How to Keep an Oscar Tank Clean

Oscars are large cichlids from South America. They can easily grow to be between 12 to 16 inches in length and 6 to 8 inches in depth. An Oscar that is well taken care of can have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years. They eat large amounts of food and create large amounts of waste. The waste can quickly create poor water conditions that can lead to disease and eventually death. Setting up and maintaining your tank properly will help keep your tank cleaner and your fish healthier.

Things You'll Need

  • 75 gallon tank (minimum)
  • 2 filters rated for 55+ gallons each
  • 300 watt shatterproof aquarium heater
  • Aquarium thermometer
  • Plastic ornaments
  • Gravel vacuum
  • Freeze-dried food
  • Small net
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a 75 gallon, or larger, tank in a place that does not receive direct sunlight from windows. The sunlight enables algae to grow faster.

    • 2

      Decorate the tank with substrate and plastic ornaments. Do not use more than 1 1/2 inches of substrate. Adding more will make it harder to clean. Oscars need a tank with a lot of hiding places. Plastic ornaments are recommended because they don't promote the algae growth as readily as natural decorations such as wood.

    • 3

      Place one filtration system in each corner on the back of the tank. A high flow setting is preferred. This will provide more oxygen in the water for the Oscar as well as twice the filtering power. Attach the 300 watt aquarium heater next to one of the filters. The flow from the filter will help distribute the heat evenly. Let the aquarium thermometer float freely in the tank for two hours before checking, as temperatures fluctuate. Keep the water temperature at 80 degrees, Fahrenheit. Anything higher will promote more algae growth.

    • 4

      Perform a 10 to 15 percent water change at least once a week. Use the gravel vacuum to syphon out the water while removing waste from the substrate.

    • 5

      Feed the Oscar only once per day. Remove all leftover food that is not consumed within two minutes of feeding. Freeze-dried or frozen foods are a good source of nutrition and are easier to scoop out with a net than flake food.