Recommended Filtration for an Oscar (cross posted)

I'm looking for a more powerful filtration system for my 55 gal Oscar
tank. Although I vacuum and do partial water changes every 5 days or
so, I find my current bio-wheel filters to be inadequate. I did, at one
time, have an UGF in the tank but did not like it. I could not keep it
"healthy" with all the vacuuming I do. So putting one back in is out of
the question.

So, what I'm wondering, is should get more powerful bio-wheel filters to
increase my gph filtration or should I invest in a canister filter or
something else? What kind of setup has worked well for others. I need
some advice.

Sunshyn

what types of filters do you currently have? HOB? sump? personally, i have
an oscar in a 75 gallon with 2 x emperor 400's and it keeps the water and
n2-n4 levels all at 0.


-agent smith

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Sunshyn wrote:
I'm looking for a more powerful filtration system for my 55 gal Oscar
tank. Although I vacuum and do partial water changes every 5 days or so,
I find my current bio-wheel filters to be inadequate. I did, at one
time, have an UGF in the tank but did not like it. I could not keep it
"healthy" with all the vacuuming I do. So putting one back in is out of
the question.
So, what I'm wondering, is should get more powerful bio-wheel filters to
increase my gph filtration or should I invest in a canister filter or
something else? What kind of setup has worked well for others. I need
some advice.
Sunshyn

What sized biowheel system do you have? I use Penguin 330 in my 55s
with Oscars and it seems to work well. Penguin is updating it to a
350gph system, too.

If you're using a filter with 330gph or more, then your problem may not
be filtration but something else; overfeeding, too many fishes,
something like that. Another possibility (please people don't flame me
for this --) is that changing the water every five days may be too
frequent -- back off to every ten days or so. I doubt whether this is
the problem, because of the biowheels, but it's a possibility. Another
thing to think about is whether you've allowed enough time for the
biowheels to establish -- takes a few days for the bacteria to "thicken
up" on the paddles. In my experience, a Penguin 330 or an Emporer 400 is
plenty of filtration for an Oscar 55, so before you dole out a lot of
cash for a canister you may want to look at these other issues. --Mark



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no no. i disagree. youll need at least 2 x 330's or 2 x 400's. you can never
have too much filtration. i suggest getting another filter. another thing
is, how big is this oscar? when i had a 14", i would change water every 3-5
days, as he made a BIG mess, and i only had a lone 330 in a 55g. check out
www.cichlid-forum.com and jump to the discussion section, and check out the
oscar section. youll get WAY more useful info out of them than you would
this group. thats where i get all my info from


-agetn smith


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"Mark Stone" -DONTEMAIL wrote in message
...
Sunshyn wrote:
I'm looking for a more powerful filtration system for my 55 gal Oscar
tank. Although I vacuum and do partial water changes every 5 days or
so,
I find my current bio-wheel filters to be inadequate. I did, at one
time, have an UGF in the tank but did not like it. I could not keep it
"healthy" with all the vacuuming I do. So putting one back in is out of
the question.
So, what I'm wondering, is should get more powerful bio-wheel filters
to
increase my gph filtration or should I invest in a canister filter or
something else? What kind of setup has worked well for others. I need
some advice.
Sunshyn

What sized biowheel system do you have? I use Penguin 330 in my 55s
with Oscars and it seems to work well. Penguin is updating it to a
350gph system, too.

If you're using a filter with 330gph or more, then your problem may not
be filtration but something else; overfeeding, too many fishes,
something like that. Another possibility (please people don't flame me
for this --) is that changing the water every five days may be too
frequent -- back off to every ten days or so. I doubt whether this is
the problem, because of the biowheels, but it's a possibility. Another
thing to think about is whether you've allowed enough time for the
biowheels to establish -- takes a few days for the bacteria to "thicken
up" on the paddles. In my experience, a Penguin 330 or an Emporer 400 is
plenty of filtration for an Oscar 55, so before you dole out a lot of
cash for a canister you may want to look at these other issues. --Mark



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Suggest you use a thin layer of sand for a substrate - or something
else that can be kept clean easily
Then use cannisters protect the feeds and outflows or oscar will
eat them. use as big a cannister as you can afford or 2 if you can
- cleaning is so much easier
I used a sump with one partition to strain out the big stuff and
then the filters to run the return to the tank - heaters in the
sump (something less for oscar to eat)

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Suggest you use a thin layer of sand for a substrate - or something
else that can be kept clean easily
Then use cannisters protect the feeds and outflows or oscar will
eat them. use as big a cannister as you can afford or 2 if you can
- cleaning is so much easier
I used a sump with one partition to strain out the big stuff and
then the filters to run the return to the tank - heaters in the
sump (something less for oscar to eat)

----------------------------------------------
Posted with NewsLeecher v2.0 RC2
* Binary Usenet Leeching Made Easy
* http://www.newsleecher.com/?usenet
----------------------------------------------

Agent Smith wrote:
no no. i disagree. youll need at least 2 x 330's or 2 x 400's.
-agetn smithWell, it won't hurt to have a pair of 330s or 400s in a 55
-- but it only really serves to fatten up the exec's pockets over
there at Aquaria Inc. One is fine if you are adequetly maintaining
your aquarium (feeding correctly, correct temp, not too many fish, --
). I keep Oscar pairs in 55s with Aqua-Tech/Penguin Hybrids.check out
www.cichlid-forum.com and jump to the discussion section, and check
out the oscar section. youll get WAY more useful info out of them than
you would this group.

Cichlid-Forums dot com is indeed an excellent forum, but I think the info here at RAFC and it's FAQ site http://faq.thekrib.com is it's equal. Another outstanding discussion forum is at the Oscar forum at CichlidFISH dot com. It is moderated by the people that maintain Worldcichlids dot com, CJExotics dot com, and The OSCAR Study Page. However, as long as quality people like NetMax and Amateur Cichlids (among others) keep frequenting these here newsgroups, there's no reason to believe that any of the forums on the net are giving better advice than good ol' rec.aquaria.freshwater.cichlids----- --Good Ol' Mark

p.s. -- You said "at least" 2 330s on a 55 -- How would you fit three
Penguins on a 55?!?



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well, thats a good point :P at least, in edition to maybe a canister? i have
2 330s on my 45 now, and 2 400's on my 75 along with a canister now. you can
never have too much filtration


-agent smith


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contact info:


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NetMax wrote:
Thanks Mark, but I'm not in the same class as Tim (Amateur Cichlids), or
_many_ of the other posters in rafc. I just hang out in rafm and keep
the newbies off your backs ;~).

Don't sell yourself short -- A discussion we had two? three? years ago
here in RAFC is the reason I do weekly partials now. Anyway, we all
appreciate your posts and expertise! --Mark



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i dont see what the problem with food is !

i use this hikary cichlid gold colour enhancing formula and it will not
fall to the bottom

one time the filter pulled the food down but it came right up
_________________________________________________
do oscars change as they grow up as in persanallity because mine rams
the glass and swims around but i saw some old oscars that just sit at
the bottom



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