Hey everybody, new to MFK and first time to posting. I currently have a 3.5'' tiger oscar in a 29g. Small but they grow quick. In planning out he's next home, I am looking for input/recommendations and/or tips and tricks. Because of the $1/gallon sale, I will be getting a 75g aquarium (50% off with sale). I have debated all sorts of filtration in my mind. I have been wanting to set up a sump for a really long time. Specifically, I'm thinking about a 29g fluidized filter with K1. It'll be in the basement so sound isn't an issue. A very efficient filter with minimal upkeep, minus swapping out filter floss. Otherwise if I did a submerged sump I have over 5g of media from my wife's former classroom aqua-farm. So I have option. Currently have an Eheim 2217 on our display tank....not a fan of cleaning canisters, and hoping to consistently remove detritus from filter to prevent hole in head. Last option, and probably the cheapest, would to throw in a couple large sponge filters and an AC filter. Lastly, and thanks for bearing with me, I'm debating tank mates. Could just have a single fish show tank, or a small (yet large!) community tank. Thinking either a really nice pleco, ornate bichar, a maybe a few silver dollars (would probably wait until I have a much larger tank at this point). Thanks you all for reading!!!
New 75g Oscar Setup
- Thread starter powerlifter4
- Start date
Welcome to MFK! I recommend a hang off the back filter for a tank that size, as they will be the easiest to clean and keep up with maintenance if that's your biggest concern when choosing a filter. But for better filtration you could go a few sizes up. For tankmates maybe Silver Dollars (Depends) could work, a Firemouth Cichlid, and a Pleco would be a good clean-up fish! In my opinion a Blood Red Parrot wouldn't be bad either as when i've had them together the Oscar ignores the BP, but that really depends on if he's a mellow or aggressive fish but I feel it's worth giving it a try!
I think If you are willing to set up a sump then go ahead Im kicking myself for not setting up one for my 75g No more space for hobs and I dont love canisters maybe some day but 29 gallon sump might be on the smaller side atleast Imo for an oscar in a 75g
also welcome!!
also welcome!!
i have a similar set up with an oscar and some other fish and love my current filtration set up and it all together cost me 40$. i like to run as large of a sponge as possible in each corner for the biological filtration and a hang on the back filter for water clarity. i use a tetra ex30 my neighbor gave me with no filter media just the plastic insert that is supposed to be used as a spacer that i flipped around and it traps the free floating particles. inside the tetra filter i have allot of pothos cuttings and spider plants which removes the nitrates and prevents a spike. my nitrates and nitrites always sit at 0. u could run the tank on just sponges but an hob filter with plants makes it so you dont have to do as frequent of water changes and keeps the water clear. i also would recommend a green terror for that tank size because they swim in all the water levels instead of occupying a midlevel spot in the tank which is nice because then it wont get in the oscars way. green terrors are also beautiful and have as much personality as an oscar. my green terror was abt 1.5” when i put him in with my oscar which was 5” the oscar didnt bother him because the green terror would imitate the oscars every move. my oscar is a pretty peaceful example of an oscar and you might have a completely different experience it also helps if fish are kept in a large enough number that one fish is singled out so you might consider adding dither fish tiger barbs or convicts work great. an oscar aficionado would tell you that an oscar would have to be housed solo in a 75gallon.
Welcome aboard
No matter what filter you use proper water changes will be needed.
No matter what filter you use proper water changes will be needed.
Planning on going past 75g once Oscar is hitting 12"?
Just saying this because most 75gs are not thick (to me)and big thick Oscars can crack the glass if spooked. MAYBE its my crazy self seeing too many big Oscars lately sending my imagination into overdrive. Got 75gs and just cant imagine it housing massive Oscar I have seen lately
Just saying this because most 75gs are not thick (to me)and big thick Oscars can crack the glass if spooked. MAYBE its my crazy self seeing too many big Oscars lately sending my imagination into overdrive. Got 75gs and just cant imagine it housing massive Oscar I have seen lately
I’m with you there man, my sever I’m is 8”-9” and I think that’s the max size for a mid active fish in a 75 gallon. For a fish that never stops moving I think 4”, maybe 5” would be the biggest I’d put in there. An active but not crazy active fish somewhere around 6”. A lazy fish that never moves, basically like a rock, I’d say maybe a foot but I don’t have experience with something like that.
If you fancy going the sump route then go for it. You certainly won't regret it. The extra water volume and out of sight hiding places for heaters are great added benefits.
As far as tankmates go, I wouldn't add anything. That oscar will, just on its own, be too big for that tank in as little as 12 months. Ideally a 120g would be the minimum for a single oscar for life.
Oscars put out a fair old bio load too. Be mindful of this. It'll grow quickly and to achieve a lowish nitrate goal you will have to adjust the level of water changes as you go along.
As far as tankmates go, I wouldn't add anything. That oscar will, just on its own, be too big for that tank in as little as 12 months. Ideally a 120g would be the minimum for a single oscar for life.
Oscars put out a fair old bio load too. Be mindful of this. It'll grow quickly and to achieve a lowish nitrate goal you will have to adjust the level of water changes as you go along.
I agree with the above.
I consider a 75 only has enough space for an oscar until it reaches 7.5 inches, and there isn't enough space for adding for any other fish.
That is a valid concern I had to take all the rocks out of my oscars 125g because they would pick up a rock and ram the glass with it or pick it up and drop it hard on the bottom which is a problem because it was bare bottom
