Fresh Start with 2 Tanks!

[BuffaloPolypteridae]

I reccomend peacock bass if you plan on going bigger, but for a 125 for life id go with some smaller bichirs on bottom, a small group of some sort of characin for the middle-top (fw barracuda, false silver gar etc). The sump would probably reduce the amount of nitrate better then the fx5 because you could load the sump w/ plants that will help suck out the nasty stuff

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[lando]

Personally I wouldn't want to lose my 55 and I would not want to drill my 125. The fx5 would be more than enough filtration, load it with bio balls and maybe some carbon and that is way more than enough filtration.

Ideally get say your fx5 fill it with media and water. Hook it all make sure you have a good heater maybe even 2. Go buy yourself a water test kit. ( API master kit ) fill you tank up with water wait 1 week throw a few feeder gold fish in, a few weeks do a test for all your water parameters. If you had high Ammonia etc wait another week or 2 test your water again. Then once your tank is cycled slowly start adding your fish.




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[LukeOscar]

Personally I wouldn't want to lose my 55 and I would not want to drill my 125. The fx5 would be more than enough filtration, load it with bio balls and maybe some carbon and that is way more than enough filtration.

Ideally get say your fx5 fill it with media and water. Hook it all make sure you have a good heater maybe even 2. Go buy yourself a water test kit. ( API master kit ) fill you tank up with water wait 1 week throw a few feeder gold fish in, a few weeks do a test for all your water parameters. If you had high Ammonia etc wait another week or 2 test your water again. Then once your tank is cycled slowly start adding your fish.




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Theres ways of getting the water to your sump without drilling

An fx 5/6 is pretty far shy of a 55g sump done properly in my opinion. But its an in opinion i happen to like sumps


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[lando]

Theres ways of getting the water to your sump without drilling

An fx 5/6 is pretty far shy of a 55g sump done properly in my opinion. But its an in opinion i happen to like sumps


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Yes a sump would be a bigger bio load. But how many people have a sump half the size of there tank....
Bigger is better and all but there's a point where you can add all the filtration you want and your not going to make a difference. In your water chemistry. So IMO a fx5 would work great. And a sump would work great to but if he was to do a sump I'd go find a 33 gallon on Craig's list for cheap !


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[LukeOscar]

Yes a sump would be a bigger bio load. But how many people have a sump half the size of there tank....
Bigger is better and all but there's a point where you can add all the filtration you want and your not going to make a difference. In your water chemistry. So IMO a fx5 would work great. And a sump would work great to but if he was to do a sump I'd go find a 33 gallon on Craig's list for cheap !


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Wouldnt that depend on his stock? Theres other benifits too. Like no heater in the tank itself. Easier cleaning in my opinion.


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[lando]

Wouldnt that depend on his stock? Theres other benifits too. Like no heater in the tank itself. Easier cleaning in my opinion.


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It's all about about the stock!

But he is not going to get a bunch of monsters into 125. Even if he over stocked with 4 big oscars and 4 big plecos and what have you he would still do his Water checks with his test kit. And If it was a problem. Do a later water change every week/biweekly


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[lando]

*larger water change


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[Cu455]

I vote for turning your 55 into a sump and going marine. A lot more interesting and a lot more you can do with it. For the sump you can get a mantas shrimp. They are not as difficult as people make it seem. Call your friend and tell him to set up your 125 and start to cycle it. Then when you get home throw a hang on back overflow and you are good to go.

If you don't like the marine idea go native. Maybe smuggle or pay an Afgani to mail some natives from there for you.

 

[Cookie*]

Yeah a paludarium is something I've considered for sure. You happen to know any good threads or resources to get started? I'm trying to do as much research as possible, rather than rush into things like I did last time. (Those two Os and the pleco all started in the 55g until I realized how big they were going to get. )

Here's a website I recently came across while considering a paludarium, myself, http://scapeclub.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?61-Paludarium-Vivarium It's a planted tank community forum site, that has a dedicated forum section for paludariums and vivariums. I've yet to venture into it myself or I'd add more info/experience to help guide you.

Thank you for your service!!!!

Edit: I forgot to add, most of the pics are not viewable unless you join the forum site. I have not joined, but I have been reading all the info the users have posted from their experience. Some of the pics in the threads are viewable by non-members too.

 

[virgil2090]

i would also hate to lose tank space by turning the 55 into a sump.in a 125 i would go with 2 filters. 2 canisters,or 1 and a HOB.in the 55 same thing.i like to use 2 filters on any tank over 20 gallons.i try to get 6-10 times water turnover,in GPH.i am a cichlids guy,so in the 125 try a small group to eventually get a pair.i find breeding behaviour in cichlids fascinating.the 55 you could get a smaller pair(maybe firemouths) with some swordtails or other small schooler