Stocking Question- what would you do?

[Tpriem21]

Good morning!

I’ve recently gotten back into fish keeping and am looking for some advise on, “what would you do?”

I recent picked up this old 1993 Oceanic Glass aquarium. Completely resealed it and have it up and running now. It’s currently cycling but is at the tail end. It’s a 6’ long tank that equates to roughly 130 gallons. I drilled the tank and added a Fiji Cube 1600 external overflow and have they plumbed to a Fiji Cub 36 sump.

I have 2-250w heaters connected to an inkbird with a controllable return pump. I plan to run a section of Refugio with live plants, snails, shrimp etc.

This all started when we picked up 2 baby Oscars and I wanted to give them a nice big tank to live in.

Now, the to the main question, what else would you stock in this tank? There will be the 2 Oscars and they are currently living with a calico bristlenose pleco. I thought about looking at some kind of catfish (Lima, etc) but want some advice.

Thank you for looking!

 

[Tpriem21]

Here is the tank!

 

[RD.]

Well, seeing as you asked…..

I would leave as is. When those 2 baby Oscar’s mature, which will probably be sooner than you think, 130 gallon tank won’t seem so big, and you might find the bio load from their massive and regular turds to be too much as it is.

 

[Toby_H]

As always... well, it depends...

If your Oscars turn out to be a compatible pair, they'll love that 6' tank to themselves. If they turn out to be compatible tankmates, they'll be fine by themselves are likely accept a similar aggression tank mate, maybe two. If they decide they don't like each other, the weaker one will suffer greatly.

As mentioned, Oscar's generate significant waste. But if your willing to clean the first layer of media in your filter(s) regularly and do water changes weekly, it's easily manageable.

You asked what I would do... I'd add 2 moderate Cichlids. Severum-to-Dempsey range. And if it didn't work out long term I'd add another tank to house the trouble maker. And probably get him a girlfriend.

Your suggested route of a catfish is also an option. Though if your Oscars don't get along, other Cichlid(s) will help balance the aggression where a catfish won't.