I skrewed up but it turned out okay...

[Scrappy71113]

So, I do weekly 75% water changes on all of my tanks.
Well, apparently last week I forgot to turn the filter back on and because it's so freaking silent, I didn't notice... Until today, when I went to turn it off to do a water change...

So my overstocked tank has been sitting for a week with no filtration.

I have been a bit worried as the water has been cloudy all week and the fish have been getting itchy. Aside from the itchy, there's been no signs of illness. I'm currently in the process of a water change and I'll be monitoring ammonia levels for a while. Honestly, I thought I might have had a mini crash of the cycle cuz I pulled some media to cycle a 75 gallon.

But there were no losses, everyone is fine (aside from being itchy), and I'm going to do I quick rinse of the filter cuz it smells like a fart (also not normal, but understandable due to the circumstances) if ammonia pops up, I'll pull some media from another tank to jump start the cycle again.

I honestly feel like I got super lucky with this whole situation because this tank is majorly overstocked with two large Oscars, and 10 adult peacock cichlids in 100 gallons. (Yes I have been told this won't work. I am prepared to separate if need be. The tank is full of drift wood, rocks, and fake plants to give the cichlids places to hide from the Oscars, I overfeed a bit to keep everyone from getting hangry, and so far everyone leaves each other alone.)

 

[esoxlucius]

You got very lucky. That stock is insane in a 100g, and you overfeed too! Wow.

If I was you i'd take this near miss as a sign and start putting things in place to thin out your stock to a more manageable, not to mention sensible stocking level.

Phew, you lucky so and so, lol.

 

[Scrappy71113]

You got very lucky. That stock is insane in a 100g, and you overfeed too! Wow.

If I was you i'd take this near miss as a sign and start putting things in place to thin out your stock to a more manageable, not to mention sensible stocking level.

Phew, you lucky so and so, lol.

I'm actually preparing a tank for the peacocks to go into. I understand that what I'm doing isn't sustainable long term and the shared tank is just a temporary thing. friend of mine is supposed to be welding a metal brace for an old tank I have that the peacocks are going to go into in exchange for medicating/healing some sick fish he had. I'm just waiting on him at this point. I do have an empty 55 I can put them in in case of an emergency, but so far, it's working out in the case of behavior.
The peacocks and one of the Oscars were kinda sprung on me. Peacocks were "hey, I just found out that I can't have fish in my new place because of possible water damage, can you take them? I don't want them to go to someone who isn't going to take care of them"
And one of the Oscars was "I'm in Dallas, and there's this sick lonely little Oscar at this pet shop. Can you save it?"
Both times, my soft heart got the best of me. The peacocks were his babies and he loved them and I felt obligated to take them. The Oscar was "oh poor thing!!!! I can't just leave it to die! I'll do what I can"
The other Oscar was the only planned fish in that tank.

 

[jjohnwm]

Kudos on trying to do fish rescues that actually are rescues...and on being so dang lucky!

I'm sure you're aware that the water conditions/parameters that are optimal for Oscars are not even close to those to which Peacocks are suited. Never lose sight of the fact that "rescuing" a fish from poor conditions...and subjecting it to even worse conditions, even temporarily, while you get things in order for it...is usually not doing the fish any favours. It is easy to be too soft-hearted.

 

[Scrappy71113]

Kudos on trying to do fish rescues that actually are rescues...and on being so dang lucky!

I'm sure you're aware that the water conditions/parameters that are optimal for Oscars are not even close to those to which Peacocks are suited. Never lose sight of the fact that "rescuing" a fish from poor conditions...and subjecting it to even worse conditions, even temporarily, while you get things in order for it...is usually not doing the fish any favours. It is easy to be too soft-hearted.

I get that they aren't the same. My tap water is better suited for the cichlids with the ph at 8.0.
The Oscars don't hate it. I try pretty dang hard to keep conditions at least decent for them. There's multiple peace lillys growing out of the top, minimum weekly 75% water changes, duck weed, I'm trying to establish mosses but my fish keep eating it lol.