Is my Tank size a problem for my Oscar

Hi, I have a question about tank size. I have a 75 gallon tank that I have a 5 month old Oscar, a 1 year old Oscar and a baby parrot fish in. I haven't been testing the water but last week they seemed lethargic so I thought I would test my nitrates and I almost died when it was at 160ppm. I did a 90 pct water change and have been changing 50 pct water every 2 days cause I'm afraid it will go that high again. I am running two emperor 400s on the tank so not sure what the problem is. Is it my tank size? I plan on getting a 120 in 3 weeks but not sure if that will be big enough size wise for the 3 or if I need to go bigger. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks

 

Welcome to FishLore

Do you do regular water samples with this tank? Or is this something that took several weeks or longer to happen?

Once a tank is cycled properly, and if the tank is not over loaded, weekly sample is probably adequate, but going several weeks without sampling will lead to parameters running high

I think once a tank is established and running well, most people do their water changes based on nitrAte levels. Therefore nitrAte is checked regularly.

 

2 oscars in a 75? That's pushing capacity, add the parrot fish? Yea, you need to go bigger.

The 120 would do (barely) for the 2 oscars. They're very messy, if you haven't noticed!

When they're fully grown, about 13 inches....120 will not be large enough, maybe, maybe not. Depends on the oscars. Fully matured, they're very aggressive and territorial. Mine were always locking lips, looked like they were trying to rip each other's mouths off.

And the nitrates, it's because they produce a lot of waste. Lots of ammonia and nitrites to turn into nitrate. 160 ppm, is about 80 times normal. Keep it down to 20 or below. They'll bounce back pretty quick. Just give them clean, fresh water.

Fyi, the filters do not remove nitrates. Nothing does except plants and water changes. Oscars don't like plants, they'll tear everything up, so you're stuck with water changes.

I'd stick with a maintenance schedule of changing 25% every 2 days until you get them into larger accommodations.

 

I don't know Oscars... But what about floating a bunch of Anacharis or water lettuce? It takes a lot of damage to kill them and they are great with nitrates. And they are cheap.

 

I wasn't testing my water once my tank was established because I was doing weekly 50-75 % water changes. If a 120 is too small for both Oscars and the parrot fish what size would be ok? Thanks for all the help

 

At such a young age you're fine with the 75 until they get a little bigger, but with the parrot fish in there you're overstocked. I have kept Oscars in planted aquariums before and they didn't tear anything up, it's worth a try.

 

I have a 55 gallon with 4 convict females could the parrot fish go in there

 

Should be fine. Although any Cichlid has the chance to be aggressive, even if they're all south/central American. Convicts have a reputation of being pretty aggressive and correct me if I'm wrong but I think they can crossbreed.

 

I wasn't testing my water once my tank was established because I was doing weekly 50-75 % water changes. If a 120 is too small for both Oscars and the parrot fish what size would be ok? Thanks for all the help

It's recommended that you have 55 gallons per oscar, and 40 or 50 gallons per parrot. For several reasons.

1st, is water issues. They're all high waste producers. Lots and lots of waste, not to mention what they tear up or dig up. (And eventually they will) the more water volume, the better water quality that dilutes the waste.

2nd, is aggression. Oscars and parrots, both, are extremely territorial. They need space to call their own, they need space between 1 territory and the others territory. It's not like a fence line that separate 1 yard from the next. This Oscar's territory doesn't end at rock A, and the other Oscar's territory ends at rock B. Pretty much, if they can see it, they claim it, and will fight for it.

3rd, don't even get started on a paired, couple. They will attack, destroy and kill everything they think is a threat. Let's say the 2 oscars you have, eventually pair up...... oh Mr. Parrot fish won't survive a week. You may find him torn into chunks laying in the gravel.

It's not just the oscars either. The parrot is a rowdy 1 himself! After all oscars and parrots are cichlids. Smaller, they're ok, usually chase each other around. As they get bigger, they begin to swagger a bit, take bigger bites, rip things apart, then eventually they start tearing each other apart.

It's can be a nasty business. Moral of the story? Go bigger, before they get bigger. And seriously consider putting Mr. Parrot fish in his own home, with a buddy or 2, away from the oscars.

They don't play nice with others....

 

Long term: reduce fish or get bigger tank
Short term: water changes and reduce feeding. You could try plants, but oscars do everything in their power to destroy them. Maybe some pothos in a hang on the back.

 

Originally I had one Oscar with the convicts and added the parrot fish but the convicts wouldn't leave the parrot fish alone so I moved the convicts to their own tank and the Oscars and Parrot fish seem to do great together but I also don't know what sex my Oscars are

 

Well, sexing oscars isn't easy. Except for their organs, everything else is the same.

You can try looking in front of the anus. Males will have 2 holes, the same size. The anus and his organ. Females have 2 different size holes. The egg tube is larger than the anus.

Sometimes you can see it, most of the time you can't without physically flipping them over and knowing what to look for.

With yours being 10 months to 12 months old, you really won't be able to see it for about 3 to 6 more months.