Planted Oscar/clownloach Tank Advice

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

Nyghtfire

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 1, 2010
268
0
0
34
Perth, Australia
Heya all for a while i've been seriously considering doing a planted tank with maybe a pair of oscars, or just a single one in a 5ft x 2ft x 2ft custom build, possible raising the height a few inch's
The must have fish in this tank will be clown loach's. to be honest for the last 2 weeks or so i've been regurlarly been visiting my lfs just to watch there clown loach's, i just love the little guys.

So anyways, with the oscars, and clownloach's (3-5 clownloach's) more then like a few catfish (undecided on species so suggestions are more then welcome) any advice you can give and whether there would be any forseeable problems with the stock.
also how would oscars go in a planted tank? i know some cichlids can have issue's with planted tanks, never kept oscars in my experience so...
anyways should get the idea.
-Matt
 
The oscars will rips the plants out, lol. Just get some really hardy ones. They dig like crazy, all cichlids do, plants don't do well with them BUT give it a shot, they may just leave it alone. But don't spend a lot on plants at first, just see if they will leave them alone.

Loaches get ick fast so keep an eye out when you first get them, they will probably get ick. I love loaches. They are so fun to watch. They have such great personalities.
 
hmm maybe the oscars wouldn't be such a good idea =(
oh well another tanks always a possibilitie =D maybe design that one as more of a theme with tree roots, dark and forboding kinda theme to it, have some oscars and a large pleco, instead of aqua forest like i want with the clown loach's.

Anyone able to give me some idea's for predator fish that would do alright in a planted aquarium with clown loach's?
 
Chicklette;4285870; said:
The oscars will rips the plants out, lol. Just get some really hardy ones. They dig like crazy, all cichlids do, plants don't do well with them BUT give it a shot, they may just leave it alone. But don't spend a lot on plants at first, just see if they will leave them alone.

Loaches get ick fast so keep an eye out when you first get them, they will probably get ick. I love loaches. They are so fun to watch. They have such great personalities.
Click to expand...

It's true about the Oscars, not for a planted tank. As for loaches, they are like any other sensitive fish ( puffers, discus, etc ). They need over-filtration and a properly cycled tank. I have 3 clown loaches in a 75 with a pleco, a senegal bichir and an amphilophus hogaboomorum ( he's a cichlid that "digs" like crazy ). I'm running an AC70, AC110 and a Fluval 405. My loaches are nice and healthy and getting fatter:headbang2

Serge
 
Nyghtfire;4286179; said:
Anyone able to give me some idea's for predator fish that would do alright in a planted aquarium with clown loach's?
Click to expand...


I suggest fire eels, bichirs or maybe an arrowana. As for a cat, how about an upside down catfish? They're pretty sweet, and get to a decent size.

Serge
 
i have a planted grow out tank with sa/ca cichlids most just ignore the plants the one texas i had in there dug up 3 in 5 mins when i added him but left my java fern that i have tied to driftwood alone.
 
If you have a really peaceful oscar it might work. My brother's one, which happens to be quite mellow, has never even touched any of the fake plants in its enclosure. But even then, just for insurance, I would only get the most resilient and toughly-rooted plants available.
 
Agreed. It partially depends on the oscars temperament. I've heard plants like Anubias, big Swords, and Java Fern (not moss though, it will be shredded) could work out. Try to anchor them to rocks/driftwood or strategically design the tank so the decor blocks and hopefully protects the plants roots. I have also been dreaming of a planted oscar tank... just saving up the funds :) Good luck!
 
geronimo69;4286198; said:
It's true about the Oscars, not for a planted tank. As for loaches, they are like any other sensitive fish ( puffers, discus, etc ). They need over-filtration and a properly cycled tank. I have 3 clown loaches in a 75 with a pleco, a senegal bichir and an amphilophus hogaboomorum ( he's a cichlid that "digs" like crazy ). I'm running an AC70, AC110 and a Fluval 405. My loaches are nice and healthy and getting fatter:headbang2

Serge
Click to expand...


definetly going to be overfiltering the tank by huge amounts of course for the loach's.
mainly trying to kill 2 birds with one stone by getting a predator aswell :)
only issue is alot of the predators i'd love aren't exactly on the legal side here :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom