Please critique my 90g setup

[japes]

To be safe I'd always cut my intakes when using sand. Planning to add a large canister (not sure which yet) to my tank and I'll be keeping the the intake a good 8" above the sand. I've got PFS and it's pretty coarse grain, not the fine powdery play/beach sand. The other thing you can do is put a screen over the intakes, I'm playing with that idea but I'm thinking a fine enough mesh to keep sand out will keep the fish poo out or clog anyway.

Canisters shouldn't be affected by sand because of how they're designed; your mechanical media should stop sand. Just means that if you don't cut your intakes short that you're going to need to clean your filter out slightly more regularly.

 

[RDFISHGUY]

Here's a couple of pics of my red-hooks. They too are very voracious eaters when they hit the 4" mark. They also do best in groups of 4 or more. I bought 3 to start with and they just kinda moped around . I added 3 more and I can't stop them. I think they are better suited to a six foot tank once they start to get bigger,IMO.

 

[TrikkyMakk]

Make sure your heater has a protector as Oscars can break them easily.

 

[Natalie]

I set the 90g up yesterday! Everyone is moved in and I'm closely monitoring for a mini-cycle. Everyone looks so happy, which makes ME happy. Woohooo! I can't wait to get pictures up, probably later today. Thanks for everyone's expert advice!

 

[japes]

Good to hear things went well, looking forward to the photos.

 

[killerfish]

sounds good i'd go for silver dollars giant danios may get eaten

 

[smallguy]

we have a very simular set up. in my 90 gal i have 1 female jag (8 inchs), pair of convicts (4 and 3 inch), red devil (4inch), 5 redtail tinfoil barbs (4-6inch), pleco (3inch), 4 lined pim cat (4 inch) and featherfin cat (3inch).i know its stocked alittle heavy but a 180 coming soon this summer and when i get a house i have a 500 planned. im running aqua clear 110 and a rena xp3 and everyone is happy. when i first got my 90 i mini cycled the tank with 6 2inch giant danios while my 3inch jag hung out with blue rams in my 55. jag wasnt intersted in 1.5 inch blue rams at all but when added to the 90 gal he ate every one of the giant danio. i think the darting motion above him stimulates a predator instinct. so i would go with silver dollars.

 

[skene]

I previously had 7 GDs in my tank for about 3 months. Up until just a few days ago, and more recently within a half hour my tank now currently has 3 GDs remaining.
GDs are fine up until they are small enough to fit into the O's mouth. I just watched 2 of my O's going after the smallest GD and the other ones that got previously eaten were approx 2.75 - 2.5".
My O's that were chasing them are 4" and 3.25" respectively.

Up until recently the GDs did look like nice dithers.



Only my SDs will be the only dithers remaining.

 

[Natalie]

I am going to remove the 4" male GT from this tank because I think he has parasites. He's skinny and hasn't eaten in days, and is such a scaredy-cat that the others are starting to go after him. If he gets better I'll keep him in his own 55g so he's not so stressed out.

What should I stock in his place, in addition to the 10" oscar and 3.5" male marble con? I thought it might be neat to buy a male zebra con and a male pink con, so I'd have one of each color morph in the tank. I'm not sure if that's asking for trouble, but I just love cons.

I'd like to center the tank around the O because he's so large and beautiful. If the cons don't seem like a good idea, what else would work?

 

[Jason_S]

I am going to remove the 4" male GT from this tank because I think he has parasites. He's skinny and hasn't eaten in days, and is such a scaredy-cat that the others are starting to go after him. If he gets better I'll keep him in his own 55g so he's not so stressed out.

What should I stock in his place, in addition to the 10" oscar and 3.5" male marble con? I thought it might be neat to buy a male zebra con and a male pink con, so I'd have one of each color morph in the tank. I'm not sure if that's asking for trouble, but I just love cons.

I'd like to center the tank around the O because he's so large and beautiful. If the cons don't seem like a good idea, what else would work?

Yes, I think you're asking for trouble. In fact I think you were asking for trouble with the GT, Oscar and con in the first place. And for those who were suggesting to add even more fish.... I'd stick with the Oscar and con only and if you want to try some dithers then try but I wouldn't do red hook silver dollars. they'll grow much too large for the 90 gallon. regular silver dollars should be ok though just make sure they don't get harrassed by the oscar or con.