125 gallon tank build.

[JeremyXXXX]

What's up guys? I'm a novice in the fish keeping hobby but I am slowly but shortly getting into it. I am a 21 year full-time college student so my funds are not as high as I wish they were and I don't have much time to work on my build since school just started up but mark my words, I will finish my build!

After about 3 or 4 months of looking for a setup on craigslist.org I finally found a good one. I ended up buying a 125 gallon tank with a wooden stand as well as a Fluval 404 canister filter all for $300. The guy also threw in a 72" light but the bulbs are bad so I don't know if the light is going to work, hopefully it does. The tank just needs a good cleaning, I started and it looks a lot better but it still has a ways to go. I used vinegar but I can not get it looking as nice as I would like before I bring it up into my room. Yes, I am putting 125 gallon setup in my room

So, this is my current shopping list for coming weeks...
-Fluval fx5 canister filter
-Fluval E300 heater(s)
-hood and lighting
-75 pounds of sand (is this the correct amount?)

Any other items you guys think I will need or suggest that I look into getting? Besides the obvious chemicals and water treatment I am going to need.



*PICTURES WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY*

 

[half cab]

I have 50lbs of sand in my 55 gal. About 2 inches tall.

 

[m1ste2tea]

a good water siphon hose

a large bucket



about your calcium deposits I suggest that you don't sweat it for now. Fill up the tank and let it soak for a week or so and you will be able to get rid of it with your magnetic scrubber with ease.

 

[Burko]

What is it that you are building?

 

[JeremyXXXX]

yea I got myself a good siphon and a bucket. The calcium build up is not that bad on the glass itself, just one spot. It is pretty bad on the black trip along the top and the light fixture itself though.

 

[JeremyXXXX]

What is it that you are building?

like the title says, a 125 gallon tank setup.

 

[Twofish]

but what do you want to put in it? any ideas yet? also if there is any way to get Ehiem filter instead of Fluval, in my experience they are by far better. Eheim canisters are the best

 

[JeremyXXXX]

I am still open to ideas but the last few months I have been researching freshwater rays and south African chichlids. I hope to put in one ray pup and a tiger oscar to start.

 

[SIMKWANA OdDbALLs]

nice!

 

[Slim2634]

I am still open to ideas but the last few months I have been researching freshwater rays and south African chichlids. I hope to put in one ray pup and a tiger oscar to start.

Check out hystrix rays then. They're some of the smallest freshwater rays. I personally love oscars so nothing bad to say there, go for it. If you aren't dead set on the fluval heaters I would check out the Hydor Theo heaters, maybe two 300 watts. I always recommend them because they're great heaters and keep the temperature of my tank very steady.