new to this :)

What's up everyone I'm new to the fish keeping hobby. I was just given a 125 gallon tank from a friend who had it in storage I been doing lots of research on fishkeeping ( don't want all them to die like they did when I was little) so first thing I did was got
two fluval 406 filters/ apI stress coat / pH down and up/ a python gravel cleaner/ 1 cool looking skull / ammonia and nitrate test kit/ pH test kit / and the hood is in the mail
I think I'm on the right track any sujestions on things I might need Not sure if a heater is needed cause my temp holds at 73 well In working on cycleing the tank now are their any tips and suggestion you guys have for me
I'm looking to get 2 bala sharks 2rope fish and a sailfin pleco maby more later on

 

My advice is to return the PH uppers and downers, the ammonia nitrate and ph testers, and get an API Liquid Test kit. They are accurate and comes with all of those plus NitrIte tests.
Yes you should get a heater. It will help ensure that there are no fluctuations or swings in temperature.
You should read about the Nitrogen Cycle if you haven't already. Its very important to understand while keeping fish.
I also recommend researching your fish BEFORE buying them. (Such as the Bala sharks. They get huge. And you only want one shark in a tank. Very territorial)

 

Did you get the master test kit or the test strips? The test strips are inaccurate, and the master test kit will save you money in the long run. I would get a heater with adjustable temp, just to keep the temp consistent. I don't have any idea about how to care for bala sharks, or rope fish. I think it's pretty awesome you are new to the hobby and you got a 125 gallon. Will it be planted?

 

Agreed with the above posters. Definitely do a lot more research in the fish you choose

A 125 gallon tank is usually 6 foot long. You will want to get two heaters for each side so that the temp of the tank is evenly disbursed.

 

Yea they are the apI testers and they are liquid I heard the regular strips weren't any good ...yes it will I always liked the way java moss and jungle val looked and read that they are fairly easy to care for I've read the balas get big which is what I want but also saw that most people recommend to keep them in pairs or trios ..OK so for my size tank I should get two heaters better safe then sorry .I've done research on the nitrogen cycle but don't think I am off to a good start I put apI quick start in the tank but haven't added any fish yet .

 

I also recommend researching your fish BEFORE buying them. (Such as the Bala sharks. They get huge. And you only want one shark in a tank. Very territorial)

Bala sharks are actually social and should be kept in groups. But they'll outgrow this tank. They get almost 2 feet long, and an 18" wide tank isn't big enough for a group.

But a tank of rope fish and other appropriate fish would be great!

 

I've seen ppl mention 14 -16 didn't know they got that wide this I will continue to do research befor I actually buy them ...I still got time I gotta get all the basics before I get any type of fish next thing will be the heaters a dry erase bord maby some plants and a small tank for quarenteen

 

Welcome to the forum.

My only advice based on what i've read so far - undertake A LOT more research before you pull the trigger. Remember - these are live animals you will be taking into your care, that have the potential to live long and healthy lives if you provide them with the correct level of care.

The internet is a great resource, but there is a lot of snake oil. Any questions you have, just ask here!

 

. But they'll outgrow this tank. They get almost 2 feet long,

!

Fishlore's profile says approx. 13 inches full grown. Does that need to be updated? I googled it and am seeing mostly 14 inches as well....

 

I think typically in aquaria they stay less than 14 inches but I've seen them at huge aquariums (chattanooga aquarium to be specific) upwards of 2 feet. But TexasDomer is correct that they need to be in groups and I'm not sure even a 125 gallon is big enough for an appropriate group.

Rainbow sharks would be a good alternative.

 

Trust me I am I am buying things slowly like 2-3 things per pay check and taking my time cause this is something I've always wanted and I wanna do it as well as possible .back when I didn't know anything I had a bunch of fish including a rope fish red tail shark and a newt in one 10 gallon I was like 13 at the time I wish I had known back then what I know now

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I would go with live plants. They make the tank look more natural, fish like them better, and they even eat up nitrAtes. Its pretty awesome
And I love that you.mentioned the dry erase board.. I have one myself! Has all my fishy stuff
TexasDomer thank you for the correction!

 

Deff going with live plants ....and yea I have learned a lot and having records or setting up a planing board deff seams important

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I also have a notebook containing records of water parameters and changes I make (filter upgrades, when I got certain plants, etc)
Theres also a chart in the back of the API test kit for you to fill in parameters.
I am the worse at remembering to write them down though

 

Even if the bala sharks get 14 inches, like they normally will, imo they will need a bigger tank than you have. The sailfin pleco will also need a bigger tank, and the ropefish may as well depending on the dimensions.

 

Try aqadvisor when planning fish it's really good for newbies like us lol
Welcome to the hobby!

 

A word of caution about aqadvisor. The sizes and information as well as bioload calculations are off in the majority of fish. You can't use it as 100% golden. For example, it just allowed me to put a severum, green terror, and jack dempsey in a 75 gallon tank. I can guarantee with that set up someone is going to die. So just keep in mind that it's a good tool but not completely accurate

 

I knew singing up for this app would be good but you guys are way mor helpful then I imagined thanks alot. Also what is a good web sight to buy healthy plants from .the Pet smart buy my house has a few plants but they all look like they won't last the trip home

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Aquaticarts sells plants online and also through Amazon. I ordered through Amazon and everything went really smoothly.
I got an enormous Amazon sword in my kit (10" tall, 10-12 around). And I got 5 mossballs from aquatic arts for the price of 2 from my LFS.

 

Aquatic Arts is great. I also buy plants from Trins Fish as well.

 

I third the reccomendation for AquaticArts. I only had 1 problem out of the 6 or so times I've ordered from them. They have exceptional customer service, replace DOAs, and all of the fish I've received from them have been practically glowing w/ health.

I've only been fishkeeping seriously for about a year, and just wanted to let you know: it's really, really tempting to listen to the pet store people and their reccomendations, but the same reccomendations resulted in me getting algae eaters that grew into carnivorous fish-eaters, mis-stocking my aqaurium, tossing out my filter media every two weeks, originally getting a non-filtered 2.5 gal for my betta. . . . Just bad.

So, several things I've learned since then, and happily pass on XD :

- live plants have different lighting and nutrition requirements. Researching these in advance and independently helps avoid dead plants and wasted $$.
- most aquarium hoods that aren't LED-compatible only support plants with minimal light needs.
- some fish stores sell brackish water fish as frehwater fish.
- Some of the stores also don't provide correct information about the tank needs for fishes (like bettas, mollies . . .).

- Don't throw out the filter media every month, because it contains the bacteria the aquarium needs to break down fish waste.

- Higher quality fish food for omnivores and/or carnivores tends to have actual fish listed as the first couple ingredients: salmon, halibut, shrimp. . . . Medium quality tends to list fish meal and shrimp meal. Low quality food starts with wheat meal, or has it as the second most prominent ingredient.

Good luck! Congratulations!

 

Cool update my glass hoods just arrived sadly one of the little handels are broken but that's nothing to fret about

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I will check those sights I was a bit skeptical about using amazon but if it works I'll check it out too

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- some fish stores sell brackish water fish as frehwater fish -- like mollies. They do okay in freshwater, buuuuut they naturally exist in a different environment.

Some great advice, but this isn't true about mollies (stores do sell brackish fish as freshwater quite often though!). Mollies occur in freshwater in the wild too - I've caught them in freshwater streams on a research trip to Mexico. They can live in fresh just as easily as brackish and salt.

Also look into aquabid for plants.