Just want to make sure everything is OK

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MFK Member
Oct 25, 2011
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I got a tank about 2 weeks ago and had everything set up and ready to go. I had my tank cycle of a week straight. I checked all of my water levels to make sure that it was ok to buy an oscar and put him in, i was.

When i put him in the tank last night, he was chillin in the corner of the tank next to the heater. my friend said that he would do that in the begining, to get use to the tank. I woke up this morning and he is doing the same thing, plus he is swimming backwards and not eating.

I just want to make sure that everything is ok.

Water test results:

ph was around 7.4
ammonia was at 0ppm
nitrite level was @ .25ppm
nitrate level was @ 0ppm
tank temp 79 F

I was doing research on the water levels and the sites that I went to said that an oscar can live in those conditions.

Please tell me if I am totally wrong, or if eveything will be ok.

Thank you much
 
Yep, your water parameters look OK. He is probably just settling in. Keep a very close eye on the water though. It takes more than a week to cycle a tank and if you didn't add an ammonia source during your cycling period (pure ammonia, a market shrimp, or a fish) then there was no actual cycling going on. Oscars are very messy, very high bio-load fish and he will produce LOTS of ammonia. They are also pretty hardy so he should be alright, just keep testing that water and when the levels get high do a good water change. And remember to de-chlorinate the water or you will kill off all the bacteria that you worked so hard to cycle in. There are lots of good threads about starting up a tank in the Setup and Filtration forum.
 
+1
Jamo3030 said:
Yep, your water parameters look OK. He is probably just settling in. Keep a very close eye on the water though. It takes more than a week to cycle a tank and if you didn't add an ammonia source during your cycling period (pure ammonia, a market shrimp, or a fish) then there was no actual cycling going on. Oscars are very messy, very high bio-load fish and he will produce LOTS of ammonia. They are also pretty hardy so he should be alright, just keep testing that water and when the levels get high do a good water change. And remember to de-chlorinate the water or you will kill off all the bacteria that you worked so hard to cycle in. There are lots of good threads about starting up a tank in the Setup and Filtration forum.
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No, you're water parameters are not alright.

You should never have any readings above 0 ppm for ammonia or nitrite. The fact that you have a nitrite reading and no nitrates shows me that your tank isn't fully cycled. That being said, he could potentially just be acting the way he is because he's settling in. How large is he and what is the tank size?
 
He is maybe 2 inchs right now and he is in a 55 gallon tank.

Im looking at him now and he is backed into the corner between the glass and the heater and hes not doing anything.
 
AcsFoolMike said:
No, you're water parameters are not alright.

You should never have any readings above 0 ppm for ammonia or nitrite. The fact that you have a nitrite reading and no nitrates shows me that your tank isn't fully cycled.

+1 doesnt look to me that your tank was cycled properly before adding the oscar. How did you cycle your tank? if this is the case your going to have to do daily water changes until it is cycled which could take some time.
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Any oscar that i have ever owned has always acted goofy for a few days when i first got them...so im sure your fine
 
ok did the test today and the ph is 7.4, Ammonia is 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0.

But my oscar is still acting weird.
 
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