More random questions from a fish noob...

If anyone has time, could you help steer me in the right direction with a few of my questions here? I just set up a 55 gallon (it's been up, with fish in it for 2 months). I got the 55 gallon after I had a 29 gallon up and running for about 3 months. Anyway, without further ado...

1) Why do people love Oscars so much? They seem to be a celebrity type freshwater fish. I got a little guy in my 55 right now, but haven't exactly gotten attached to the little fella yet.

2) My 29 gallon had LCD lighting. The water looked super sharp and clean. It was like high def. Now, but 55 has fluorescent lighting. It looks waaaaay worse. It almost gives off a milky hue or something. Why is that?

3) My fish have been pooping long stringy poo for a bit now, and it's obviously because of my fish food. I just started feeding them peeled green peas. My Oscar will eat them, but my 2 molly's and 3 corydora, don't really eat the stuff. How can I fix the long stringy poo issue in my other fish?

4) At what point can I feed my Oscar feeder fish? I quite think I will like that.

5) Oh, I have 3 corydora catfish. Two spotted Cory's and one panda Cory. Whenever they see me, they swim to the nearest hiding spot in my tank. In fact, when I feed them, I immediately have to leave the vicinity or stay really still, or else my Mollies will get all the food. If I get a few more Cory's, will they be less skiddish? I see Cory's at the fishstore and they don't seem skiddish at all.

6) My tank has been up and running for 2 months, like I said. I have yet to clean out my canister water filter. Should I be doing that soon?

Thanks so much guys! I appreciate any help I can get!

 

1. I don't particularly care for Oscars either, but then I've never had one.

2. I have LED on two tanks and fluorescent on another and I don't see a difference. I'm not sure lighting would make your water cloudy. Trying switching the lights from one tank to the other and see if the cloudiness moves to the other tank. I notice cloudiness if ammonia spikes.

3. My fish do that too....maybe that is just the doo that they do! If their is a doo cure, I would also be interested in knowing how to do that!

4. I can't answer that one.

5. I'm no help on this one either.

6. I change my canister every three months, but I don't touch the biomedia with anything but some of the aquarium water. I also always have all my mechanical filtration before the biomedia so it stays as clean as possible.

Good Luck!!!

 

5) yes Cory cats should be at minimum in groups of 6. 8 would work in your 55. Mine literally lay on top of one another sometimes! Make sure you're feeding them sinking pellets and wafers. They cannot survive on food waiting to fall to the bottom.

 

5) yes Cory cats should be at minimum in groups of 6. 8 would work in your 55. Mine literally lay on top of one another sometimes! Make sure you're feeding them sinking pellets and wafers. They cannot survive on food waiting to fall to the bottom.

What I do is put crushed fish flakes in a jelly jar and swish them around with aquarium water for a couple of seconds. Then I dump the water (and fish flakes) into the aquarium and they all instantly start sinking. I would guess half or so make it to the bottom before my two mollies get them. Do you think this will suffice?

 

Personally no. I find flakes disintegrate very quickly giving the cories little time to eat. Mine can take 4 hours to eat a wafer or two. Wafers and pellets are formulated so they last allowing your bottom feeders to eat leisurely.

 

I can't answer your question on the oscar but I don't know if giving them feeder fish to eat is the healthiest. Others with experience on them can best advise. I can answer some of your other questions though.

If anyone has time, could you help steer me in the right direction with a few of my questions here? I just set up a 55 gallon (it's been up, with fish in it for 2 months). I got the 55 gallon after I had a 29 gallon up and running for about 3 months. Anyway, without further ado...


2) My 29 gallon had LCD lighting. The water looked super sharp and clean. It was like high def. Now, but 55 has fluorescent lighting. It looks waaaaay worse. It almost gives off a milky hue or something. Why is that If the light came with the hood, it may give off that hazy tint. You may want to switch it out for a better light. I like Finnex LED lights.

3) My fish have been pooping long stringy poo for a bit now, and it's obviously because of my fish food. I just started feeding them peeled green peas. My Oscar will eat them, but my 2 molly's and 3 corydora, don't really eat the stuff. How can I fix the long stringy poo issue in my other fish? If it's white/clear and stringy, they could have parasites. Do you have a pic? I wouldn't feed them peas as part of their main diet. They need more meatier foods esp the corys as they are carnivores. Shrimp pellets, catfish wafers/sticks and frozen foods would benefit them rather than the peas and flakes you're providing.


5) Oh, I have 3 corydora catfish. Two spotted Cory's and one panda Cory. Whenever they see me, they swim to the nearest hiding spot in my tank. In fact, when I feed them, I immediately have to leave the vicinity or stay really still, or else my Mollies will get all the food. If I get a few more Cory's, will they be less skiddish? I see Cory's at the fishstore and they don't seem skiddish at all. They are probably skittish because of the small numbers they're in. Corys are shoaling fish which need at least 6+ of their own species for you to see more natural behavior and for them to feel less stressed. You have two different species so it's best to up their shoal to at least 6 each though it's far better to have one large group of one species. You could do one species of 10-12 in this tank size.

6) My tank has been up and running for 2 months, like I said. I have yet to clean out my canister water filter. Should I be doing that soon I think the canister filters can go about 2 months before they need cleaning but you should be rinsing your filter media with each water change.