Specific care of an Astronotus Ocellatus

[Bderick67]

The bacteria in the nitrogen cycle get disruped when doing daily water changes, so the bacteria never get a chance to reproduce. My dad is a chemical engineer who sells bacteria to waste treatment plants and that is how I know.

If you need to do water changes every day then you are over stocked....

I would disagree, in an established tank changing daily with treated water does not disrupt the nitrogen cycle. Fish are ever producing waste and uneaten food is rotting so the presence of ammonia is a constant.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

The bacteria in the nitrogen cycle get disruped when doing daily water changes, so the bacteria never get a chance to reproduce. My dad is a chemical engineer who sells bacteria to waste treatment plants and that is how I know.
If you need to do water changes every day then you are over stocked....

Completely untrue. That 'bacteria' you talk about lives on the filter material/bio media. It's multiplying & thriving just fine all on it's own by being kept moist. It doesn't need ammonia-filled water to thrive.
NC_Nutcase (who normally drives me bonkers with his perfectionism, bless his pointed head) can explain down to the letter exactly how it works. Daily water changes keep your fish happy and your Oscars even happier. They're one fish species that does exceptionally well with lots of fresh clean water.

 

[boldtogether]

This is my Oscar Ive had since it was an inch long. Now its over 13" and its under two years old.

IT IS A MAJOR PAIN IN THE A!!
I have often wondered if it was mated(got some) would it chill out? It is in a 210gallon and is the biggest fish.

The sail fin pleco I have with it was an inch when I got it as well and they grew together...its now 13" as well and is the only fish the Oscar "cruises" around with.
How do you tell if its male or female?
I think your post is very informative and I agree with the sand. I used to have 1/2" gravel and the Oscar would pick it up and hit the glass with it...NOT cool.
I like Oscars and they are one of the more "personable" of pet fish.

 

[xEchOx]

The bacteria in the nitrogen cycle get disruped when doing daily water changes, so the bacteria never get a chance to reproduce. My dad is a chemical engineer who sells bacteria to waste treatment plants and that is how I know.

If you need to do water changes every day then you are over stocked....

My dad is a ninja. Doesn't change the science.

I can see the point you are making though. If you were to do a 100% water change every day, then the bacteria would eventually starve... With no ammonia source, they would eventually dwindle to insignificant numbers...