Around July 4th i will be setting up my first oscar tank (CANT WAIT) so right now im stuck on which filter to buy i would like to get a really nice one for my oscar since there such messy fish does anybody have any suggestions ive heard that carbon causes hole in the head once they reach adulthood does anyone know if this it true so is there a filter out there that wont use carbon

MUch Help appreciated

Steve

It's good that you haven't actually got your tank yet and you have found this website. Hopefully, we can steer in the right direction and you won't be buying a new tank in two years time, like I had to when I first started out with Oscars (didn't have the benefit of the Internet to get advice from)

Firstly, carbon isn't a direct cause of hole in the head disease. I think people get confused with this. Basically, carbon is used in filters to remove impurities from the water, such as old medication and the such. It will also remove other elements from water in time. Some of these elements might be detrimental to your fishes health in large amounts. What happens if people forget to change the carbon and after a while, the carbon becomes saturated with whatever it has removed from the water. When this happens, it can start leeching the impurities back into the water. This will obviously have a negative effect on the water. Poor water conditions is probably the main contributor to hole in the head disease. That's why people relate carbon to various diseases. I myself and many other experienced aquatic hobbyists I know, many of them who keep Oscars do not use carbon at all. If I ever have to medicate the tank, I do a large water change when the medication period is over.

My personal preference would be a large canister filter. You can pack absolutely loads of biological filtration than these which is what keeps your tank alive. The more biological filtration you have, the more efficient it will be at removing all these harmful toxins from your water. Eheim do various canister filters as do Hagan. One very popular one is Fluval 405. This would suit a 75 gallon tank really well because you would have a little bit more filtration than you need for the tank. Like we always say, you can never have too much filtration for Oscars so when you do by filter, trying to get one that is rated more than your tank.

Check out my 75. It finally just cycled so I will add my Oscars in soon.

www.oscarfishlover.com/component/option,...ew/id,1123/catid,24/

Canister Filters are good, but have their drawbacks too. As they collect dirt, the dirt and debris then tends to rob water borne oxygen, leaving less for the biological cycle to then use. Plus as they collecy dirt, the water flow deminishes further adding to the oxygen starvation. These have been the staple of the Oscar Tank for years but today there may be better choices.

Consider this all in one hood / light / filter assembly made by Marineland. It cost me $269 US on sale and normally sells for just under $300 US. Not bad considering it includes everything you need plus has a tremendous biological filter (4 large bio-wheels) and is rated for a total of 600 GPH. Bio Wheels will keep the water in balance and I also recommend strongly that you get yourself a water python gravel vacuum as much of the bigger debris never makes in near your filter anyway. You will need to vacuum the gravel weekly as you perform water changes. Even if you do go with a canister filter, consider adding a secondary bio wheel unit for greatly enhanced biological benefits.

Here's the link to the all inclusive hood,light, filter:

www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Disp...amp;amp;N=2004+22769

It's a shame that they don't seem to make these bio filters for the very large tank. 110 gallons is about the highest I've seen them rated for. Also, these all in one filters certain they wouldn't fit my size tank. I would definitely be interested on putting one on the new tank when I get it, as long as it can fit over the back properly. That's the problem with a lot of complete set up to these days, they have built-in condensation covers. I'll have to have a good look at the one on my tank. I'm almost certain that one of these filters won't fit over the back properly but I won't know until I've looked at mine a little more closely. Has your tank got any kind of condensation cover? Or is it just an open tank. What I mean by this, has it got any struts going across inside

Actually, this one here is a sump type, rated for tanks up to 120 gallons. You provide your own pump though, anywhere from 300-600 gph. I guess the tanks and equipment is different between the US and UK (which really suprises me too!) as here all tamks and tank tops or canopies are designed to allow for rear hang on filtration.

Check this one out:
www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Disp...amp;amp;N=2004+22778

BESIDES,
All you need to do is combine enough of them (say buy 2 units) to filter larger tanks. Look at mine, it has 2 pumps feeding 4 bio wheels.) Thats alot of filtration...

Oscarfishlover wrote:


What you call a condensation cover, we just call a glass canopy or top. These recess in to the top of the aquarium frame. They just drop in and are normally hinged lengthwise to allow for feeding and access. Then fluorescent light simply sit over the top etc. Lastly, a decorative wooden canopy could then sit atop the front and side aquarium rails (not the back) to add nice decor. The back remains wide open (except for the glass) to allow for hang on filters etc.
The glass covers about 3/4 or more of the top and the very back has a strip of plastic attached to the glass to allow for cutting it away, for room for filter hoses etc.

Yes, my aquarium has a center brace. See this link, it describes pretty much how most aquariums are made over here. only larger tanks have the center brace though as small tanks don't need them.

www.all-glass.com/products/aquariums/index.html

The two 125 gallon tanks I've had, including the one at the moment have both got sliding glass panels under the wooden lid. If these covers aren't closed properly, the wooden lid tend to warp. You know, I don't think they sell those type of filters in this country. For the life of me I can't find them anywhere.

Thats weird isn't it?? I can't believe things are that different between the US and UK markets. I wouldn't have ever guessed so..

Like I once told you, should you ever want anything, I'll be more then glad to source it and even pack and ship it to you simply at cost.

Side note:
My two Oscars have been relentless for the past 1/2 hour chasing the smaller fish. By count, I think they've caaught and eaten a few already. I'll skip their feeding tonight then.. (Those Danios are pretty darn quick though.)

i like the bio wheel thing the tank im gettin comes with a light i think and at my fishstore they have the big bio wheels for around 80 dollars so i think i will buy 2 of those and ill prolly get a sponge filter so i can give some more filtration

How big is the tank you are getting?

i have a 75 gallon tank