New oscar seems a bit down.

[Paul_MTS]

I brought an oscar home today to help cycle my new tank, he was fine at first looked a bit lonely though so I added 2 platties and a few bits of wood.

Although he keeps on settling on the bottom and resting on the heater.

It is a new tank, 360 litres of it. It's filtered with a Pro 2 2026.

Just tested th water and the nitrites are up a bit- 0.3 mg/l ammonia is 0 and nitrates are nice and low.

just wondering whats up?? I picked him out at work a week back so he's been in his own tank for a while.

thats typical he's swimming up and down all around now!!

 

[WILDER]

Angels are not a cycling fish, This is why he probably sitting around, I would do a small water change.

 

[Discomafia]

Why cycle with a fish? An oscar, no less. Why not just use filter media or gravel from another tank?

edit - As you have noticeable nitrite readings, I would recommend you do a WC.

 

[Paul_MTS]

angels....whos cycling with angels!!

I don't actually have that much spare media I can use. My Fluval 204 doesn't hold to much, I'll have to see what i can shift around.

I would do a water change but it's late so will have to be be done after college tomorow now.

 

[jflowers]

Angels, Oscars are they the same wilder? confused me now, not difficult I know.

I know they are both cichlids and oscars are not the usual cycling fish, but oscars are hardy. Danios are hardy too and most people use them for cycling, so whats the diff?

Jon

p.s. Just showing my ignorance, sure there is a logical explanation

 

[Paul_MTS]

Yep, thing is why use a fish you don't want!! I'm going to keep this fella in the future. Platties are my usual cyclers, they'ved done a few miles!!

I have no intention to buy danios or tetras for this tank.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry I thought it was a angel fish, don't no why, if he's sitting around obviously the nitrites are getting to him.

 

[Paul_MTS]

lol, seen wierd'er mistakes!!

the oscar seems fine now, playing with the platties thats not right!!

I'm thinking could he could of worn himself out in such a big tank being a change to a 9g shop tank. also there's quite a good flow going on, conpared to a UG run by a airstone.

as i say he's quite lively now. I'm not trying to butt out the test readings, but i like to think none of my tanks are in desperate need of a WC.

oh yeh, check out the new pic of him- http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=67522&st=16

 

[WILDER]

Is he eating, what was the ph of the store to your tank.

 

[Paul_MTS]

yep he was eating fine at work, and he's just been fed, ate every last pellet.

The store PH is about 8 and mines 8.4 (yep pretty bad area!!) I'ved had several plecs from work, alot more sensitive to PH change and there fine.

 

[Discomafia]

Do you have any gravel that you can use form another tank? That works very well too.

 

[Paul_MTS]

All my tanks apart from 1 now are sand and only recently turned over to sand so can't see that being too much use.

I'll try and fiddle the media aorund tomorrow night.

 

[sylvia]

"why use a fish you don't want" - danios rule Some zebra danios, long-finned and normal were my first ever fish and I still adore them Though of course you wouldn't put them in with an oscar. Try fishless cycling next time, it would save ANY fish from having to suffer ammonia/nitrIte spikes.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Sorry danios are just a bit too plain for me!!.

I would do a fishless but it's pretty hard to do it without pure ammonia.

 

[CFC]

Oscars always sulk for the first few days to a week when introduced into a new tank, keep the lights off and dont bother him for a few days and he will soon be out and about exploring his new home.

Can you imagine cycling a 220 gallon tank with ammonia!!!? You would need a few gallons of the stuff to get it going With established media in the filter you shouldnt see much of a cycle, maybe some simultanious smaller ammonia and nitrite spikes as the bacteria beds into the new media but not much else.