what is the best kind of filter for a 75 gallon oscar tank.

Well, if your talking one filter thats gonna be doing all the filtration then probably a canister filter like the Fluval 405, although to me the best scenario is a canister working in tandem with a hang on back like a biowheel. If you went with that you could maybe get a smaller canister filter, and the price differential would buy a nice HOB. That way you're providing many different types of filtration, if one breaks down its not as much of an issue, you can stagger media cleaning/replacement times, thus ensuring you always have a good supply of bacteria, and even if you obliterate all the bacteria in one filter by accident you'll won't have to worry as much.

You should also consider if you might conceivably upgrade to a bigger tank at any point in the future. If that's the case, better to buy a bigger canister now so you don't have to replace the smaller one down the road.

Yeah i think i might upgrade my tank in a couple of days to a 120 gallon. What size filter would you recomend for it?

I like to use a combination of canister filter and HOB (hang over the back) filter. Rule of thumb is to have atleast 2 times the recommended filter capacity when keeping Oscars. The more the better

I actually like to use a powerhead/sponge filter combo for extra filtration and good water movement. Just a personal preference, but it is a bit of an eye sore. But like I said the more the better.

fluval fx5 all the way

pjbeattie81 wrote:


Stole the words from my mouth haha

FX5 = legend

All filters have a tank size rating on them. you need total filtration for a tank size of 150g (twice the size of your tank). You can overfilter so you can get a bigger filter. If you get an FX5 you will reduce the frequency of how often you have to clean it and it will do any future tank upgrades

delboybully wrote:


True. I've also heard a lot of companies are also pretty 'liberal' with how high they rate the GPH. i.e. something like the actual GPH in a lot of cases is about 65% of listed.

FX5 for the 120 all the way. man, I want that baby...just dont need it and really dont want to spend the money right now.

fx5 is the benz in filtration... with corresponding price too.
but you need space for it....

in my case, i am using modified power head for my 220 gal tank
and have no issue at all... for a price of $10.

eheim is a great brand as well

I started with the eheim pro3 on an existing 55 gallon tank and upgraded to a 135 after a few months

PAUL wrote:


Yeah but most of us can't turn 2 water bottles, some cotton balls, and a dish sink sponge into an 8,000 GPH octo-monster filter like you can, PAUL. We have to overpay instead. :angry:

I personally like Jebo Filters. I get em off eBay for roughly $75 to $80. The Jebo 835 filter is a 3 stage canister filter that filters 264 gph for $74.99 or you can get the Jebo 838 which is a 4 stage canister filter for $79.99 and that one filters 315 gph. Very economical and do a good job. I have a 838 in my 90 gallon tank and 2 835's in my 125 gallon tank. I also have a Aqua-Clear 30-60 Hob filter as well mainly to serve for putting my heater into it in each tank. The basic rule of thumb though is to filter double the tank volume. There is no such thing though as too much filtration.

Another good rule of thumb is to run dual filters in case one fails. That way you will always have a back up.