Desperately need to upgrade filtration on 150g!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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maverickm4

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2010
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United states
I have no idea what filter i should upgrade to for my 150 gallon aquarium. I currently have 3 Oscar fish in it that are relatively 3 years old. They are showing signs of HITH disease in their sensory pits and i know these cheap filters that hang off the back aren't cutting it. I was doing some research on the FX5 filter and noticed something about the FX5 being able to do water changes? I'm currently having to vacuum the tank per 5 gallon bucket. With me currently going through college it makes this a rare occasion due to how time consuming it is, and my terrible procrastination. The main thing I am worried about is how easily it will be to set up the new filter for my tank. I'm not looking to drain the tank nor drill any holes in the tank. Any body have any suggestions?

Also my Oscars have been fighting extremely bad today. Usually they just lock lips but it seems my tiger has become extremely aggressive. To the point that I am scared for the other fish's lives, he is ramming into the Red Oscar's sides and literally just ripping scales off. :( I keep interrupting the fights with a fish net and separating them, I just don't have a divider. Any ideas where this sudden aggression may be coming from? I have never seen him act this brutal... Thanks for all your help.
 
maverickm4 said:
I have no idea what filter i should upgrade to for my 150 gallon aquarium. I currently have 3 Oscar fish in it that are relatively 3 years old. They are showing signs of HITH disease in their sensory pits and i know these cheap filters that hang off the back aren't cutting it. I was doing some research on the FX5 filter and noticed something about the FX5 being able to do water changes? I'm currently having to vacuum the tank per 5 gallon bucket. With me currently going through college it makes this a rare occasion due to how time consuming it is, and my terrible procrastination. The main thing I am worried about is how easily it will be to set up the new filter for my tank. I'm not looking to drain the tank nor drill any holes in the tank. Any body have any suggestions?

Also my Oscars have been fighting extremely bad today. Usually they just lock lips but it seems my tiger has become extremely aggressive. To the point that I am scared for the other fish's lives, he is ramming into the Red Oscar's sides and literally just ripping scales off. :( I keep interrupting the fights with a fish net and separating them, I just don't have a divider. Any ideas where this sudden aggression may be coming from? I have never seen him act this brutal... Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...

I have three Oscars also in a very heavily filtered aquarium. Many will say not to keep more then two unless you have a Hugh tank. Mine will lock jaws but it never seems aggressive sorta like a dance of sorts...Oscars love to play games. Mine will fill has mouth with food and spit it up the filter intake. With Filters look for the most Bio Filtration you can get (EHEIM$$$). The folks on the Oscar site love the Marineland C Series/Aquatop. It holds allot more media and I promise you the flow is decent. Like I said don't go by me, check out the site just search Oscar fish. I went out and bought a 50.00 Pyton its the bomb no pails needed. Search out the FX5 Issues on here be sure to read other sites also you will see issues lately that all I'm going to say on that one. Just read its all there.:popcorn:
 
You know if you can seperate them for a day or two according to a friend of mine. He says they will go through the dominance process againshould lower aggression.
 
The HITH is from your Nitrates being off the scale. You need to do more water changes. Having more filtration will not reduce the need of or frequency of water changes.
You also need to clean out your filters mechanical media more often with larger fish.
An FX5 will NOT do WC's. You can connect a hose to it and use it to pump out water.
 
My suggestion is to install adivider or reduce the number of fish. Three oscars in a 150G is overstocked IMO, so you might look at increasing the tank size, increasing water changes, etc.
 
The hole in the head is a husbandry issue typically. Mostly water quality and diet. Best thing is to increase water changes. As mentioned you are over stocked.


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maverickm4 said:
I'm currently having to vacuum the tank per 5 gallon bucket.
Click to expand...

Forget upgrading your filter, upgrade your siphon!!! Go buy enough hose to comfortably reach the nearest drain/toilet/shower/window/garden/lawn so you don't have to carry buckets, then make up a fitting of some description so you can attach it to a hose/faucet for refilling the tank. And make sure its of a decent diameter so you're not waiting all day for the tank to drain/fill. Adding a piece of rigid PVC to make it easier to direct is handy too.

Anyone with anything over a 55g tank shouldn't be carrying buckets for water changes IMO!!!
 
my suggestion:
have the output from the tank pull from a few inches from the substrate and get a few power heads at the same level aimed at various areas to keep it all stirred up. that way the filter can pick the stuff up rather than having to gravel vac.

if you live near a harbor freight / go to harborfreight.com and get some cheap water pumps. I've gotten a couple for $12 that push around 250gal/hr and stuck them in there to help it circulate the flow. I even have one below the stand hooked up to tubing to assist in pumping water back in the tank.


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