Aquaguru

I am wanting to convert my 120g SW tank into a a FW tank. I just have a few questions on equipment. What will be the best filter, air pumps, and other things I will need for a 120g tank?

Thankyou

fishlover78

I would use a visi therm stealth heater(s), 2 aqua clear 70 power filters or one aqua clear 110 model power filter, I personally like whisper air pumps for your tank I would use the 30-60 gal. or 60-100 gal. model you will also need gravel, oh and do you have saltwater or light bulbs that are compatible with fw and sw? any thing I didn't cover?

outlaw

Filtration- Depends on what you want to stock the tank with. Some fish are dirtier and need more then your average filtering and some not quite as dirty and can use a typical filter setup.

Air Pumps- Depends on where you put the pump and how many bubble stones are used.

Do you have an idea of what kind of setup you want? Community, species..etc?

Aquaguru

For lighting I have 2 90w VHO blue atinic, and 2 175w MH. I want it to be a planted community tank. Will the Metal Halides be to strong for freshwater plants.

fishlover78

outlaw is right, if you get cichlids or something you will 1-2 canister filters, and the power filters would be for smaller fish. the heater is definite, if you want tropical, and the air pump(s) depend on bubble stones also. I know that the 100 gal whisper model works well with a 6-12 inch air stone or several 1-3 inch airstones, maybe you could clarify which fish you want, a lot of people make the mistake of choosing equipment before fish. personally I would choose fish, research their needs and then get the proper equipment, then you don't go speding extra money on other equipment later on. -fishlover78

outlaw

With the lighting, hopefully someone with that experience can answer that better

but from what I've read upto 1.5W per Gal is a low light setup, 1.6-3(i think) is med. light, and about that is considered high and can go into co2 injection which I have only read about but doesn't sound to hard if you are willing to learn it. Also not sure if the FW plants will like the different light spectrum the actinic bulbs give off and if i remember correctly, those bulbs promote algae growth.

Hope this kinda helps and someone can clarify that better.

Either way GL and can't wait for the pics!

Aquaguru

Fish wise I was thinking some angels, rainbow, cory. Now can you explain to me what this air stone does, sorry for the stupid question but I thought that the air pump brings oxygen to the tank since the flo has to be very low.

soldieroffortune1974

The air stone diffuses the air from the pump into hundreds of smaller bubbles,(instead of large noisy glub,glub bubbles) increasing the surface area for gas exchange.The pump itself doesn't introduce the oxygen into the water,the bubbles create surface agitation where the oxygen is mixed into the water.The more bubbles,the more gas exchange.

outlaw

The air stone is more for looks but helps agitate the water for the gas exchange. If you have enough surface movement from the filters, the stones wont be a necessity but I think more people have one to use more as a decoration then function. With a tank that size, the flow probably wont be an issue. Whatever filter you decide, HOB or Canister, try to have the surfaces moving as much as possible. Canisters are probably the easiest since you typically have a spray bar that you can direct. With HOB's you have to kinda watch the water level and where the output comes into the tank but usually isn't an issue for agitation.

Hope that helps.

Aquaguru

OK thanks i knew that I needed more agitation on the surface but I wasn't sure how to get it there without having a high flow velocity. Generally howmuch is an air pump and air stone?

outlaw

$10 for both if you go on the cheap side.

Found a site that talks about air pumps: http://www.firsttankguide.net/airpump.php

Choosing the Right Air Pump

There is no hard and fast rule for choosing an air pump. Some air pumps are rated for different sizes of tanks, but these ratings are, actually, nearly irrelevant to choosing the correct air pump.

If you are using the air pump only to operate an under gravel filter, and your tank is a standard size, then the tank size ratings on an air pump are probably relevant. However, if you are doing anything else with the air pump, or if your tank is not a standard size, then the tank size ratings for an air pump are highly irrelevant.

Here are some guidelines to have in mind when you are choosing an air pump for your aquarium:

* The more things you are running from your air pump, the larger air pump you will need, and conversely, the fewer things you are running from your air pump, the smaller air pump you will need.
* If you tank is more than 18-20" (46-51cm) tall, you will need to get a special deep water air pump designed to push air that far below the water surface.
* The more resistance the things you are pushing air through have to the air, the larger an air pump you will need. (Larger air stones will provide more resistance than smaller air stones, and any air stone will provide more resistance than no air stone. Also, some kinds of air stones will provide even more resistance than others of the same size.)

When choosing an air pump, pick one a little larger than you initially think you will need. This larger air pump will help you by compensating for underestimating when choosing the air pump or by providing a little room for expansion if you decide you want that later.

Going by model only on DrsFosterSmith, the pump would be $17 for a Whisper Pump rated upto 100 Gallons (I assume this is more of a height reason then actually how many gallons the tank is). And the air stone/s could be what ever you wanted. Anywhere from .99 to $13 on DrsFosterSmith.

Whisper Pump

DrsFosterSmith Air Stones Link

DrsFosterSmith Air Pumps Link

so about $20 for a decent pump (going by name only) and a medium air stone, nothing fancy.

Almost forgot the tubing, lol

1.69 for 8ft

And while your at it, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a one-way valve (check valve) and/or a gang valve. The check valve will keep the water from going the wrong way if the power goes out or you unplug it, and the gang valve will allow you to expand more air stones in the future and also control the output of air if the pump doesn't have one. I use my gang valve for the power cable of the powerhead and heater along with the tube.

Aquaguru

Thanks for those links it was very helpful

Aquaguru

Hey just wanted to say I got a Fluval 405 for my tank. I am planning on getting a large HOB as well. Do you think this will be enough for my planted community tank?