Poorman's Monster Fish Tank

[FINWIN]

I understand your statement and your concern. It is not that I have a 75 and only consider an Oscar for it. I have had aquariums since 1973. I have had all kinds of fish. And I learned from all of them and got to know them.
I have had Oscars before, and I re-homed them when they grew too large.
I have just started a new season in my life, and as I look back at all the fish I have ever kept, I have decided that my strongest desire is to raise up and Oscar and give it my undivided attention.
So, I am getting an Oscar. I am also setting up other tanks, but they are 55. i may set up some om 20s or a 65.
But I have been longing for an Oscar again for the last 5+ years.
If I am forced to re-home, so be it, but there is a strong possibility I may get a larger tank. But I could get the fish and something happen and it not survive.
Simply put, I am excited about getting an Oscar.
It has been a very long time coming and now I can do the water changes and all I need to do to care for Oscar.

Think positive. It isn't about re-homing, or the fish not surviving. If you want an Oscar then get one and give it maximum care. You're still going to need more than a 75. The problem with oscars is that they grow so fast a growout tank gets grown out in weeks. I don't know how much tanks run in your area but 125s aren't that expensive. Cheaper to get one rather than set up a tank that's gonna be too small in jig time then buy a second tank. And since you've had oscars before you know they need room. I could go on for a week about all the crazy stuff Brick did to get my attention (he would even stand on his head and float). But it only worked because he had room. In the 6ft 225 at full speed he had to slam on the brakes around 4ft across the tank or he'd knock himself out. The big goof DID knock himself out as a 'teen' swimming too fast. 4 feet is tight with no margin for error. I've lost fish that got cerebral hemorrhage from slamming into glass if they got spooked.

 

[wednesday13]

It’s just an oscar … Enjoy the hobby as you wish.

The only person who was on ur side gets a ? Lol… I tried…

 

[Jexnell]

Keep an eye on Petco and Petsmart. They often have tank sales, especially on black Friday. I got two 125s from them, tank, stand, lids, cheap led lights for less than $500 each. The lights are good enough to light up a tank, no good for plants though.

Also watch Craigslist and Offer Up like a hawk. I got this 125 and lids and homemade stand that was so over built it probably could hold a real army tank for just 300. It was an older couple, they moved before he could set it up and no room in the new house.


I also got this TruVu acrylic tank and homemade stand and some rocks for just $125

 

[phreeflow]

The only person who was on ur side gets a ? Lol… I tried…

Don’t think he understood your emojis.

 

[DawnMichele]

Think positive. It isn't about re-homing, or the fish not surviving. If you want an Oscar then get one and give it maximum care. You're still going to need more than a 75. The problem with oscars is that they grow so fast a growout tank gets grown out in weeks. I don't know how much tanks run in your area but 125s aren't that expensive. Cheaper to get one rather than set up a tank that's gonna be too small in jig time then buy a second tank. And since you've had oscars before you know they need room. I could go on for a week about all the crazy stuff Brick did to get my attention (he would even stand on his head and float). But it only worked because he had room. In the 6ft 225 at full speed he had to slam on the brakes around 4ft across the tank or he'd knock himself out. The big goof DID knock himself out as a 'teen' swimming too fast. 4 feet is tight with no margin for error. I've lost fish that got cerebral hemorrhage from slamming into glass if they got spooked.

Excellent info!!!

 

[johnnymax]

I have been reading a lot. If you do not let your fish just gorge itself all the time and maintain a healthy diet, their growth will be slower. But Monster Fish Keepers are in the Monster making mode. That is why you can see 2" of growth per month. On a controlled diet growth can be under 1" per month, but it needs to be enough and healthy. Fish who are kept on a good diet are sometimes more healthy. Once they reach sexual maturity at 8 to 10 months their growth slows.
So, I will research the perfect diet based on fish length.
I could end up with an 8" to 10" fish in the first year and it will grow slowly after that.

 

[johnnymax]

Not going very fast. I need to order a lot more bio media for my canister filter. That is the only filtration I am going to use at first. I do have the tank off the wall enough for any size HOB filters for when fish gets bigger. I wish I could find a filter that skims the surface. I had one on a coral tank in the past, but it was designed to skim protein. I want to capture uneaten food. For now I will just net it. I am planning on feeding fish one pellet at a time and count pellets, if I can train it to do that eventually. I have never given a fish individual attention or worked with a fish. I always just fed and observed from my recliner across the room. I plan to sit on the floor in front of the fish this time. I need to get the tank set up so I can seed it and add a little ammonia and get it going...

 

[amazontank]

Well you shouldn't have any uneaten food, just hand feed the little beast. Krill works well.
Please whatever you do don't feed any feeder fish of any kind.
You can get a gadget with a skimmer to hook to the hob that I hope you get right away. Eheim makes a sweet little stand alone skimmer.

I started thinking & like Wednesday said it's an Oscar just do it.

After seeing some youtube videos of some total shills/tools with gulpers & arowanas in 40 gallon tanks with 500,000 followers your not so bad afterall, mfkers just take fish keeping very serious.
Good luck & let's get your oscar sticking his head out of the water to eat krill from your hand

 

[FINWIN]

I have been reading a lot. If you do not let your fish just gorge itself all the time and maintain a healthy diet, their growth will be slower. But Monster Fish Keepers are in the Monster making mode. That is why you can see 2" of growth per month. On a controlled diet growth can be under 1" per month, but it needs to be enough and healthy. Fish who are kept on a good diet are sometimes more healthy. Once they reach sexual maturity at 8 to 10 months their growth slows.
So, I will research the perfect diet based on fish length.
I could end up with an 8" to 10" fish in the first year and it will grow slowly after that.

It's not quite a cut and dried formula. The biggest thing with growth is water changes and tank size. But genetics trumps all. Some oscars will stop growing at 12 inches no matter what you do. Some may get to 16 in a tank and others will cap at 10 or 11. Stress is also a major factor in growth. The way I look at it is if you do your best care, the fish will grow to whatever size it was meant to. Babies need more calories and food. They'll burn it off playing and exploring. As they get bigger meals are reduced. Continuous controlled nutrition at a steady pace won't overload their system as babies. As they get big less food is required.

1. genetics
2. water changes
3. Space/stress factors
4. environment/food

Brick's food schedule. He never had a gut!

baby 2-4 inches 6-7 tiny meals a day spaced out pellets 1-2mm
4-6 inches 5 meals spaced out pellets 2mm
7-9 inches 4 meals a day pellets 2-3mm
10-12 inches 3 meals a day pellets 3mm
12-14 inches 1 meal a day pellets 3-6 mm
15 inches 1 meal every 2-3 days pellets 3-6mm