125 with two oscars, 8 silver dollars, synodontis

[jason longboard]

So years ago I had this same set up and want to do it again, but wondering about my filtration now.

The silver dollars are adults, the two cats are grown, the two oscars are like 2 inches.

I got two AC 110s, with the spong and then rest ceramic bio.......then a large sponge filter, and a power head with 4 spong cartridges like a tower.

I can't fit a canister under the tank that's larger than 11 inches, that's the width of each three doors.

I can fit something like a 407.

So I was thinking of ditching one of the 110s and adding something the size of a 407.

Or just say forget it for now and leave it all as is and see how things go as the oscars get bigger.

then maybe add a medium canister and ditch the sponge filter since oscars tend to chew em

The less electricity I have going the happier I would be or i would just add a canister with everything but that's like 5 filters, no thanks.

i do about 50 percent WC weekly

i like over filtering, but, dang wish i could fit an fx6 underneath but ain't gonna happen

thinking

 

[esoxlucius]

Firstly, it's not ideal having all those fish in a 125, especially when those little oscars get bigger, and that will be soon!

But you already know what's coming bio load wise, hence your question regarding filtration, so at least you're being pro active rather than leaving it late.

Yes you are certainly going to need extra volume filter wise and your limited space situation means you may have to get creative.

Also, your current weekly 50% water change is a little on the wimpy side. You really do need to keep that water fresher than that, even more so further down the line.

You may eventually need a bi-weekly water change of around the 70% mark.

 

[FINWIN]

Get another 125 and split that group up.

Total w/c each time.

Add lots of duckweed to aid water quality (This is NOT a substitute for water changes).

Oscars don't like being crowded and there's gonna be too much going on in that tank...competion for turf. Stress can kill quick or long term.

Just sayin'.

 

[jason longboard]

what if i just kept one of the oscars

 

[FINWIN]

what if i just kept one of the oscars

Depends on what kind of tank you want. You're either gonna have to commit to the oscars or other fish.

Straight up

2 Os and ONE catfish (this is tight bioload but doable but its gonna be water change city)

4 silver dollars and 2 catfishes

8 silver dollars alone

Just the 2 Os and nothing else (ideal if they get along)

Having a 125 limits your choices...a 180 would give you more wiggle room. Plus, a "125" is really around ~117 to 120. So think of it as dividing the water up.

 

[jason longboard]

Depends on what kind of tank you want. You're either gonna have to commit to the oscars or other fish.

Straight up

2 Os and ONE catfish (this is tight bioload but doable but its gonna be water change city)

4 silver dollars and 2 catfishes

8 silver dollars alone

Just the 2 Os and nothing else (ideal if they get along)

Having a 125 limits your choices...a 180 would give you more wiggle room. Plus, a "125" is really around ~117 to 120. So think of it as dividing the water up.

I kept four grown severums and the grown silver dollars with the cats for like 8 years............


the sevs were grown when i got them


idk..........well right now I got the silvers, the two cats and I returned one of the oscars...........so we'll see how the water goes through the next year.

So 1 oscar, 8 or 9 silvers, 2 squeakers, I see set ups like this all the time over my 35 years of keeping, not bragging, obviously, just saying it's a pretty common set up, without the cats. I guess I'm just trying to decide the best filtration compared to what I already have, but, absolutely no disrespect, I'm taking in your advice for sure, but I have to consider what I've seen work good too and my experience, but you certainly snapped me out of keeping both oscars, and i had already fallen in love with em both so it wasn't fun taking one back lol.

 

[jason longboard]

Depends on what kind of tank you want. You're either gonna have to commit to the oscars or other fish.

Straight up

2 Os and ONE catfish (this is tight bioload but doable but its gonna be water change city)

4 silver dollars and 2 catfishes

8 silver dollars alone

Just the 2 Os and nothing else (ideal if they get along)

Having a 125 limits your choices...a 180 would give you more wiggle room. Plus, a "125" is really around ~117 to 120. So think of it as dividing the water up.

outside of ditching one of the oscars i also decided to go ahead and add a 407 canister with the rest of my stuff

 

[troublesum]

What about a penn-plax Cascade 1000 or 1200 those are pretty skinny
Here the dims for the 1200

Brand	Penn-Plax
Product Dimensions	11.5"L x 11"W x 20.5"H

 

[Bret Signorelli]

Can you fit a sump underneath? Or maybe an overhead sump using a window planter box?

 

[EricTheRed]

You did the right think, rehoming one of the Oscar’s. Two grown Oscar’s are too much for a 125G. I would forget the 407 and get a third AC 110 for your 125G. I keep two Tidal 110s, a Marineland 450, and a power head on my heavily stocked 125G cichlid tank and the filtration and water quality are excellent. I have gone with a 3 HOB setup all six years I have had the 125G and find the ability to routinely clean one filter every two weeks, then two weeks later, filter # 2, etc., and not worry about losing a cycle reassuring. Also in the very rare instance one HOB quits working, the other two will still provide plenty of filtration and water movement until you notice and restart the stopped HOB. This is a very simple, but effective filtration setup which