Recomendation on setting up a new 55 Gallon tank?

Question

I currently have 2 oscars about 5 inches each, two pacus about 6 inches each that are in my old tank. I just bought a glass tank that's 55 gallons along with a marine land filter for 75 gallon tanks. How does the cycling work? what other fish are compatible? Any suggestions what i should do to expand my tank, places where I could find discount decorations? any special care for having a bigger tank?

Answer 1

I would suggest you run your new filter on the old tank for a week or so. Leave your old filter running as well. Then run the new one for a week or so without the old filter running. This will hep get the bacteria you need established in the new tank. If possible, use some of the gravel from your old tank in the new one. Be sure not to let it dry out between the two tanks. Move as much of the old gravel and water over to the new tank as possible and then move your new filter to that new tank. This will move much of the bacteria over and prevent any major cycling issues.

I'm sure you already know that a 55 will still be way too small for those fish to grow out in, but I just felt I needed to say it.

MM

Answer 2

Using cycling the tank involves letting it run with filtration for anywhere up to a month. This will give the gravel bed time to develop the bacteria that will break down animal waste products.

Don't know about Pacus, but Oscars are diggers. Whatever decorations you choose, should not have many sharp edges. Even in play, they will chase each other, and sometimes they run into things. The eyes can be damaged by a sharp object.

For tank mates... If an Oscar thinks it can get it in it's mouth, it will try! LOL So something similar in size would be good. Also something that will continue to grow in size. The Oscar should reach about a foot in length in a 55g, if they are well fed. They love goldfish, worms, bugs, etc. A pleco will be okay for awhile, but they will get up to 24" in length, and usually turn to eating the other fish in the tank!

Good luck!

Answer 3

The fish you have are going to get big. Pacus and oscars eat a lot and their feces are really dirty so i suggest get another canister filter from drfostersmith.com. To cycle your tank you can either buy bacteria to prime ur tank or you can introduce smaller and cheaper fish weeks prior to introducing ur oscars and pacus. Not that many fishes are compatible with your fishes but a great place for supplies and stuff is drfostersmith.com....good luck

Answer 4

They sell a liquid that helps with developing your bio-filter! or what I did was took some things for my other tank and put them in the new one to help speed up the proses! They also say to but a few gold fish in to help with it! but wait about 3 to 6 week before you but in your good fish! Danio also help with it to!