Decor

[killrmack]

i would just add a few tall plants to give it a little hight and you dont really loose swimmg area

 

[Dmaan.]

water changes every 3 or 4 days.
in between 25-50% new water.

 

[DISCIPLE]

Sand is no good for large cichlids, they are forever kicking it into the filter. Stick with the gavel and purchase a gravel vac.

Add a nice piece of driftwood as cover for the Pleco. Clay flower pots make handy caves and the Oscar will get some entertainment from pushing it around the tank.

id just put some foam around your intake,raise3-4" above sand and youll be fine. i have a fx5 in w/ 2 o's and a jag not an issue at all. my o's love to scoop it up and move it all around. everyday the aquascape for me

 

[Gaz_ham]

i wouldnt use sand in a tank again. maybe if i have an external filter, but it clogs up internal filters so quick. i like the idea of caves ornaments. im quite lucky i think, my oscar doesnt bully plants often, tends to leave them alone, so i get a nice pretty tank. i like gravel so he can dig, if hes programmed to do it, i like to encourage it

 

[TimTheBadass]

Don't bother with sand. My girlfriend has sand in her 100g and you still get crap everywhere and I find it harder to vac. Be careful not to overfeed your plec they produce a lot of poo. Best option IMO would be keep the gravel with rocks and bogwood. Gravel vac once a week when you change your water and all will be fine. I have a 150g containing a 14" plec 14" giant gourami, 14" arowana and a 12" tsn. I have the same decor, (gravel rocks bogwood) vacuum every inch of the tank every 2 weeks and do a weekly 50% wc and this keeps my nitrates at around 10ppm.

 

[nomadofthehills]

On the contrary, you should be doing LARGE water changes with your oscar, of AT LEAST 50%.

If poop is not getting sucked up, sounds like you need more powerful filters as well.

 

[AMG]

1) despite having two filters running, poop seems to wend its happy little way to the very bottom of the gravel rather than getting sucked up, so, would sand be better? Or less gravel? Or no gravel/sand at all? (An attractive tank would be nice, but the major priority is good water quality.)

Syphon the gravel during every water change. If you're having trouble getting your syphon to the bottom of the tank, go with less gravel.

2) The triangular rock is the only 'ornament' left since I gave up on plants (I'm sure you've read enough plant-murdering stories that you don't need to hear another) but the O is prone to the odd stupid moment and has scraped herself on it once. Is that just life or should I pick something less pointy? If so, any ideas?

Go with smoother rocks and some driftwood for decor. The combo is perfect for Oscar tanks.