G'day all

First I would like to thank you guys for such an informative, easy to navigate site. I have been looking around for the mast month or so trying to decide what tropical fish I should start out with, and this site has convinced me that Oscars are the way to go.

So the basics of my intended setup is as follows:

- Aquarium: 4' x 2' x 2'with downpipe fitted
- Filtration: 100 L sump with 3000LPH main pump
- Lighting: 2 x 4' Twin Tube Aqua One lights, 1 x Heto 1' moonlight
- Heating: 2 x 300W heaters

I have purchased a setup from a friend who used to have reef tanks - so I also have a protein skimmer (with a feeder pump) and 3 internal powerheads. (if I should use any of these I would appreciate the advice!)

I am going to start cycling this weekend, and will post pics of setup once it is complete.

Thanks again guys

welcome to the site.

since you found the site, you will be guided in
every aspect wether you surf or ask. don't hesitate
to ask if needed. a 117 gal tank could handle a pair
oscar.

Welcome to community.

The power heads that came with the tank may be of some use but the proteins skimmer will be of no use on a freshwater aquarium.

Hi and welcome! Can't wait to see the pics!!!

PAUL wrote:


Thanks

From reading around I figured that the tank I am getting could handle 2 Oscars.

However in speaking to a local supplier they recommended that I initially buy 5 Oscars (about 2 Inches long each), wait for abou 12 - 18 months before 2 pair off, and then sell the others. In this way they said you may get a breading pair (or at least a pair that are less likely to be aggrssive against one another).

What do you think of this suggestion, is it reasonable or just trying to make money?
One concern I had is that if I buy them I want to buy them together (to make sure the same size etc) - however putting 5 Oscars in together may be too rapid an increase in bio load... Maybe I have to get a lot of little fish, then remove them prior to putting in the Oscars?...

5 oscars won't guarantee you to have pair but they will
surely give you trouble in bio loads....
they grow fast and you won't wait 12 months before getting
trouble.....

using guppy or beta during the cycling process is a good option,
plus, you can put the oscar later without removing them. oscar
will handle that.....

hello and welcome ....

welcome to the site... I agree with paul on this one putting 5 oscars in a 117 gal tank is ok for now but it takes atleast a year for them to pair off and at that time they will be 9-12 inches long. that is a lot of oscars in a little space

welcome to the site


ill agree with the rest your tank will be good for 2 oscars and maybe even a small tankmate but there is no way it will work with 5 mature oscars while youwait for 2 of the to pair off

necromancer4 wrote:


Hmm - so maybe I should reduce the initial number and just hope that I get a pair...

How many would you recommend tha I get initially - considering that as soon as they do pair off I will get rid of all but 2...

As they don't pair off till they are full grown, I would say get two Oscars yo like and see what happens!

personally if i had a 120 to stock i would probably go with one oscar a jack dempsey and a rockteil severum with maybe a couple of pictus as well.

but thats me