capekate

This is my current order with Drs Foster & Smith
Glass canopy-Versa -Top 72x18
Visa-Therm Stealth 250w ea. (2)

Order with BigAl's
Penn Plax cascade 1500 canister filter
CoraLife F/W T-5 aqualight Double Strip 36" (2)
(includes 1 colormax full spectrum and 1 6700K T-5 Fluorescent lamp. wattage is 21w each. Low light but in the end, I dont think I will use many plants other than the java moss/fern and other low light plants.
Python 50ft size and brass adapter
Tetra Whisper 100 air pump. $18.99


At Petsmart last night I picked up:
air hose tubing
air stone
check valve
Tetra Whisper Air Pump rated 100g
EDIT: returning this pump that I paid 42.00 compared to big ALs for 18.99
thermometer
Any other needs I am missing from the list?

EDIT the list... ordering online is done.
Now I have to find Pool filter Sand, Home Depot in my area does not carry it. So I am on the search for that. Maybe our garden center can order some for me. It may be hard to find this item in the winter months compared to finding it easily in the summer. hmmm....
Pool filter sand- white with nice coloring of beige and white. 50lb @ 2
5 Pink Quartz rocks assorted sizes.
Teal blue material and velcro for background.

Shawnie

did you already place the order? im asking because I know with my 75 gal, the HOB's do not do what was needed for that size tank and I traded mine in for a canister....I think for 125 gal even with the two HOB, that one canister and one HOB might be better...but I did have the 2 big boy oscars ...just my two cents

capekate

The order is going in today I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed first. I also have noticed that a lot of the bigger tanks use the canister over the HOB and always wondered why? My thoughts on the canisters is that they really stand out (in a ugly way) in the tank. I guess I can hide in behind some plants tho. hmm... what size canister would you recommend with the aqua clear?

Shawnie

hmm im not familiar with the aqua clear..I have the cascade 1500 and other than one u shaped piece, all the other pieces are above the water line and cant be seen...and of course the intake valve which hangs in the tank just like HOB would...I just think the cannister and your HOB would be better for keeping the tank prestine..but maybe others have an opinion on the 2 HOB's..mine was disaster lol ..but again, oscars are big poo'rs as you know

capekate

Ok.. Im going to go back into Dr F&S and look at the canisters and will be back looking for advice on what size etc etc. Yeppers the Oscars are big poopoo droppers lol... But Im guessing that once the BR Parrots grow they will be big poopoo droppers as well.

Shawnie

funny you say that...I read an article last night that said BR are HUGE waste producers....certainly not compared to an oscar but pretty close at maturity ....id have never thought that LOL

capekate

I went to the PennPlax site and checked out the Cascade cannisters.
WOW... my head is spinning from all the directions and components of this system. OMG... I wouldnt know where to start on setting that up! uggghh...
and I have to say.. what a huge price tag compared to the HOBs. I checked out the Cascade 1200 rated for up to 150g and the cheapest so far is at Big Als for 119.00. I checked out Dr F&S and they dont seem to carry the cascade. How the heck am I going to convince Hubby that I need to spend that amount on one? OOOO boyyyy.. we have already hit the 1,000.00 dollar mark for this tank and set up. Im a mess!

Shawnie

aww I know im sorry they are more ...so just go with what you were doing and see if they do ok...im sure 2 would be fine....someone with more knowledge on bigger tanks with HOB should come along soooooon!

capekate

Thanks Shawnie
maybe I will go with what I have and do a wait and see, down the road I can order one and the expense wont look so much lol...
Have a wonderful day Shawnie and thanks so much for all your help!

capekate

After talking with my husband just now, he said that we need to go with what is best for the tank. That why spend all this money and not do it right?
Sooo I will be ordering the Penn Plax Cascade 1500 today.

Lucy

What a sweetie you husband is.

