Member

Posts: 69
From:Canada, Alberta
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-10-2004 05:25 PM         

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I am going to buy a 90g hexagonal tank and a 29 inches wide but can I keep a 10 inch oscar in it.

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Member

Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-10-2004 06:13 PM         

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It may have enough volume for the bio load, but the lack of space i would believe would end up being a problem.

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Member

Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-10-2004 09:16 PM         

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Like JSG said, the volume is enough as far as bioload goes, but the shape isn't suitable for oscars. Oscars swim in long "strides" rather than up & down or in circles so a longer tank (at least 48" long) would make the oscar happier.

-Chelle

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Moderator

Posts: 199
From:El Paso, Texas
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 02-10-2004 10:01 PM         

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You have to remember that the bio load of a tank depends a lot on the surface area. Unfortunately the hex tanks are very pretty, but substantially cut down on your surface area. (where the air meets the water) This also means that a hex tank could not support the same amount of fish that a rectangular tank of the same gallons could. Why not try a regular rectangular tank?

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Member

Posts: 104
From:Austin, TX
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-10-2004 10:24 PM         

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Water oxygenation is the biggest problem with a tall tank like a hex. Oxygen is dissolved in water at the surface when the water ripples or is otherwise agitated. Aerators do very little to oxygenate the water. The bubbles simply have too small a "residence time" in the water for any meaningful oxygen exchange to occur. The surface area of the water determines how saturated the water gets with oxygen, and that determines how many aerobic organisms it will support. A large fish like an Oscar needs a 50% - 75% O2 saturation to keep the fish healthy. The more surface area, the better. A rectangular 75 gal would be a healthier environment than a 90 hex if you wish to keep an oscar even though the 90 gives you 15 more gallons.

and all fish, not just oscars, like to swim side-to-side, not up and down. To keep fish happy in a hex, you will need to stock it with fish that won't grow more than 2 - 3 inches long.

good luck

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