Hi all,

I'm up sizing my tank right now from a 30 gal to a 120 gal to accommodate the fish I have and add a little bit of variety. I don't seem to be able to keep Guppies or Platty's alive, but I've had some good success with Loaches, Tetras, and my resident Algae Eater. I'm going to move the Algae Eater and Loaches over to the 120 gallon, get a couple more Loaches, and I'd like to pick up a couple of Oscars as well as it seems they can get along with Clown Loaches and also have some amusing habbits...a must for fish if I'm going to enjoy them!

Some day I'd like to build a custom tank into one of the walls in my house, but that's going to be quite a ways off.

welcome to the site.......

I have a 120 right now.

My original 120 stock was:
2 Oscars
1 Pleco (algae eater)
5 Clown Loaches

Loaches really need 5 minimum to be happy together, as they school and need community support.

I would have had to upgrade to a 180+ alone for the 5 clown loaches eventually. Clown loaches get to be 12" full grown (takes a long time though.)

If you plan on keeping the loaches I would get at least 5 so they can be happier. You should also make sure they are 5" or so at least, because since they grow so slowly, the Oscars will accidentally eat them one night if the Oscars get too big too quickly.

Oscars accidentally eat anything that will fit in their mouths.

Clown Loaches are extremely awesome fish. I love them, I love my oscars too.

I am upgrading to a 240 now. I want to keep all my babies together

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

The more I read, the more I'm realizing I'm going to need to get any additional loaches now....and possibly wait 6 months to get any Oscars. I believe this site said once a fish is 4" it's fairly safe from a full-grown Oscar, and it looks like the loaches I'm looking to purchase start in the 1 to 1.5" range.

I would love to have a 240 tank....but I don't know where I'd put it. As it is the new aquarium has forced the TV to move to a new location. The 120 I got is 72x18x24 deep I believe. I know that's not correct because it doesn't add up to 120......but it's a rough estimate. Anyhow, the tank already sticks out too far into the room but it's manageable....if I doubled the width of the tank to 36" I'd be in real trouble. I already have a small living room (it's a 1920's farm house) so I can't imagine making it smaller... I do have a couple bedrooms that go unused though...but that would put the Aquarium out of the limelight....

Decisions decisions....fortunately I don't have to decide for a while...I hope.

60x18x24 is a 120. That is what I have

The 72 is a 125 gallon.

You will make the right decisions. You have joined a very friendly and expert board here. Everyone here will help you make all the right decisions.

I am far from an expert, but these guys here have helped me a long way in my knowledge. Especially Noddy, Necro, Nicki-Sue, Paul and OFL. They are all awesome here though. Everyone.

4" IMO is a bit iffy for a CL, still because the fish only has to fit in the oscar's mouth width wise, not length wise, if the oscar nears full growth. I have had my loaches about 10 months and it seems they have only grown like 2-3" (they are slow growsers)

If he can get his mouth around it, it is open game.

My oscars are 9"+ now, and the loaches are about 5-5.5" The oscars aren't able to get his mouth around my loaches at this point.

Welcome to OFL

5 full grown CL's dont need 180g. Although big they are much less bulky than oscar

4 inch CL's will be ok with oscars especially if you buy a baby oscar

Looks like it is a 72x18x21 high to the bottom of the black ring on top. The calculator puts that right around 120 gallons. I'm sure its less then advertised...bit it is 72" end to end....just measured the exterior dimensions.

I will be getting a baby Oscar...but I think ill give the new clown loaches a couple months to grow before putt8nguyen in an Oscar based on the description of their growth rate. I don't know the rate of the loaches but I'd like to get 5 loaches and 2 Oscar in the tank...I have a feeling the 120 will be too small for that though.

Welcome to OFL =]

WillW wrote:


5 CL's and 2 oscars will be fine in a 120g for many years. CL's grow slowly so you wont have to worry about rehoming ro bigger tanks for 5 years+

That is good news. 5 years is my "tank in the wall" timeframe. I was wrong though....the tank is 125 gallons. I guess they measure height differently then I do. LOL. Tue tank manufacturer must measure to the tipsy top....and include glass thickness. I'd attach a picture of my living room wall....with old tank...new tank....and displaced tv but I can't put up pics from my phone it seems.

welcome to the site willw. I look forward to seeing updated pics and videos of your tanks and fish. good luck with your new large tank. Remember the key with any fish in any size tank is ...frequent waterchanges and great filtration.