Ap's 125 Gallon Journey

[APColorado]

Finally the 125 gallon is in the basement (95% complete, just need the shower door delivered and installed).

This is the first step.... I need to see if its leveled or it will be moving into the other room in the basement.

I will be getting the substrate on Wednesday and will update this thread every time I work on this tank

 

[Geoff]

Woo hoo! That's a perfect nook for the tank.

 

[tyguy7760]

Looking great AP! What's going in it?!

 

[DioAquatics]

All these 125 builds are making me jealous lol. Can't wait to see how it turns out

 

[tyguy7760]

All these 125 builds are making me jealous lol. Can't wait to see how it turns out

You and me both

 

[Bruxes and Bubbles]

What are your plans for it?
That must be so cool to stock such a big tank.

 

[vikingkirken]

Following, can't wait to see how this goes!

However, my OCD is begging you to center it...

 

[freak78]

Following as well.

 

[APColorado]

Woo hoo! That's a perfect nook for the tank.

Originally, I was going to have an "in wall" fish tank in that space with automatic drainage (the circle near the tank was the drainage pipe) but due to being over budget I had to eliminate the in wall tank and the auto water changer system, but the plumbing is there for it for the future

Looking great AP! What's going in it?!

What are your plans for it?
That must be so cool to stock such a big tank.

Definitely going to be a high tech planted tank and leaning towards a nano community. I will focusing on the plants will be stocking really slowly with the fish

Following, can't wait to see how this goes!

However, my OCD is begging you to center it...

I tried to get it closer to center but my outlets aren't place in the center, I had the electrician build several outlets slightly off to the right because it was originally going to be a in wall fish tank but plans changed.

 

[tyguy7760]

Can't wait to see it.

 

[toolman]

I'm getting ready to start a 40breeder nano community, can't wait to see a 125 gallon one!

 

[APColorado]

Bought the substrate today from TSC.... 200 lbs of BBS. Now I need to rinse it (what fun) might take me a couple of days

 

[bkaiser3]

Bought the substrate today from TSC.... 200 lbs of BBS. Now I need to rinse it (what fun) might take me a couple of days

View attachment 329707

This sounds crazy, but I didnt rinse my BBS. I put it in, filled the tank up half way and left it that way for 24 hours then took a cup and skimmed the top of the water to remove all floating debris and whatever else. Then filled up the tank and turned on the filters.

 

[APColorado]

Life saver!!! I really didn't want to rinse...lol if it worked for you and saw no side effects from not rinsing then I will do the same

This sounds crazy, but I didnt rinse my BBS. I put it in, filled the tank up half way and left it that way for 24 hours then took a cup and skimmed the top of the water to remove all floating debris and whatever else. Then filled up the tank and turned on the filters.

 

[Emmylee43]

Honestly, I just threw mine in a bucket and left the hose on powerblast for 30 minutes. Pretty much cleaned it, lol.

 

[vikingkirken]

I did similar to Emmy, I put all my sand in a tilted Rubbermaid storage bin and turned the hose on high. Occasionally dug the hose down in the sand to mix it around. But really no big deal The dirty water just ran out the lower side and drained off my patio.

 

[APColorado]

Just got this in the mail

1. Atomic diffuser with built check valve 80mm

2. Drop Checker

Both from GLA

 

[Thurgood11]

filtration? That stand doesn't offer a whole lot of room for a filter(s) and a CO2 tank. I believe several here have this stand.

as always, best of luck with the build! Can't wait to see all the great plants!

 

[APColorado]

filtration? That stand doesn't offer a whole lot of room for a filter(s) and a CO2 tank. I believe several here have this stand.

as always, best of luck with the build! Can't wait to see all the great plants!

That is the downsize of getting this combo. I wished the stand was similar to the 120 g stand. It will be a tight fit

 

[APColorado]

For those of you who are wondering what my plant stock will be:

I just put an order for the following plants and should arrive by Monday (7/10)

Ludwigia sp Rubin
Ludwigia sp red
Persicaria sp ‘sao paulo’
Hygrophila lancea
Ludwigia atlantis
Ludwigia senegalensis
Limnophila aromatic
Blyxa japonica
Bacopa salzmannI
Hyptis lorentziana

Also, I will finally get to add my plants from my Plant Grow Out Tank (40 g breeder)

Several varieties of bucephalandra
Java fern
Java windelov
Java needle leaf
7 Crypt wendtiI Red
Cyperus helferI
Amazon sword
Hygrophila pinnatifida
Aponogeton ulvaceous
Aponogeton Madagascar lace
Anubias coffeefolia
A. NangI
A. petite


Allow with that I will be adding 16 Albino cories (they are currently living in my 40 g plant grow out tank and already spawning) and combining my RCS population into the 125 g

 

[Geoff]

Doing all that on Monday? Can't wait for the pictures!!

 

[vikingkirken]

Madascar lace plant! I want one of those so bad! I'm not familiar with half of your list, can't wait to see your tank planted!

 

[APColorado]

Doing all that on Monday? Can't wait for the pictures!!

