Still have 1 or 2 weeks before I offload my Oscar fry. Per inch of fish my holding tanks are way over stocked and the fish are growing in front of my eyes. I have them in two tanks with about the same number of fish, the tiger ones are bigger though.

I have the white ones in a tank that is approx 30 gallons. I am running the over tank filter that came with the tank, two sponge filters and now two small in tank filters. Feeding 4 times a day, 30 mins later doing a one bucket poo vacuum and every night a 30% - 50% pwc with Prime. Temp 24C. pH 7.0 Ammonia .5ppm Nitrate 0 Nitrite 0

I have the tiger ones in a tank that is approx 40 gallons. I am running an Aqua One 1200 Canister (new media), two sponge filters and an in tank TankMaid 1000. Again, feeding 4 times a day, 30 mins later doing a one bucket poo vacuum and every night a 30% - 50% pwc with Prime. Temp 24C. pH 7.0 Ammonia .25ppm Nitrate.25ppm Nitrite 0

My theory for survival is that pwc's with prime can keep them alive. Keep poo off the floor and the in tank filters are rinsed in tank water daily because they get choked with poo. Sponge filters done weekly and not touching the canister or over tank as they are the ones I am banking on for bio filtration the most. No substrate, clear floor so I can get all waste out of the tank quickly after passing through the fish.

My question is, sorry it has taken so long to get to it, the fish are on average about an inch and half now and there is more than 300 per tank. I expect them to top two inches by the time they go to market. Will my strategy keep them alive?
I have another three or four two foot tanks, but could only buy and run in tank filters in those with borrowed media from Mum and Dad. If I get desperate for space I can put them in plastic storage boxes, but filtration is my problem. I cannot just go out and buy 4 canisters! I need them but I cannot afford them. I know that is not the fishies fault, I just did not expect 700 damn fish to live!!!

Anyway..any suggestions or theories or evaluations would be appreciated, especially from anyone who has had lots of fry to contend with..or short term overstocking..way overstocking...thanks...Shazzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I will donate a canister filter to you if you want. I cannot buy four, but I can buy ya one

jcannonb wrote:


That's so sweet! I wish you lived around the corner!!!! I want to use the proceeds of selling these ones establish a better breeding set up. I figure dollar value for store credi would be better too. Thanx for the offer!! Shaz xxxx

I have made just over $1000 in store credit at my LFS, but I was selling Bristlenose Plecos and not Oscars.

I was running 4 2ft tanks just for them but it was a pain to keep them all. So I threw them all in a 6ft tank. Have you considered one of those plastic ponds? Indoor of course and it will probably take quite a bt of heating but should be cheaper than a tank of equal volume.

aus-car wrote:


I have thought about an Indoor pond. My prob is I would still need either 2 or be able to divide it because they both eat the other color regardless of size. My problem is the filtration and water exchange for so many little buggers who just eat and poo, eat and poo. If I keep them in their colors and feed them regularly there is no aggression. Heating a pond here on the tweed wouldn't be such a drama until next winter...more I think about it he more I like it..just have to keep the kids and dogs from swimming with the fish...thanx. Shaz

for now if you need extra space i would head to reject shop
buy two 200L storage tubs farly big in size and 2 bulk heads
and two 25L tubs and make sumps for the 200L's ??
containers are cheap probs $20 each for 200L
and the most exspensive part would be perspex for dividers in 25L
and the bulk heads ?????? just an idea for now or long term

Yep, I'm liking this but dumb it down for me benno..what is a bulk head...I only have a basic concept of making a sump. I would like to give it a go though

just a submersible water pump =P
3 bits of perspex siliconed to sides of 25L
and holes drilled into perspex for water to travel threw i will do a digram for ya =]

BENNO wrote:


Yeh, c'mon it's only 10:30 pm..plenty of time to design my fishy palace...get on with it....seriously, I am off to bed...can u do it tomorrow 4 me so I can build it this weekend...thanks heaps benno...shaz

somthing like this
i will do a better one tomoz at work for ya =]
its a top veiw of the 25L sump

Here I was thinking a bulkhead was the fitting that you silicone into your overflow holes of your tank, which in turn connect the pipes which go down into the sump?

it might be but thats what i call em coz its bulky and its got head lol