My first large tank (90gal)

[Wulfonce]

Ahoy!

I just bought a used 90gal tank about a month ago. I'm slowly setting it up bit by bit whenever I have some extra money. (damn this economy)

I have:
- a Marineland "Emperor" Power Filter 400
- two Rena 150W heaters
- three 48" florescent tube lights 40w each (2 blue, 1 white came with the tank)

That all so far. I still haven't decided on sand or gravel and what color to use. Not sure how I want to stock the tank other then I want at least one Tiger Oscar. Decisions decisions.

I did have a few stocking ideas probably some bad:

Option 1:
1 - Tiger Oscar
5 - clown loaches
with the problem being the oscar would eat the loaches before they reach an uneatable size. The easy solution would be to buy bigger clown loaches but they are way out of my price range at $50+ each. I was hoping to stock this tank for under $100 CAD

Option 2:
1 - Tiger Oscar
2 - female Convicts
I asked about this on yahoo answers and got alot of mixed answers. Perhaps you guys could give me some input on this?

Option 3:
1 - Tiger Oscar
1 - Pacu
I havent been able to get a reliable sourse on how big Pacus grow. I've herd anywhere from 12" up to 2.5'! Once again I need some input on this one.

Option 4:
2 - Tiger Oscars
Once again I asked about this one on yahoo answers and got many different results. I swear people just pull answers out of their ass right or wrong just to get the points.
I herd that if I get 2 males its almost a gurentee that they will fight and one will end up dead. And on that note apparentally its nearly impossible to sex them when their young?


Anyway thats all I got. If anyone has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated. What other central and south american cichlids can stand up to an Oscar?

This will be my first desent sized tank and im very excited! Cheers!

 

[orbit]

Hey man! Welcome to MFK!!!!

90g is a nice tank to start with! Get that sucker filled up and cycling so you can get fish once you plan out what to get.

As for fish..... LOL Oscars are actually a cool fish. Go for something unique like a lemon or something! If you want to put two together make sure you start with about 6 small (babies) ones and let them pair off. When they do they will be mates. Then you don't have to worry about two fighters. Male Oscars can and will be friends too so don't think that won't work. When you get a paired set of O's then you will need to get rid of the rest of them. If you do do a pair of O's then the 90 will be all it can handle so don't add anything else in with them.

Clown Loaches are fast. Repeat fast! Have a lot of hiding spots for them and they will work with the larger fish. Once the O's figure out they can't get them they will give up. Usually! LOL Loaches are sweet too.

With Convicts?? They might nip the O's fins. They might not. That will be a trial and error you'll have to do. Same with them too. Put in huts/housing type of things for them so they have a "home".

Skip a Pacu. Way to big.

Most cichlids will be trial and error. You will just have to have alot of patients and leanr as much as you can!! Remember ask lots of questions! There are some EXTREMELY smart guys here! good luck and keep us posted!

 

[fishkeeper25]

I say option 4,pacus grow 3'+ and I haven't ever heard that keeping 2 male oscars is a problem,I see many tanks that have 2 oscars and they don't even have and cut fins

 

[jgentry]

I like option 1 or 4. One would be nice and active and the oscar would be a nice show fish. Option 4 would be nice only if you get a male and female. Otherwise they will fight.

I would stay away from 2 and 3. Convicts might be a little nippy but would work OK, I just prefer option 1 and 4. The pacu will get way to big. They need a 300g+ tank.

Sounds like your off to a good start. Posts some picks when you get your fish.

 

[killerfish]

As allready said Pacu get 3'+ so skip them

I'd persoanlly go with 1 oscar and 3 or so female cons or a group of clown loaches

 

[danny2875]

Yeah you can keep 2 oscars together. I havent had a problem with mine. Whatever you do, do not add a pacu. They grow way to fast and get some damn big.

 

[BlueKiller82]

I agree with the above posts. I think Tigers are the best looking when they mature and color up.

You have to be very careful with multiple oscars though. I had a male and female in a 180 gallon tank, the male would beat the heck out of the female non stop (she ended up jumping out of the tank cuz of his constant chasing and died.)

Another option may be to have an Oscar and a couple firemouths. Less agressive than convicts.

If you go with the loaches, add the loaches a few months before purchasing the oscar. This way they get acclimated to the tank, then when you add a small oscar he should be ok with them living in the tank. I have had alot of experience with this. For some reason the oscar will leave fish that were in the tank before it alone. I have even had angelfish live with oscars using this method.

I had some cory's living in with my oscar, I added a new cory after the Oscar and for some reason he would not leave it alone till he ate it, yet still would not touch the other cories that had been living there before him. I still would be careful with doing this and keep a close eye on him.

In all Id suggest option 1, or Oscar and another smaller cichlid. I wouldnt recommend two O's in a 90.

Goodluck and keep us posted.

 

[peathenster]

the problems with a group of clown loaches - 1. best to have 6+ individuals, which could be expensive; 2. they get big too. Slowly, but eventually.

How about getting a proven pair of Os? Doable with your budget... I think...

 

[Burtess]

I would buy another filter for that tank first if you want to keep an oscar.
Since you say cash is tight, look at an AC110 or another Emperor 400 (or a Penguin 350, a little less $). Preferably I would go with a canister filter such as a Fluval 305/405, Rena Filstar XP2/XP3, or an Eheim 2215. A HOB plus a canister would be the best combo.

For fish, one oscar will fill that tank up very nicely when full grown. Until he grows, consider adding a group of giant danios to keep the tank looking active. The oscar will take care of those as he grows...

Burt

 

[klmt]

Here is what i'd do. just go with one oscar of your choice, and do not get female cons, they are not as personable as males and get way smaller. is would be hard to find some larger females and even then the oscar would outgrow and eat them quickly. Get male cons. mix it up too get like one black (regular) male, a calico male and a pink male. Three is a good nuber that way they spread the agression. give them each a little cave or territory and get all about the same size. They squabble but nothing bad. I have 3 males in a 55 all over 4" and they get along great. they are very personable, and if they each have a "home" they dont bother anyone. a 90 is plenty big for those four fish for life, and it would be very active and fun to watch. If you want you could even add a school of giant danios like said before for even more activity. but this i tink is a very good option.