Doing a 125G Build

After a few months of saving, I finally took advantage of a 25% off Pet Smart sale (3 days after they had a 50% off sale :mad, and a 125G tank and stand for ~$500 (not a bad deal at all):



So now, off to Amazon for supplies, so far, I'm thinking of getting:

• Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System, 50-Feet
  
  • Sadly I need the 50 foot hose, and not the 25, since the tank is 26-32 feet away from the sink (see photo, the tape measure is 25 feet long...)
• SunSun HW-304B Canister filter
  • will get a second one in the coming months, since I don't think 1 is enough for a 125
  • Help on filter media is appreciated
• Aqueon 06104 Submersible Aquarium Heaters, 300 Watt
  • 2 of these; unless the Eheim is much better
• 100 lbs of pool filter sand (is this enough? I want the tank to be planted)

That's just to start, I have a current tank with some fish in it, which will be transferred to this one. After that, I can start talking about stocking.

The tank also comes with a hood/light, I'll probably replace it eventually with a glass top/better light, but would LOVE help on that, since lighting is not something I know much about!

 

Id do more sand another 25 to 50 pounds will be better. Around an 1.5 inches deep maybe 2.

 

Congrats on your new tank!

SO filtration wise you look good! For canisters you want 5x the gph of the size tank so you want a total of 625 gph. However I suggest the Penn Plax Cascade 1500 and its cheaper if you add up the 2 SunSun

Heater wise yeah you want a total of 600watts so 2 300 watts on the opposite side tanks is good! I suggest you get either the Aqueon Pro or Eheim Jager, both are one of the best in the hobby. The regular Aqueon isn't as good. Personally I have both Aqueon Pro and Eheim Jager

As for sand you want 2" for a planted tank you want about 200lbs

 

Congrats on your new tank!

SO filtration wise you look good! For canisters you want 5x the gph of the size tank so you want a total of 625 gph. However I suggest the Penn Plax Cascade 1500 and its cheaper if you add up the 2 SunSun

Heater wise yeah you want a total of 600watts so 2 300 watts on the opposite side tanks is good! I suggest you get either the Aqueon Pro or Eheim Jager, both are one of the best in the hobby. The regular Aqueon isn't as good. Personally I have both Aqueon Pro and Eheim Jager

As for sand you want 2" for a planted tank you want about 200lbs

Thank you! I'll go with the Eheim heaters, they're only $10 more, each, so that's not so bad.

You think the Penn Plax is better than the SunSun?

And I'll get more sand for 2" deep...not an issue...

 

I think they are better by the reviews! With the SunSun there seems to be more actual problems then Penn Plax. You can read the review on Amazon! Amazon is a great source for reviews even if your not going to by from them!

 

I think they are better by the reviews! With the SunSun there seems to be more actual problems then Penn Plax. You can read the review on Amazon! Amazon is a great source for reviews even if your not going to by from them!

Yup...see that...both are great reviews. I'll look at the Penn Plax some more!

 

Substrate:

I'm thinking of getting black sand for my tank, there is a Tractor Supply about 15-20 minutes from where I live, and according the Tractor Supply's website, they have 2 different kinds of blasting sand:






>Question is, do I want the Medium, or the Fine stuff? And to confirm, there are no cons to this stuff, with having cories, shrimp, plants, and loaches - correct?

 

Fine is extremely hard to rinse compared to medium. I think many people have bdbs with cories. I have medium with my puffer and he digs and burys himself with no harm to himself so I think you'll be fine.

 

Hard to rinse is an understatement. I bought the fine by mistake not realizing there was a medium. It all rinsed out of my bucket. In going to get some medium in about 10 minutes actually!

 

Thanks guys!

I'll go with the medium size.

Any tips on how to rinse it inside? Outside is easier, but it might be too cold...

 

Thanks guys!

I'll go with the medium size.

Any tips on how to rinse it inside? Outside is easier, but it might be too cold...

In my opinion, I would try and bundle up and do it outside. If you have a utility sink you could do it in there. However the volume in which you're going to need, outside seems the fastest way. As well, not sure the sand will be good for the drain and plumbing, as I'm sure there will be some bypass with 200 lbs of washing. Good luck!

 

I agree.

 

In my opinion, I would try and bundle up and do it outside. If you have a utility sink you could do it in there. However the volume in which you're going to need, outside seems the fastest way. As well, not sure the sand will be good for the drain and plumbing, as I'm sure there will be some bypass with 200 lbs of washing. Good luck!

Yeah, that's a great point. Guess I'll be outside a while this weekend...

 

You would have been out a lot longer with fine bdbs. Took me 12 hrs to do 150 pounds. And it was still dusty. I got medium to cap it and about fell on the floor when I rinsed 50 pounds in 15 minutes or so.

 

I agree with outside as well. I just kept filling the bucket, agitating the sand then pour out the cloudy water. I think it took me five or six rounds plus some of the overflow during the rinses. I did half of the bag at a time.

 

About the filtration, it depends on what type of fish you want in there but I wouldn't settle for 6-700 gph on a 125g even if it's a canister. Canister filters can decrease flow by around 30-40% once the filter is full of media. I would still shoot for 1250 gph, especially if you are going to have large fish in there. The cascade 1500 is a nice canister but it's only 350 gph. You'd need 2 or 3 of those to properly filter this tank. Sunsun 304/404 has about 525 gph. I can't speak for others but I've been running sunsun's for almost 2 years now with no issues.

 

You would have been out a lot longer with fine bdbs. Took me 12 hrs to do 150 pounds. And it was still dusty. I got medium to cap it and about fell on the floor when I rinsed 50 pounds in 15 minutes or so.

Yeah, I'll get the medium. 15 minutes for 50lbs isn't bad at all.

And BDBS works for your cories/loaches/shrimp (if you have them?)

 

And BDBS works for your cories/loaches/shrimp (if you have them?)

I think they are all okay with BDBS. I have pool filter sand, and wish I'd gone with black sand....Oh well, next tank!

 

I have pool filter sand in 2 of my tanks and the medium BDBS in my largest. I've kept loaches on both and they do fine on either

 

Thanks everyone...

About to get the sand...I'm thinking I need 200lbs?

 

I think they are all okay with BDBS. I have pool filter sand, and wish I'd gone with black sand....Oh well, next tank!

Hahah...PetSmart has tanks on sale right now, so....

Also, over the past few months, I have been going back and forth from PFS and black sand...it's a tough decision...

 

150 lbs should be plenty unless you are wanting a really thick substrate

 

Where are you from that $500 is a sale?

 

Where are you from that $500 is a sale?

It is from Petsmart, it was a deal on black friday

 

Where are you from that $500 is a sale?

New Jersey. 125G Aqueon Tank and stand for $500, it's 25% off.

 

Hey everyone - tank is all set up, and my floor hasnt caved in (yet)....

I want to do live plants in it. I'm looking for plants that don't require adding CO2. I have the stock lights now, but will upgrade, although the tank gets light other ways.

Anyway, I want some 'carpeting' plants, or ones that are in the foreground, and other plants in the middle. That's my focus right now...so I'm looking for some suggestions!.\

 

Question about my canister filter...is there a way I can be sure the return (the hose to the spray bar), doesn't fall off?

Concerned that it might fall when I'm not home causing a severe disaster...

 

They sell brackets at hardware stores that secure pvc to floor joists and such whatever you use make sure it won't wear through the pipe over time.