Not all on Monday. The cories and RCS will go in 2-4 weeks later, I want to get the CO2 dialed down first, I don't want to accidentally gas them.

I've put some substrate in. My goal is to have all the plants in the tank by Monday evening.

Madascar lace plant! I want one of those so bad! I'm not familiar with half of your list, can't wait to see your tank planted!

I'm a plant nerd

 

[APColorado]

Just put in 100 lbs of Eco Complete as my base layer

 

[Geoff]

I like your wood. I like the spidery look better than big chunky pieces.

 

[APColorado]

I like your wood. I like the spidery look better than big chunky pieces.

I won this from AGA convention raffle, it is Manzanita. Four pieces. Tom Barr collected and donated the branches.

I still need to clean it

 

[Geoff]

Great win! Can't wait to see what you do with it.

 

[el337]

Very exciting! Following to see how this build turns out!

 

[APColorado]

More of my hardscape. Not sure if I will be using them all but nice to have options








Can't really see much but taking a break and starting tomorrow. Just added 100 lbs of blasting sand and have another 50-75 lbs of blasting sand to go.

Also decided to rinse the blasting sand

 

[DioAquatics]

The tank is going to look awesome with the driftwood and those stones. I love the look of that wood, it's beautiful.

I do have to say, this along with all the other 125g builds is making me want to set up a bigger tank. And I just recently got the green light from my mom to set up tank in my basement instead.... hmmmmmmm.... lol

 

[sweendog87]

Do it iv been fighting my missus for ages for a new tank and I'm just gonna do it when she's at work one night I've been collecting everything I need on the secret and cheap il start a thread soon can't wait lol

And love the set up bro dark substrate and decor with a bright greenery what fish are u stocking it with?

 

[APColorado]

Still in the process of rinsing 50 lbs of blasting sand. I'm glad I did because it had some oil slick residue. I've read some folks just dump the bag in the tank and fill with no harm done to their livestock but I just don't want to risk it with my group of cories.

The tank is going to look awesome with the driftwood and those stones. I love the look of that wood, it's beautiful.

I do have to say, this along with all the other 125g builds is making me want to set up a bigger tank. And I just recently got the green light from my mom to set up tank in my basement instead.... hmmmmmmm.... lol

If you got the space then go for it.

Do it iv been fighting my missus for ages for a new tank and I'm just gonna do it when she's at work one night I've been collecting everything I need on the secret and cheap il start a thread soon can't wait lol

And love the set up bro dark substrate and decor with a bright greenery what fish are u stocking it with?

I've been collecting fish tank stuff for about a year so it doesn't seem that much for the startup cost. I buy a bag here and there of eco complete, equipment, etc...

 

[APColorado]

This is with one BML fixture, still looking for the legs for the other fixture.

Some of the rock placement is to hold the driftwood in place, once the driftwood is water logged then some rocks will be moved around. Still adding more equipment to the tank anx definitely will add a black background to hide the wires and piping

 

[Geoff]

Looking good! Are you going to attach some plants to the wood or are you going to plant them all in the substrate?

 

[APColorado]

Just got my stem plants




Dry ferts



My center piece plant

Looking good! Are you going to attach some plants to the wood or are you going to plant them all in the substrate?

Yes. I'm going to attach bucephalandra, java, and moss

Also in the substrate

 

[APColorado]

Slowly filling the tank







I think I will add all the root plants tomorrow.

 

[DioAquatics]

Looking great so far!

 

[Geoff]

You did a good job cleaning the sand.

 

[APColorado]

I added the Amazon sword and several cyperus helferi. I am waiting to add the crypts until the temp matches the grow out the tank. I don't want to shock the crypts and cause shock melt

Full tank shot



Sections

 

[APColorado]

I added the Amazon sword and several cyperus helferi. I am waiting to add the crypts until the temp matches the grow out the tank. I don't want to shock the crypts and cause shock melt

Full tank shot



Sections

 

[APColorado]

I added the Amazon sword and several cyperus helferi. I am waiting to add the crypts until the temp matches the grow out the tank. I don't want to shock the crypts and cause shock melt

Full tank shot



Sections

 

[Geoff]

What are the red plants?

 

[APColorado]

What are the red plants?

Ludwigia sp rubin and Ludwigia sp red

 

[Geoff]

It's really nice.

 

[APColorado]

It's really nice.

The hard part for me is waiting for the plants to grow out and resist the urge to buy more plants

 

[Geoff]

The hard part for me is waiting for the plants to grow out and resist the urge to buy more plants

I'd be the same way. Patience isn't a strong suit of mine.

 

[APColorado]

I'd be the same way. Patience isn't a strong suit of mine.

Lol.

I might wait 2-4 weeks until adding my cories in this tank. I thought aboit using my 40 g (used as grow out tank for plants) into my shrimp tank

 

[Geoff]

I love my shrimp tank. It's only a 10 gallon though.

 

[APColorado]

Mine is a 5 g, it was initially a anubias petite and buce tank but thought 14 RCS would look cool now I have over 100+ in the tank

 

[Betrayer]

Looks great so far! I'm going to follow along