New Tank, Comments/advice? :)

[donny7]

I just got a 40 gallon high tank today. Bought an oscar and a plecostomus. The pleco isn't a mainstay due to his size but for some reason I always have bad algae, no matter what. Our water is just crap, I guess, cause I've went through tons of measures to maintain it and once I added a pleco to an old tank he kept it lookin' good!

The oscar, I believe, will live a pretty good life in this tank. If I have to upgrade, so be it, I'd like this tank as a community eventually but.. I had to have an oscar. He's relatively small, roughly an inch and a half, just a baby The tank is deep enough and wide enough for him to turn around comfortably. It's aerated pretty well as well, two bubble stones. Running an Eheim 70 gallon HOB filter. Understand I should upgrade this, will do it next payday to another HOB - no space/room for a canister! Should pick up a heater as well, the guy only gave me a 25w


Anyhoo, just looking for some general information on oscars, ETC. The tank basically insta-cycled, seeded it with gravel, decor, and media from a 30g tank that was running for about 6 months or so.

I understand they eventually uproot plants. I went live plants initially considering they where cheaper than plastic (lolwut?) and I just hate the look of fake tanks. I've got some mopani wood, some river rock, and a nice piece of lava rock.

How does it look? Camera isn't the best.


http/imageshack.us/m/593/8163/0516012325a.jpg

 

[mattlee]

what are your tank dimensions? a 40g will be ok for a few months as oscars can grow an inch per month if looked after right.....

maximum filtration as they eat liks pigs and are messy eaters too. get the temp up to 26oC asap as oscars dont seem to do brilliantly at anything below 25oC.

your plants wont last long unless your very lucky as oscars will dig them up as will most cichlids im affraid.

i would start planning your upgrade now if you intend on keeping the oscar. for a single oscar i wouldnt use a tank smaller than 60x18x24 foe it to have enough room to get about. some would say a 4ft tank is suitable but i personally think its not wide enough.