Pat's 6 feet long - 125 Gallon Set Up

I don't recommend using Eco Complete for growing plants. I heard that it's inert.

 

Sounds good but I’m not a goldfish keeper. Don’t they eat plants? For the 110s add a prefilter sponge to them and you won’t need the other sponge. For the eco just get regular gravel. The eco is not worth it.

 

Any other suggestions for growing the plants? I already own the 3 oranda They so far have been leaving the plants alone in their current tank

 

You could try Amazonian soil. I have that in my 125 and it's a nice clay/dirt substrate.

 

Having 3 yuan bao orandas they didn't eat anubias, they ate my Amazon swords, they always were tatters. I don't think you need the sponge filter either. I did sand, a pourus substrate is a mess with goldfish, sand let's you vacum6their waste up pretty easily, and they are messy

 

If you use a sponge filter in a larger tank like a 125g, may I suggest to get one with a coarse foam for more flow.

The "Pro" version of the ATI Hydro Max sponge filters use a coarse foam sponge.

Their larger Hydro Max "IV" or "V" would work well. ATI's are modular, so you can stack one on top of the first.

LINK

For example in our 55 gallon African tank, in one corner we have a Hydro Max Pro III (coarse foam) , then a HM II (fine foam) stacked on top.

With a quality airstone and one output of a Fluval Q1 air pump, I get a lot of flow through it.

The only other brand of sponge filter I can recommend is from Swisstropicals.com.

LINK

Also, may I ask why not consider a canister filter for such a large tank?

 

If you use a sponge filter in a larger tank like a 125g, may I suggest to get one with a coarse foam for more flow.

The "Pro" version of the ATI Hydro Max sponge filters use a coarse foam sponge.

Their larger Hydro Max "IV" or "V" would work well. ATI's are modular, so you can stack one on top of the first.

LINK

For example in our 55 gallon African tank, in one corner we have a Hydro Max Pro III (coarse foam) , then a HM II (fine foam) stacked on top.

With a quality airstone and one output of a Fluval Q1 air pump, I get a lot of flow through it.

The only other brand of sponge filter I can recommend is from Swisstropicals.com.

LINK

Also, may I ask why not consider a canister filter for such a large tank?

Canisters confuse me, and I'm not sure if what ones are best.

 

Canisters confuse me, and I'm not sure if what ones are best.

I know how you feel. I’m thinking I want one for my 60 but I have no idea where to start and I’m intimidated. I know HOB filters inside and out. Canisters, not so much.

 

Canisters confuse me, and I'm not sure if what ones are best.

Well, you've come to the right place to ask. I have to admit when I saw you were talking a 125 my first thought was, "Why HOBs?"

The primary benefit of canisters is more room for media. Most of them these days include trays to allow stacking of media without crushing that at the bottom of the stack.

For a tank that size I'd go with a large canister with a canister pre-filter. The pre-filter lets you isolate the mechanical from the biological and not have to break open the large canister every time you want to clean the foam. Of course, you also get more room for biological media in the large canister since you don't need the foam in there.

Fluval makes some very nice canister filters. Sunsun has some very decent ones that aren't as expensive.

 

Since you made the comment about setting up the 125g next year, you will have time to start piecing together everything.

If there is a PetSmart nearby, their Black Friday sales are usually very good for Fluval and Marineland HOB + canister filters.

They are usually 50% off. Sometimes the Eheims are marked down the same as well.

Also, the Fluval FX4 canister is usually $149 and the FX6 is $199 during Black Friday.

That would make the FX4 the same price as the 2x Aquaclear 110's you mentioned.

PetSmart also routinely has their Aquarium ensembles (tank+stand+lid+LED) on sale 50% during Black Friday.

That would make their Aqueon 125g ensemble $349.

 

SunSun canister filters all the way!!!!! They are the best filters I have ever owned. So much room for media and pretty much completely silent. I will never buy another brand filter. I swear by them now. For the price you will not be disappointed. Just search for them on eBay!!