Olly Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 I'm getting a 5ft tank that so far will have 2 oscars, 2 severums and a pleco. I will get an ornate polypterus before too long. What would be the best substrate for them? I like the look of the red stuff I have seen in a few photos, would that be suitable? and where can I get some? Also what would be other suitable tankmates/are the current ones ok? Tank is 540L will have a 3ft, 130L sump and pump will do about 4500 Lph, so filtration will be decent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 I just saw Ryans frontosa on trademe, how would it go in the lower pH and hardness? Would it be ok or am I dreaming? 8) :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 I'd suggest a normal gravel of some sort. Colour of your choice. The cichlids will dig it up and move it around as they feel like anyway. Not sure how many more tankmates you will want. All the fish you have can reach a foot long and will make that tank look pretty full in time. Sounds like a nice setup though 8) Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 I'd like some small fish that dont hide all the time and preferably school - any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 silver dollars? any smaller and they will be food for Oscars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Is there anything else? I just dont like silver dollars, they always look sick to me. Are there any rainbows or anything that can hack it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 What are the dimensions of the tank? With the fish you're talking about footprint is more important than total litres. Make sure the ornate has a good head start on the oscars, otherwise it will end up as spaghetti. You might also want to train it to hand feed from an early age, otherwise it could be hard to get food to it with out the oscars getting it first. Most people here will shun you for mixing a frontosa with those fish, but plenty of people do. Keep the pH around 7 and it should be alright. The biggest problem would be the difference win growth rate between the front and the oscars. And for the substrate, just about anything will be fine with oscars, but the red grit you're talking about would be better for the bichir than pea gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucid Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Not a great idea mixing a Frons with a Oscar, Oscar will bully the Frons as they can be skittish and shy fish. You need something that can hold its own like JD's, Plecos etc. The bigger the gravel (for the Oscars) the better, and they will move it all round the tank, including big rocks. Heater guards are good too, as Oscars get huge and can pack a punch if they are chasing something around the tank or get a fright. Frons are best in a higher PH, or you might find you will loose it in a hurry. (unless raised in lower PH, but still, not good for the fish) HTH. Best of luck. Lucid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 I have sand in mine, similar fish as you & works well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 I have sand in mine, similar fish as you & works wellCould I see a photo of your tank? I wanna see what it looks like Tank is 1.5m x 0.6m x 0.6m I got it today in my corolla hatchback :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 8) :lol: Good old Toyota Hatch. It's amazing how much you can fit in to one of those. I had one years ago and remember moving a 4 footer plus stand with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogod Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 Good old hatchbacks, ours has carried many a tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 And for the substrate, just about anything will be fine with oscars, but the red grit you're talking about would be better for the bichir than pea gravel. So where can I get some? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 get the new finer black gravel! i saw it the other day and was so jealous that it wasn't in my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 is it at animates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 So where can I get some? Stone and Water World in Marua Rd in Auckland. Shipping would be a killer, maybe make a post asking if anyone is driving down and see if you can arrange to meet them somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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