Getting New 77 Or 90 Gallon Tank

[yvez9]

Well me and my girlfriend are finally getting our bigger tank within the following weeks.

We're looking for a 4 feet long tank, so 77 or 90 (hopefully) gallons.

We have a 12 inch common pleco that will be the first fish to go in there (he's currently in our 50 gallon). I know it sounds bad but our friend had to let him go and didn't want to send him to the pet store so we put him in the 50 until the bigger tank arrives.

then we want for sure an oscar.

Filtration will be a Fluval 404 and aquaclear 500. I'll just pile up rocks and driftwood in there.

Now we want to add a companion to our oscar so here's the list we thought up

A gold severum
A convict (single one)
another oscar
electric blue jack dempsey

do you see any problem with any of these choices?

 

[modernhamlet]

do you see any problem with any of these choices?

Freddy does: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=108564

Honestly, a 75 or 90g is just about right for the two fish you propose to keep and not really anything else.

My $0.02 at least....

 

[juanveldez]

agreed I wouldn't put anything else in the tank with the oscar or pleco.

 

[freddyk]

If you really wanted a second cichlid in that tank then the best option would be a compatible pair (male and female bonded for spawning). If you simply put two random Oscars into the tank (or an Oscar and another aggressive cichlid) the chances are that they will eventually turn on each other. The most reliable way of achieving a compatible pair is to get a few Oscars juveniles and raise them together until you see two pair off, easily told by how they hang out together and give the rest of them a hard time. A 75 gallon is enough for two of them in this case, BUT...

Oscars are huge and they're messy. Even though space might not be an issue, water quality is. To keep a 75 or 90 gallon tank clean it would require very good filtration and a lot of maintenance on your part - twice a week water changes would likely be needed once they got some size to them. For the sake of your own time and the fishes well being it's better to go with just one, or a pair of something smaller.

 

[yvez9]

I guess i'll just get one oscar then, with the big pleco

would the aquaclear 500 be necessary in your opinion if we get a 90 gallon with just the fluval 404?

worst case, i'll start off with a juvenile oscar anyway so I guess i can see if the tank requires extra filtration or not down the road...

 

[yvez9]

Would I be able to keep any other kidn of fish in there, like larger tetras or something?

 

[juanveldez]

I have 2 AC 110( 500)s on all of my tanks, and I still do biweekly water changes. though I am not regligous about it. but for sure they get once a week.

 

[freddyk]

Would I be able to keep any other kidn of fish in there, like larger tetras or something?

Something tough and big enough not to be eaten can be used. 4 or 5 silver dollars would work, but make sure you get them a little larger or the Oscar will outgrow them by a good margin. Most tetra's are small enough to get eaten by an adult Oscar.