Oscar Growth

Fool · Dec 25, 2008

I have a 140 gallon fish tank with two oscars in it and i want them to grow faster. i read to feed them every few hours and also do frequent water changes. I need to know how much water to change and when.

Paavn · Dec 25, 2008

you have a pretty big tank and if the oscars are small i dont think you'd need to change the water that often. but it would generally depend on your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. if you have a test kit (hopefully a liquid one) it will tell you the readings and you'd want to change the water depending on your readings
for ammonia it should be less than .25 ppm
for nitrite it should be less than .25ppm as well
and for the nitrates i think its fine up to 20ppm

Truck · Dec 25, 2008

Paavn said:
you have a pretty big tank and if the oscars are small i dont think you'd need to change the water that often. but it would generally depend on your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. if you have a test kit (hopefully a liquid one) it will tell you the readings and you'd want to change the water depending on your readings
for ammonia it should be less than .25 ppm
for nitrite it should be less than .25ppm as well
and for the nitrates i think its fine up to 20ppm

ammonia and nitrite should be 0!

nitrates try to keep them below 20ppm as stated above.

a weekly water change will be needed as these fish produce a fair amount of waste, and you'll soon find that your nitrates start to creep up on you, and if you get a reading above 20ppm preform a water change.

you cant really make them grow faster they need a GOOD diet to promote growth.

Tolak · Dec 25, 2008

You want faster growth? 50% water changes daily, keep the tank at about 82F. Do not even consider live feeders. Feed several times daily, small amounts. Base the diet on a quality cichlid pellet, once weekly soak the pellets in a liquid vitamin for about an hour before feeding.

Besides the pellets, a beefheart mix that is no more than 50% beefheart, a couple of times weekly. Few stores sell this, you will be grinding beefheart yourself. Small shrimp, small pieces of fresh raw fish, spirulina tabs, and live clean earthworms are all good to rotate into the diet.

Fast for one day weekly to let the digestive system clear out, and to keep appetite sharp.

Fool · Dec 25, 2008

I have a bottle of "REEF PURE" VITAMIN/HUFA SUPPLEMENT for marine and reef aquariums. I friend of mine who does saltwater gave it to me and im wondering if i can use it in my freshwater fish tank.