improving my filtration

[The mad titan]

View attachment 1356923
Fin level water change means taking the water level down to the dorsal fin of your tallest fish. In the pic I am doing this in Toni's tank.

Beautiful fish, I was looking at some silver dollars today but they were tiny. Your bedding looks very deep is there a rule of thumb? Mine is very shallow and thanks.

 

[Jexnell]

Beautiful fish, I was looking at some silver dollars today but they were tiny. Your bedding looks very deep is there a rule of thumb? Mine is very shallow and thanks.

Rule of thumb is one pound per gallon to get 1inch depth.
That tank has 140 lbs of gravel in it. Seven twenty pound bags. Six was just short so went with seven.

 

[LBDave]

For substrate it depends what you want to do. You will need enough to anchor plants, plastic or live. Some say oscars dig so much and rearrange tank less gravel is better.
Substrate is another thing to read about. Color and brightness can affect fish. Material can affect ph and silica content (diatom problems).
For a general type aquarium 2'-3".

 

[LBDave]

The peas

 

[The mad titan]

I was able to snap a few pic. As you can see my substrate needs some work. I plan to add more once I get decor. I’m starting to notice one of the Osacar displaying more dominance so I guess the structure is being created.