Hello all,

After speading time reading about oscars i have decided to start a new tank. just wanted to run the setup i had in mind, so my oscar/s are happy and healthy.

Went to my LFS and ordered a 60" x 18" x 18" tank/hood/stand (59 imp gallons i think)with a Cannister filter (1300 lph) and will also pickup a powerhead of somesort (suggestions welcome).


My question comes here, the LFS owner told me i have heaps of room for 2 oscars
but from reading the fourms i have just enough room for 1 ?

if it is the case i will only have enough room for 1 oscar will i have any room left at all for a tankmate? (catfish perhaps)

Happy New Year all, any help/advise will be welcome

welcome to the site!
base on the data you have given, your tank will
70 IM. gal or 82 US gal. good for 1 matured oscar
and few small tankmates. for 2 oscar, you have at
least 7 months to use it before being outgrown or
before you run into a lot of problems. it would be
practical if you can go to a bigger tank from the
start.

pump requirements is minimum of X5 during early stage
and higher as they grow to cope with bio-loads.

for a tank your size i would recommend only one oscar and perhaps a couple of mid sized(max 6-8 inches)tankmates.

as for your filtration you should look at a canister filter that is rated for about twice your tank size. so in your case something that could filter around 160 us gallons. if you cant find a single canister to do this you can also use two smaller ones(ie. one fluval fx5 or two fluval 405's).

ihope this helps you with your new oscar setup

i guess since my tank is on the smaller side of the oscar scale, would it help if i setup a sump/overflow abovemy main tank (say a 4" x 2" tank) power head pumping out of the main tank into the 4" and the 4" overflowing via bulkhead back into the main tank...

Hope i have explained this idea well enough, i can seam to find an example of what i wanna do on the internet anywhere.

sump filter really come into there own on larger tanks. for a 60 gallon tank i would forgo the sump and just use a canister filter. having said that if you have your mind set on a sump there is no real reason why you cant have one. where you place your sump is also irrelevant. the important thing is to ensure that your water flow to and from your tank is consistent. the main reason sumps are kept below the main tank is to hide them in the tank stand. this reduces the noise from the sump(running water) and reduces algea growth(algea cant grow in the dark).
good luck with whatever decision you make.

installing overflow tank or sump pump is costly too.
i am just wondering why install such facility and not
just get a bigger tank with corresponding filter. costwise
might be break even. your fish will be happier instead.

actually the cost of a small sump for a 60 gallon tank is relatively inexpensive. a 20 gallon tank and small submersible pump and bio can be bought for less than $150. then the only other thing needed is an overflow.

with that amount, i can have 7ft x 24in x 24in tank
complete with steel stand

must be nice to live were you are. here a new 55 gallon tank no stand crappy filter cost over $250.

hmm i must be getin ripped off then, new tank (60" x 18" x 18") stand and hood for $700

$700:woohoo:
60" x 18" x 18" with stand and hood will cost me
around P5000.00/P49perUS$. what is expensive here
are those tanks from singapore and taiwan (bowfront).
for locally made tank... you have a lot of choices at
reasonable price.

so my new tank finally arrives tomorrow! it will be 72inches x 18 x 18 thats 84 imp gallons cant wait to start the cycle in the tank