Large Empty Tank And Thinking Of Oscars.....

[mattlee]

just going away from stocking for a bit. i am looking at getting another filter to run alongside the FX5 i have but after searching several online stores i cant find anything that even comes close to the Fx5 regarding performance and price.... i have been told that the high output filters that are for sale on ebay are apparently very good and very well priced. has anyone got one of these? they are the white canisters with built in UV light. can anyone suggest another filter i may have missed? price limit is £150 max and i can get a new FX5 for £140.
gutted as ive just sold one too

 

[mattlee]

just going away from stocking for a bit. i am looking at getting another filter to run alongside the FX5 i have but after searching several online stores i cant find anything that even comes close to the Fx5 regarding performance and price.... i have been told that the high output filters that are for sale on ebay are apparently very good and very well priced. has anyone got one of these? they are the white canisters with built in UV light. can anyone suggest another filter i may have missed? price limit is £150 max and i can get a new FX5 for £140.
gutted as ive just sold one too

star if you read this i noticed you say that you have one of these all pond solutions externals. do you rate it? which model do you have? its half the price of another FX and apparently does 2000lph. if this is true then this would be ok along with an FX5.....

 

[mattlee]

going back to plecos. i think that an L114 is on the list but would a L190 royal panaque be ok with the L114 and suncats? ive red they can be quite boistrous......

 

[kizno1]

going back to plecos. i think that an L114 is on the list but would a L190 royal panaque be ok with the L114 and suncats? ive red they can be quite boistrous......

I think it should be fine aslong as you have quite a few hiding spots and spread the food around the tank.

 

[Verminator89]

L114 is a trillion times better looking in my opinion anyway.

 

[mattlee]

L114 is a trillion times better looking in my opinion anyway.

yeah i was thinking of 1 of each. the L114 for its beauty and the L190 for its big chunky looks

the gold nuggett pleco is nice as well but ive been put off by its higher temp requirements

 

[Verminator89]

I love L128's Blue Phantom Plec, also the L200 Green Phantom? - now thats a WOW fish

Golden Nuggets arent too different from what you plan to keep are they. I wasnt aware they were unsuitable in any way.

 

[mattlee]

from what ive read the gn pleco prefers higher temp water of 28+. i think ive decided not to have 2 spotty plecs anyway. i keep going back to the cactus pleco L024, i remember seeing one of these ages ago and was very impressed with its looks, but after reading up on them they are very very messy fish even for pleco standards

 

[kizno1]

What about L091 they look stunning.

 

[mattlee]

filtration sorted. just ordered another FX5. gutted as ive just sold one to James on here

 

[mattlee]

just to get back on track and up to date this is where im at so far.....

tank - 6.5x2x2
heating - 2 x 300W Rena smart heaters
filtration - 2 x Fluval FX5
substrate - Argos playsand
decor - Bogwood and rocks

fish - 2 x asian sun catfish (currently about 2.5 inches)
1 x Black Ghost Knifefish (currently about 4.5 inches)
1 x Frontosa Cichlid (currently about 7 inches)
1 x L114 (still looking for one)
1 x L190 (offered a 6 inch specimin)
1 x Oscar (not got yet)
1 x Siamese algae eater (currently about 4.5 inches)
1 x Red spotted Severum (if i can find a tame one)


i have some of the stocking already in quarentine (2x sun catfish + 1x BGK)and the frontosa is at stars house waiting for the tank to cycle. im still looking for the plecos and still am not 100% on which ones to get or even whether to have just 1 or go for 2.... i am looking for a peacefull red spotted severum that will get along with the frontossa and have yet to buy a small oscar. the siamese algae eater is currently in another tank but i no longer want it in there so he may as well go in this tank for now. if i cant find a suitable red spotted sev then other cichlids are an option, maybe 1 of stars rotkeils!

if anyone can see anything ive missed out or have done wrong so far then please comment and dont be too hard on me

lighting at the minute is a single T8 5ft tube as this is what came with the tank, i may upgrade but i need to build or get a hood built to house better lighting.

just to add for those that have not been following this topic its not a biotope or species tank of any kind its a 'me' tank and a 'wetpet' tank.
also dithers are not really wanted but if needed some will be added once the fish are settled and grown on a bit.

 

[star4]

What sort of oscar are you thinking of?

 

[mattlee]

What sort of oscar are you thinking of?

i think a tiger as im not too keen on the albinos and the more red varieties. they had some small 3 inch ish tigers at lfs that had a green tinge to them, does this go with age or is it another colour form? ive also seen black and grey/white ones on ebay that looked diffferent.

 

[Wills]

I really like the black/white oscars - I believe they are a wild strain that have been provided on the market recently not sure how long it stays with them though. With the Severum I would not worry too much as you will be hard pressed to find a really nasty one with those tank mates.

Wills

 

[star4]

My little Rusty had a green tinge to him, but its sort of grown out, he is mainly all black now with a few tiny little orange spots. Chops is beautifully marked with pale grey & jet black patches with the splattering or orange. My other tiger (well Minxy's ) is more pale grey with paler grey patches but lovely red patterning, he is absolutely gorgous.

Red spots are not normally known for their aggression towards oscars or other fish, I just think Harry is an acceptional case and Vinny for some reason just didnt like larger oscars either, only time will tell if he stays on good terms with my little one Rusty. I wouldnt take my word on any fish behaviour all mine seem blooming crazy