gravel for new fish tank

Question
I have and Oscar and algae eater fish in a 20 gallon tank and I just bought a 75 gallon tank and I wanted to know if it is possible to take gravel and stone from the creek behind my house and clean them up and use them in my new tank?  Also how many oscars can you have in a 75 gallon tank?  I was thinking about getting 1 more oscar and 2 parrot cichlads, is this too much?

Answer
Hi Steve,
 Generally it is not a good idea to use local gravel and stone unless you REALLY clean it up thoroughly.  You run the risk of introducing quite a number of local native parasites, etc into the tank.  I never use local gravel.

 I would put 2 oscars in a 75 gallon tank.  I think putting in the parrot cichlids would be a mistake -- the oscars will almost certainly eat them sooner or later.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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