Oscar tank speculations?

I am going to get an baby oscar. I want to have the best aquarium for him / her for as little cash possible, but the aquarium is priority, not the cash. What is the best tank mate for him / her that cleans? I already have a fairly large pleco (like 6 or 7") that wont eat him, it doesn't eat my guppies, which of course aren't going to be with the oscar. People have told me that when my oscar gets big enough he would eat cories, my all time favorite catfish. How big should the aquarium be (just 1 oscar and a pleco and mabye another cleaning catfish) how powerful of a filter? what kind of gravel and how much? Heater... same as it would be if it wasn't an oscar... lighting, how powerful ( I heard they dont like too much light). plastic plants, i heard they uproot them, so floating is good(and helps subdue light) ? Kinds of non live food... what do you suggest? Also what kind of oscar coloration is most pretty? I was thinking albino or tiger, is there a way to make them more colo