How much of a water change? Ultimately you should be testing nitrate levels periodically until you get a routine worked out, but I would start with 50% weekly, and increase frequency and/or quantity from there as necessary.
How many Oscars?
- Thread starter w8tn4rut
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i usually do a 25% WC in the 20 gallon he is in. The nitrates are usually at 40 when i do the change. He is getting bigger though and ive noticed he poops more now lol. I have started feeding him chopped somewhat alive earthwarms.
With earthworms or anything else caught from the wild, make sure its taken from someplace that you're sure doesn't get any pesticides or chemicals applied. Earthworms, crickets and such are a good treat, but I would tend to stick with a quality pellet food as the diet staple. I use Omega-1, others swear by New Life Spectrum as has already been mentioned. I also raise guppies and snails that my cichlids get upon occasion. A varied diet is key.
Have you considered a canister?
I personally do not like the Biowheels because the cartridges are over-priced, include carbon (has been shown to cause HLLE, yes CAUSE), are nto really re-usable, and not that good at mechanical filtration. The Biowheel itself is very good, it is the cartridges that are a problem. With high waste producers it is important to have very good mechanical media and as much biological as you can manage.
Diet is very important in all fish, but can have more noticable affects in oscars. It has been shown to be associated with HLLE and HITH. In the past variety was key to getting a complete and balanced diet, which was the actual goal, not variety itself. But now New Life Spectrum has truly changed that. A diet of NLS exclusively is truly complete and balanced. It is the best diet I have ever used. I highly suggest using it as part of the diet if not the entire diet. The only other pelleted food I would say is not a complete waste compared to NLS is Hikari Bio-Gold+ because it contains viable bacteria that can outcompete Hexamita spp. and Spironucleus vortens, the parasites shown to be associated with HITH. I personally avoid all live foods because they can increase aggression (not good if there is ever going to be another fish in the tank), are nutritionally incomplete (sometimes actually nutritionally harmful), and can introduce a lot of different pathogens.
I personally do not like the Biowheels because the cartridges are over-priced, include carbon (has been shown to cause HLLE, yes CAUSE), are nto really re-usable, and not that good at mechanical filtration. The Biowheel itself is very good, it is the cartridges that are a problem. With high waste producers it is important to have very good mechanical media and as much biological as you can manage.
Diet is very important in all fish, but can have more noticable affects in oscars. It has been shown to be associated with HLLE and HITH. In the past variety was key to getting a complete and balanced diet, which was the actual goal, not variety itself. But now New Life Spectrum has truly changed that. A diet of NLS exclusively is truly complete and balanced. It is the best diet I have ever used. I highly suggest using it as part of the diet if not the entire diet. The only other pelleted food I would say is not a complete waste compared to NLS is Hikari Bio-Gold+ because it contains viable bacteria that can outcompete Hexamita spp. and Spironucleus vortens, the parasites shown to be associated with HITH. I personally avoid all live foods because they can increase aggression (not good if there is ever going to be another fish in the tank), are nutritionally incomplete (sometimes actually nutritionally harmful), and can introduce a lot of different pathogens.
Do you have any documentation to this effect? I'd be interested in reading that.
it doesnt CAUSE it..it MAY sometimes aid it in some cases..since carbon has the ability to remove necesarry bacteria. i've never experienced it..
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The problem with carbon is it removes vital micronutrients and trace elements that are needed for proper physiology. In species susceptible to HLLE (please note I personally refer to HITH as the disease with cases involving parasites and HLLE those that do not involve any parasites) this can end up as HLLE. I believe in many other species it may cause internal problems that we simply cannot see and when they die we blame it on something or nothing (old age, some minor change in the tank, etc.).
I have not seen any scientific studies on this, but I have talked to a few people who have had situations where everything was tried (diet, water quality, treating for parasites, etc.) and nothing worked. Then when they removed the carbon the HLLE went away. In some cases it was returned either thinking they needed to go back to normal or to see if it was the cause and sure enough the HLLE returned. This does not seem to be the usual cause, but it is a cause.
I do not use carbon in any of my tanks because it removes vital trace elements and micronutrients. I simply used the extra trays for Biomax. If adequate water changes are made then no negative effects should be observed (odor, discoloration, etc.).
I have not seen any scientific studies on this, but I have talked to a few people who have had situations where everything was tried (diet, water quality, treating for parasites, etc.) and nothing worked. Then when they removed the carbon the HLLE went away. In some cases it was returned either thinking they needed to go back to normal or to see if it was the cause and sure enough the HLLE returned. This does not seem to be the usual cause, but it is a cause.
I do not use carbon in any of my tanks because it removes vital trace elements and micronutrients. I simply used the extra trays for Biomax. If adequate water changes are made then no negative effects should be observed (odor, discoloration, etc.).
to add to this.
this is mostly a discus problem, MANY discus keepers and breeders will tell you to remove carbon for this reason.
i can honestly say in all my years of fish keeping, which is around 12-13 years..i have NEVER had any fish develope HITH or LLE or HLLE, and i have used carbon in my filters.
there HAD to be other contributing factors to your friends story..i find it VERY hard to believe that the carbon itself caused the HITH.
i would call this a MYTH until there is PROVEN scientific knowledge of it, right now IMO it is just speculation,
i would contribute most causes to poor food and water quality, which is why oscars are usually seen with it.
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