the tank into an ammonia cycle and daily water changes will be needed for your fish to survive. After two weeks or so it would probably be ok to add a few fish at a time.

Do you have an API (chemical not strips) Master test kit?

Deku

X_X dont have it yet Iam getting one soon and only filter media or gravel I got from is from my turtle tank (wild turtle tank) and goldfish aquarium x_X dont think itd be good

aquarist48

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
Here is a link to the nitrogen cycle. If you'll scroll down it gives you several different methods to cycling fishless. You could place a shrimp in a mesh bag and put it into the aquarium and let it decay. This will start your cycle as well. It's mentioned in more detail at the link.

Deku

Good Iam getting the tank somewhere next week and seeing as a 125-150gallon tank is a large tank like really large. I was wondering since a 75 is min for an oscar >> and seeing as I got my turtles dewormed and checked for illness and their fine. And since mine are five inched musk turtles that by nature dont attack fish. Would they be okay with the oscar? o.o I know I can find retreats and their more of bottom walkers. They need 20gallon for one turtle and add 10 more gallons per turtle. so... would two be okay ina 150g with the oscar? o: AND AND two Fluval 5X xD

MaddieLynn

I don't think your fish with your turtles would be a good idea. Turtles need some sort of place where they can rest out of the water, which would mean eather a lower water level, which the oscar wouldn't like, or some sort of large obstruction (that sticks out of the water) to the oscars swimming room. The fish wouldn't like that either.

Tony G.

i agree although musk turtles are 99% acuatic i wuld just keep the musks on their own and keep the oscars. Im happy for you and the awesome fish you will keep

Deku

I love both ;-;

Deku

So if I get one or two oscars would the water quality be good?

Amanda

Man, wish I had the money to spend on a huge tank & canister filters.
But college & a car are more important, oh well.

aquarist48

Good morning. 2 Oscars in the 125 or 150 will be fine and the water quality will be fine as long as you do regular water changes. Water changes are a necessity regardless of how many fish are in the tank. Best of luck and hope you can share some pictures along the way

bolivianbaby

I apologize for the hijack, but Amanda, just think, when you get out of college, you'll be able to get a job where you can get the huge tank and canister filters

Deku

<3 well my tanks are graduation gifts and lot of birhday gifts <3 they kinda owed it to me after they tramautized me with shocking things in school xD They came to my school four years ago and thought I was a druggie and embarrassed me soo badly that for like two years I was bullied till I fought xD which got me in mondo trouble and a huge mess xD so yeah. That and the fact that I had a job and I raked in alot of money. As for college and car, my parents drive me to college. Saves money and gas, and college was payed for seeing it was cheap xD so yeah. And Iam just buying the tanks off some dude whose seeling me everything for like 700 dollars including filters, tank, stand, light etc. Turns out he has to rid of it fast!

wizardfitz

we had 2 oscars in our 90 with a fluval FX5( i say had because fri night our albino jumped out of his tank, and now his buddy and tiger oscar is depressed. we also have a featherfin cat in with him