Hello,

I've recently purchased 2 oscars( tiger ). their about 3 inches long. ive a new setup tank,a aquaone-850 37 gallons. This is the first time for me setting up and ive come here for some advice and some help as ive bound to have got somthing wrong somewhere! ok, so its one of those filters that lets the water out over the filter pads ect. my questions are: the first pad i have is just a white foamy one x2 ( 2 bays ) the second layer is a carbon foam pad. and thirdly is a load of those pasta ball like ceramic things, is that correct? i changed the water the otherday and i noticed horrible black scum on the white foam pads where the water hits it, im assuming that there doing there job. the reason why i changed the water is that i noticed that the larger of the 2 oscars has developed cloudy patches over its eyes, the other has not. i have since replaced the foam pads with new,and carbon. and washed the media balls. is this a bacteria infection? or water issue? can someone please let me know the ideal temp 27 ? cos thats what its on at the moment. Thank you for your help in advance,

regards

leeroy

Firstly, welcome to our community

Okay, I think you've got quite a lot to learn. In hindsight, I think that's Oscars probably weren't a wise choice for your first fish. However, you've got them now so let's try and explain a few things so we can help you. I'm not familiar with your filter, I think it's probably what is known as a hob filter, or hang over back. The white media is what is known as mechanical filtration, this basically catches solid waste. The carbon which is not necessarily removes impurities from the water. I would advise you to remove this from your filter. And finally, you have your biological media which looks like pasta. This is the most important and delicate media that needs to be treated very carefully. When you say you washed it, did you wash under tap water? Many newcomers to the aquatic world wash their biological media in tap water, this is probably one of the cardinal sins of keeping fish in an aquarium. You never ever wash your biological media in tapwater. If you do, the chlorine just kills off all the bacteria and you literally have to cycle you tank over again. Your mechanical filtration can be washed on a regular basis, your biological filtration must only be washed in existing tank water, and only when it needs to be washed. Leave it as long as possible.

Now this brings me onto my next question, have you cycled your tank? Basically, this means establishing a biological filter. Now that may be a rather confusing, so in layman's terms, growing your beneficial bacteria in your biological media so that they remove dangerous toxins that your fish produce through waste.

As for the cloudiness in the eye, this is not uncommon. Hopefully, it will disappear after a few days. Just keep an eye (if you pardon the pun) on it. It's probably due to a little bit of stress. The first Oscars I ever got developed some slightly cloudy eyes. After a few days, it peeled off like a piece of sticky tape.

Finally, have you got some test kits so you can test the water?

I hope I haven't given you an information overload. Any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Remember that all the information needed to set up the tank properly is on the website

welcome to the site!
first thing: your tank is not yet cycled.
2nd thing: your tank is way too small for the two oscars.

since the fishes are already there, what we must do is to cope and help the fish adjust the new tank.
1)while having no test kit yet, a regular water change is a must. 25% every other day.
2) do not clean the filtering system unless necessary (clogged). you have to allow colonization of good bacteria in it.
3) feed sparingly.... must be enough for 3 minute grabbing. removed unconsumed to lessen bioloads.
4) create a ripple at the discharge point of your pump to create aeration in your tank.

for additional info.... surf for other topics as mentioned earlier by OFL.
hope this helps.

Hi and thanks for your quick response. Firstly i'd like to add that ive had my tank from new up and running for 1 month before i intruduced any fish. I do have a strip testing kit and from what i read on the chart my PH is a little low, the rest seem fine. I haven't cycled the tank yet, although i emptied about %20 of it the other day(due to me concerned about maybe having bad water) Did you say i do not need carbon filter?

I went to my local petshop this morning where i purchased these fish from, they were the ones who originally told me that a 37 gallon tank woud be fine! typical huh i guess they just want your money and not intrested in the fishes welfair. i asked about the small cloudy patches over the iris of one of the fish and they said that they had seen that before in other fish and they do not think its a infection, in fact they couldnt tell me how it happens only that they sometimes get fish like that. And they suggested oscars as there easy for first timers! a little lie on there part i think.

my tanks temp is 27 is that normal? you said to cycle every other day removing 25% of the water each time, if i do do that do i still have to add the clorine remover? and anything else?? how long do i cycle for? i know this must be a nightmare for you guy's coming across somone who aint got a clue about fish care so i apolagise in advance, also if theres anythinig else you would like to add to help me on my way i'd apreciate it.

Kind regards

leeroy73

The testing kit i have is API 5 in 1 test strips. heres my results

GH 120
KH 40
PH BETWEEN 7 AND 8
NITRITE 0
NITRATE BETWEEN 20 AND 40

I KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE AREN'T CORRECT. WOULD YOU HELP ME BY TELLING ME WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET THIS RIGHT, AS I DONT WANT THE FISH TO SUFFER.

Thanks a lot

Leeroy

hi leeroy!
sorry to hear about your problem. 27-28 degr. are a good temp.
about the cloudy eyes, maybe a longshot but can it be that your oscar have scratched his eyes against the interior? nothing unsual.

i understand that it's your first tank and i would like to say that owning oscars are quite easy. there are many cichlids that are much, much harder to own.
the thing about oscars are that they become large and messy. they need a large tank and GOOD filtration. they are very resistant.