I don't know about filters for big tanks...me and my measly little 10 and 5g's lol but Shawnie would know what it take to handle a big bio-load, for sure.

capekate

Thanks Lucy, yes he really is, tho he looks like a big bear that just got off his Harley lol.. rough and gruff at 6'4"... but no one has to know that he really is a soft hearted teddy bear lol.. and treats me like a queen. I am very lucky indeed.
Well just put the order in BigAls and of course, I had to forget something in the order uggh.. they cant go back and adjust the order so I would have to do another and of course, shipping charges. But in the meantime before I order the heaters at Drs F&S, I remember having the visa-therm deluxe before and the glass cracked, then there is the visa-therm stealth. Im trying to figure out which type to get before making the order.. hmmmm
decisions.. decisions...
and too edit to this:
They only go up to 250w size rated for 75g tanks. Would two of these work in the 125?

agabr123

visi therm stealth, definitely. they're not made of glass so you don't have to worry about them cracking. i'd have gone for the two rated for 75 over one rated for 125 anyways, you can just put one on either side of the tank for more even heating

capekate

Thanks Alex! I will put my order in now for two of them.
Thanks for the advice!

agabr123

you're welcome

MPrudent

Glad to see you chose the canister filter. I run 2 rena xp3's on my 125G, a xp3 on my 58G, and a xp4 on another 58G. After using canisters for some time now I will never go back to HOB's on any tank 55G and larger. They clean up so much waste, allow you to completely customize the filter media for your setup, and run so quietly. Another added plus is the fact you dont have to put your tank 6" from the wall to fit an HOB.

capekate

Thanks... I hate to be out of my comfort zone and I usually go with what I know. For that reason I was scared to death on trying the canister and found when I did the search for the Penn Plax that it seemed pretty complicated lol..
But Im sure I will be able to figure it out. Im looking forward to the 'run quiet' part of it. Thanks for the input on what works for your 125g tank, I appreciate it.

Shawnie

it is totally intimidating for the canisters when you see it....especially if you are use to the HOB...but, after a couple months, its so old news now and very easy to run...but be prepared when you get it..your eyes will fall out LOL...im glad papa smurf went with the canister tho

Matt

Wow. That is a big order

-Matt

capekate

Im sure I will get the hang of it after awhile, but it sure does look complicated!

capekate

UPDATEtoday 2/24
I returned the air pump to Petsmart with no problems.
I bought three amazon sword silk plants that are red underside with spots on the leaves, you probably all have seen them if you shop Petsmart. I got the 18inch size, the 7 inch size and the 5 inch size.

Stopped at a local hardware type store and picked up
two bags of Pool filter sand @50lbs each. That will give me just over an inch of sand and that is what I wanted. Actually online calculator says that for a 125g tank at 1 inch depth I would need 75lbs. With the difference, I will be able to build up around the silk plants.
Agway home and garden:
Picked up five pink quartz assorted sized rocks.
Thrift store:
found a wonderful heavy material that looks like a teal blue for background. Also picked up the velcro to attach to tank.
TODAY:
The tank has been delivered to the store! yeaaah... So my husband and one of his work buddies will be picking it up for me after 4:00. I will be at work at five so may not see it til I get home this evening....
So with that, all the supplies have been bought, now just waiting on FedEX and UPS for deliveries which should be here thursday or friday of this week.
This weekend will be set up time...

Shawnie

AWESOME KATE!!! im so happy and excited for you my friend!!..I cannot wait to see it all set up dont forget pics along the way with each step

Butterfly

I do have two huge HOB filters on the 75g and they do fine but most people do prefer canister filters when they get to that size and up.
These are the only kind of heaters I will use actually I have 2 tiny glass ones inthe betta tanks and when their gone no more glass heaters.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...72&pcatid=8172 they go up to 300 W. I would suggest at least one at each end of the tank. I especially like that the temp controller is outside the tank.
carol

capekate

Thanks Shawnie!
The tank is now sitting on top of the dining room table. I never realized just how large a size it is, til its in front of me. My parrots are going to look teeny in that tank for sure lol.. 72.5x18.5x23 3/4...
Im going to work on putting the velcro and background on while its on the table today. Hopefully the top of the cabinet will be completed at some point today or tomorrow so that I can put the tank on it and off the table. But still waiting on the delivery so guess Im just being impatient at this time. lol.

Hi Carol
Thanks for the link, dont know why I didnt see them there the first time around when I ordered my heaters. Wish I did, I also think that the external temp control is a great idea! I hate having to fish around in the tank water trying to adjust the temp. The external control is so conveniant. Oh well, my order is already in, but I will remember that for other tanks as time goes by and when a new heater is needed.

capekate

All items I have bought online have now been delivered. Today I got the Drs Foster and Smith items, the glass canopy and the two heaters. My husband is going to finish the cabinet this weekend most likely tomorrow. Then on Sunday I plan on filling the tank and let it sit for 24hrs for the sand to settle before turning on the canister filter and of course, set up the decorations as well.. photos will follow.