How many Oscars?

Brian my guess would be due to the fact that the fish are so used to the water conditions that when the new water was added it threw the balance WAAY off enough to kill the fish? I don't know thats just what i would figure happened.

but some fish are hardy enough to withstand really high nitrate lvls for a prolonged period of time. it all depends on the type of fish.
 
I have a fairly heavily stocked 150gal - oscar, P. polleni, gold sevs, pictus cats, and silver dollars - running on a shared sump with my 55gal angel tank, which is medium planted. The plants in that tank manage to maintain 0 nitrates from the angel tank and the cichlid tank, and they are relatively average plants - medium light, no co2, no ferts. If you have a good veggie filter with emersed plants, you can absolutely get enough growth to maintain 0 nitrates in a 55-75gal tank.

I also don't rely on test results to tell me when I need to do water changes. I used them when I cycled the tank, and test maybe every 3 months for maintenance, or if I see something unusual going on; I just do 50% weekly changes whether the tanks need it or not, and I know that this is enough to maintain health in my tanks.
 
I agree with you good plants should suck up quite a bit of the nitrates... I also use Seachem Purigen, and even after I put in new water for a water change (my source is at 10 Nitrates) I usually have between 5-10 nitrates after a day or so.
 
sploke said:
I also don't rely on test results to tell me when I need to do water changes. I used them when I cycled the tank, and test maybe every 3 months for maintenance, or if I see something unusual going on; I just do 50% weekly changes whether the tanks need it or not, and I know that this is enough to maintain health in my tanks.
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That's exactly what I do also slpoke. It has worked well for me. I check parameters every few months also just to make sure I'm still OK with the method.

Q
 
CichlidFan04 said:
becuase im pretty sure in my days of keeping fish that nitrates is the killer... to many nitrates leads to amonia and nitrite outbreaks.. therefor throwing off your water balance. and amonia will burn your fish and scar them really badly, and to much exposure to ammonia will kill them.
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Bold my emphisis.

Could you explain this to me? I was under the impression that too much ammonia and/or too much nitrIte is toxic whereas nitrAte can be tolerated up to about 40ppm when a water change is then in order.

I've never heard of high nitrAte leading to ammonia and nitrIte spikes.

Q
 
So a 75 is too small and they will get territorial, but a 90 (4" taller) is okay?

If properly cared for (which should not require the water changes you describe) two will do very well in a 75. And Hikari Gold is not what I would feed, it is not good enough.

And I also doubt that a day in water with more than 20ppm nitrates will cause HITH or HLLE. There are many things that contribute to either and water quality is one, but such a short stay in low water quality should not do that. That would require other things going on, not just high nitrates for a day.
 
ok Que obviously you have no clue what beneficial bacteria does for your tank and how its created do you? ammonia and nitrite = nitrate. there can only be so much ammonia in your tank for your bacteria to break down. once your ammonia lvls reach higher than what the bacteria can break down you will have ammonia spikes. same with nitrite.


"f properly cared for (which should not require the water changes you describe) two will do very well in a 75. And Hikari Gold is not what I would feed, it is not good enough."

lmao ok dude, you have obviously NEVER kept oscars in your life. The onein your tank is probly suffering from every desiese that an oscar can have. I'd advise taking your fish back to the store and giving up the hobby forever. Honestly.
Reptile guy, if you would read the post you would see where i rephrased myself instead of looking like a fool..

its like we have some 1st graders here that no NOTHING about fish, or cannot read? lol come on be realistic
 
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I thought this post was about how many oscars can he put in a 75 gallon tank. Please get back on subject. Im in the process of setting up a 72 bowfront oscar tank and could use some advice. I was contemplating on 2 but from what i read at the beginning (i skipped all your arguing) I think Ill look for other tank mates. So would an Oscar and a few silver dollars work? My Tiger Oscar is about 5 inches now in a temporary tank. When I put him in his new tank should I add the Silver Dollars at the same time? Should they be big enough that Oscar doesnt consider them food?
 
hey scotty, yes that is a great idea, 1 oscar and 3-5 silver dollars. go ahead and put them in at the same time. but make sure to cycle your tank first. and silver dollars are GREAT dither fish for oscars cause they are too fast for them to catch. if you really want to know alot of information check out www.oscarfish.com those guys are pros over there and will happily give you any info that you need
 
Thanks. I know to cycle my tank, Im taking one of my filters off the 20 gallon to help cycle the new tank. Would 5 silver dollars be too many?
 
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