water params for oscar

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I would get an Aqua Clear 110/500 for under $40.

You have too many fish in there for your filters to support enough bacteria it appears. How big are all the fish?
 
Your filters would be full to the brim with bacteria, but the surface area of your media isn't big enough for the amount of bacteria needed to convert the amount of waste being produced, Like Rally said remove the carbon from both filters(to create room) and replace it with another pair of filter pads or something similar so your media surface area increases.

Put the new pads in with the old or you'll be cycling your tank all over again and ammonia will spike a hell of a lot higher than it is now, A couple of weeks after adding these new pads start testing your water again and hopefully you will see results.

Something to think about, As your fish get bigger this problem is going to get worse so really this is just a bandaid solution untill you upgrade your filtration....


Hope this helps.
 
Too many fish for 55 gallons. Add another filter. Do more water changes.

Do you rinse your filter pads out?
 
Ok I removed the pleco ...who was only about 3 inches to begin with..my oscar is about 9 inches. Am I not supposed t owash the pads? I assuem probably not since It holds the bacteria...I think i'm just goign to get a canister biowheel filter and keep one of my HOB filters.
 
I'd say go with an Aqua Clear... I have 2 on my 55 gal Oscar tank, pumping 600 GPH..... they ROCK!!!! BEST filter's I've used!!!!! And ZEUZ (my tiger O) is verry verry happy with them as well :)
 
Where can I get one for a good price?
 
you have way too many fish for a 55g. your O needs at least 55g all to himself. adding filtration may help but probably not enough. either get a much larger tank---125 or bigger or get rid of all the fish except the O.
 
at www.bigalsonline.com you can get an Aquaclear 110/500 for like $35. you may be able to print out the ad and take it to a local Petsmart and have them price match...some will and some won't. even if you have to order online the shipping is very cheap. I would add one AC110/500 and keep one of the aquatech filters on there as well...heck if you don't have another tank then keep both aquatech filters on there. the filters you're using are rated for 30-60 gallon tanks but they're better not being on anything larger than a 30 by themself and that's at a moderate stocking level. even with the 2 you have the bioload produced by your fish is too much for the filtration to handle. I would add the other filter that I mentioned and start doing 40-50% water changes at least once a week but twice a week would be even better. in the meantime, like the others have said you're going to need another decent sized tank because the one you have is overstocked and some of the fish will eventually need to be moved. :)
 
amindbesideitself;528984; said:
i've been doing water changes and i cant get the nitrate to lower..:help2: I just did about a 50% water change and i did a 25% yesterday
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Then your tank is too small
Sorry
 
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