Pat's 6 feet long - 125 Gallon Set Up

The holes are only because without a sump that holds extra water the overflows will quickly fail due to evaporation.
I would look into sumps .You won't regret it.
They can be a simple as an aquarium with media and a pump to one custom built for all your personal applications .
They are not hard to build and by far the best filter going.
If you insist on using the canister you will have to do something to compensate for evaporation like drill the wholes lower or get an Automatic top off system.

 

I am using the sump pump holes for my canisters I have 2 one for each side.

 

This is a pic of the tank they showed me at the store same set up.

 

Negative on sump I am using 2 Fluval Fx4's.

 

Why not just use the holes that's already been drilled? Have you considered going with a sump?

Lol, I'm guessing you didn't read the whole thread?

 

Lol, I'm guessing you didn't read the whole thread?

It didn't load on my phone...?

 

NavyChief20 So I just finish cutting out the silicone in the front two edges and ordered some Aqueon Aquarium Silicone off amazon. The bottom and the back look good so I'm not going to touch them and the seams look new still he only did an extra bead on the front sides. Tomorrow I am going to move the tank outside and let is soak with vinegar for a few days then use a non scratch sponge. Once its clean ill silicone the edges ive been watching videos how to do. Do I really have to tape or is it a look thing?

max h So ive been reading about the Fluval FX4 and watching videos and I really like them so that's what I am going to do. I'm gona do 2 FX4's and use them with the overflow boxes holes that are pre-drilled. Did you just use the regular media it came with or did you make changes?

Tape just helps make it easier

 

It’s been a few days buy I clean the **** out of it and moved it back inside to be sealed and then to see if it holds water then drain and drill 1-3/4 holds into the overflow boxes to help with flow. I got two bulkheads with elbows and strainers for those holes.

 

View attachment 479587
It’s been a few days buy I clean the out of it and moved it back inside to be sealed and then to see if it holds water then drain and drill 1-3/4 holds into the overflow boxes to help with flow. I got two bulkheads with elbows and strainers for those holes.

Omg it looks so good! How'd you get all that residue out?

 

I filled the tank up and then threw a few gallons of vinegar in there and let it sit for a few days then I used a sponge razor blade and one of those things you used to clean cups got bristles on it. I also used a razor blade to cut out all the old silicone and I’m going to reseal it completely I noticed that it leaks a little now after I cut the old stuff out I’m going to put the new stuff in this week let it dry out and then I’ll give it a quick cleaning then seal it and check it

 

Vinegar is a very good mild acid solution if you have time to let if work it's magic.

 

So I set tank up with pool filter sand and got some driftwood, boiled it and some basalt rock. Let the filter run for 3 days with all fine floss filter material to help with sand settling. After 3 days tank was clear so I put in the filter media, matrix and lava rock. Let it run For another day, then I added 5 gold fish and tetra safe start. Now the ammonia was between 2.0 and 4.0 before adding anything, well 2 days later it is still same ammonia level with no nitrite or nitrate. Bottle of TSS+ was straight off shelf with exp date over a year away. Shouldn't it be at least producing something in 2 days or am I being to impatient?
Tank will eventually be home to 2 Oscar's and a sun cat...maybe 2 acars as well.

 

That's a really harsh fish-in cycle, but you should see something soon. And be doing tons of water changes...

 

That's why I just used gold fish till it gets going, and with safe start plus you can't do water changes for a week, because the bacteria stays in water column for a bit

 

I find that Tetra Safe Start Helps speed up a cycle but a dose of Tetra Filter Active as well helps kick start the filter media, I always use both as TSS may lower levels but if the filter media is not yet active then it will creep back up using the filter active at the same time combats this

 

Just curious, but what do you plan to do with the goldfish?

 

Do you have any prime then?

 

So I set tank up with pool filter sand and got some driftwood, boiled it and some basalt rock. Let the filter run for 3 days with all fine floss filter material to help with sand settling. After 3 days tank was clear so I put in the filter media, matrix and lava rock. Let it run For another day, then I added 5 gold fish and tetra safe start. Now the ammonia was between 2.0 and 4.0 before adding anything, well 2 days later it is still same ammonia level with no nitrite or nitrate. Bottle of TSS+ was straight off shelf with exp date over a year away. Shouldn't it be at least producing something in 2 days or am I being to impatient?
Tank will eventually be home to 2 Oscar's and a sun cat...maybe 2 acars as well.

If I remember correctly, tss can really mess your readings up. And you are right, you are not supposed to do any water changes while using it. I would not worry about testing the water simply because you will just get fake readings.!

 

Do you have any prime then?

Can't use prime with TSS+...it will deprive the bacteria of ammonia.

Just curious, but what do you plan to do with the goldfish?

Take them back to the pet store to be sold as feeders. They were 25c feeder gold fish.

I find that Tetra Safe Start Helps speed up a cycle but a dose of Tetra Filter Active as well helps kick start the filter media, I always use both as TSS may lower levels but if the filter media is not yet active then it will creep back up using the filter active at the same time combats this

Never heard of filter active, I'll look into it. Do you open filter and put it directly in?

 

Can't use prime with TSS+...it will deprive the bacteria of ammonia.

What? It just makes it less toxic to the fish; fully usable by the bacteria

 

What? It just makes it less toxic to the fish; fully usable by the bacteria

You aren't supposed to use any ammonia lowering substance while you are cycling with TSS+

 

Never heard of filter active, I'll look into it. Do you open filter and put it directly in?

Effectively yes its adds the beneficial bacteria you are hoping to create as part of the cycle, TSS will bring the water parameters inline but you still need to kickstart the filter bacteria to continue the process TFS does this

 

It doesn't lower the ammonia though, it just makes the high levels safer for fish, while still allowing the bacteria to use it up.
Direct quote from their site:
Prime® may be used during tank cycling to alleviate ammonia/nitrite toxicity. It contains a binder which renders ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate non-toxic, allowing the biofilter to more efficiently remove them. It will also detoxify any heavy metals found in the tap water at typical concentration levels. Use at start-up and whenever adding or replacing water. When transporting or quarantining fish, use Seachem StressGuard™. When adding new fish, use Stability®. Both are ideal for use with Prime®.

 

Yes it can be used during tank cycling, but not when you use TSS+ or dr Tim's. States right on the bottle and websites.

 

Tetra FilterActive

 

Yes it can be used during tank cycling, but not when you use TSS+ or dr Tim's. States right on the bottle and websites.

Ah, I see. You have to wait at least a week for that too. Carry on

 

Tetra FilterActive

Is this not available in US? Can't find it on any stores site

 

Is this not available in US? Can't find it on any stores site

I've seen it at petsmart before if that helps

 

I've seen it at petsmart before if that helps

I'll check it out thanks. It's not on the website, but I'll be heading there anyway so...

 

I'll check it out thanks. It's not on the website, but I'll be heading there anyway so...

You could have done a fishless cycle much easier and faster with ammonia rather than sacrificing fish to do it. Where are the goldfish going after the tank is cycled (assuming they survive)? Tetra Safestart is the US version of the Tetra Filter active sold in Europe.

 

Apparently this product is not available in the US anymore. It's not even on amazon or walmart

 

Apparently this product is not available in the US anymore. It's not even on amazon or walmart

Tetra Safestart or Safestart plus is essentially the same thing-but sold in the US.

 

You could have done a fishless cycle much easier and faster with ammonia rather than sacrificing fish to do it. Where are the goldfish going after the tank is cycled (assuming they survive)?

It actually is quicker to use TSS+, and I have used it many times....with dr Tim's u can do fish less, with TSS+ you need to use fish, I choose to use feeder fish rather than the fish I plan on in the tank. The feeder fish will either be fed to my friends oscar or given back to fish store (which I already answered in previous post ) I have never lost a goldfish cycling tank this way.

Tetra Safestart or Safestart plus is essentially the same thing-but sold in the US.

I figured as much....I used safe start +...they just recommended the other as well.

 

No matter what Tetra's marketing dept advises, it still is not an "instant cycle".

TSS and Dr. Tim's are cycle boosters or a cycle jump start product.

The proper amount of beneficial bacteria can't colonize overnight.

I don't know what temps gold fish can tolerate, but I know the cycle will move a long a bit faster if the temp is 80 to 85'ish, but that may not be feasible.

I have used TSS to cycle tanks. It's not an over night deal, but it can speed up the process in some cases.

After all of your water parameters are squared away and you start doing water changes in your 125g, look into getting Seachem Safe.

It is a powdered version of Prime, and even more concentrated.

I started using it on my my 75 gallon because I do 40-60% water changes with a pump and refill with a hose that runs straight from a faucet.

Safe is more cost effective in the long run when doing large water changes.

I still use Prime for my smaller tanks, or when adding only a bucket or 2 of water to my 75g.

A plastic 1mL and 5mL syringe makes dosing Prime a lot easier and more accurate also.

 

It actually is quicker to use TSS+, and I have used it many times....with dr Tim's u can do fish less, with TSS+ you need to use fish, I choose to use feeder fish rather than the fish I plan on in the tank. The feeder fish will either be fed to my friends oscar or given back to fish store (which I already answered in previous post ) I have never lost a goldfish cycling tank this way.


I figured as much....I used safe start +...they just recommended the other as well.

No, you do not need to use fish. Fish are ONLY used as an ammonia source to feed the tss bacteria. They are used for their poop, that decays and produces ammonia. You can skip the fish step and go straight to Janitorial Ammonia at 5-10% and can actually control the ammonia level in your tank while cycling, without fish.
A tank can be cycled with ammonia alone. Even without the addition of a bacterial culture like Safestart added.
I've done it many, many times over the last 40 years. Just did it again with my 125g Cichlid tank. And I never lost a fish either lol!

 

I concur.

I used ammonia + the TSS to cycle.

Cycle booster products require an ammonia source.

Using a pure ammonia source allows the user to precisely calculate and dose the specific ppm desired per day.

I'm not saying the fish + TSS will not work, it is just a more controlled method when using dosed ammonia at precise ppm levels.

 

So... its been a while had to put project on hold but now I am back at it. I bought 2 FX4's that are going to be piped thru old sump pump holes. I drilled thru the overflow boxes about half way for strainers so the overflow boxes will always have water. I plan to get 2-300 watt heaters also.

 

So... its been a while had to put project on hold but now I am back at it. I bought 2 FX4's that are going to be piped thru old sump pump holes. I drilled thru the overflow boxes about half way for strainers so the overflow boxes will always have water. I plan to get 2-300 watt heaters also.

You are doing canisters on a 125? Good luck. Sump is more effective

 

HI guys. I'm going to get a 125gallon tank Next summer. I was wondering if this set up would work ok or not.

Tank:
Size - 125gallons
Filter - Aquaclear 110 (x2), 1 large spongefilter
Substrate - Eco complete and sand
Plants - Jungle val, amazon sword, moss balls, others?
Temp - 73/74
Stock - 3 oranda, 2 ranchu?

 

Sounds pretty! And I’m pretty sure those are plants that goldfish would leave alone.