Moving from 20 gal to 125 gal.

[Dissy]

I posted this in the Introduction forum, and someone recommended I also post it elsewhere, so that I might get more advice/replies..

Prev. Title: 20 gal. to 125 gal. Am I nuts?!

Hi.. Currently, I have a 20 gallon tank with three Convict cichlids (2 females, and a male). It's been running for about 3 months. I'm using a Marineland bio wheel filter rated for a 50 gallon tank, since cichlids are piggish little things. My temp is set at 78 degrees, and I feed 4-6 cichlid pellets twice a day (they usually eat all of this). My water has always been cloudy, but the fish don't seem any worse for wear, are acting normally, and two of them seem to be considering playing house, altho they're still relatively young.

Any idea on how to clear up the cloudiness? I'm thinking it may be my water. (We don't drink it - we buy bottled). If I get a filter for the faucet might that help? I've tried water clarifier tablets, and that helps a little for about a day - still not clear enough, IMO. I love watching them, but it's hard to see dark fish against dark wood in a cloudy tank.

I also plan on setting up a 125 gallon show tank, which I'd like advice on as I go, since I expect it will be a rather extensive project, and I don't want *that* water cloudy.

Thanks!

I have a list of fish I'd like to see in my 125 gal. once it's all set up and cycled (I plan on doing this piece by piece, as I'd like it done correctly the first time). Once my list of fish is narrowed down, I'll plan the tank decor around what suits them best.

These are all fish I believe to be compatible together, along with their approx. sizes full grown. Any advice on what to keep, what to leave, what's good/bad, etc. would be appreciated. I don't think it will be overstocked when they're adults, but I could be wrong...

Red Breast Cichlid - 2 (7")
Convict Cichlid - 3 (These are juvies in my 20 gal right now) (5-6")
Fairy Cichlid - 2 (5")
Emerald Cichlid - 1 (12")
Texas Cichlid - 1 (12")
Banded Cichlid - 2 (12")
Bala Shark - 2 (14")

Later on, I'd like to add a pleco to this mix. Any advice on type/size?

Thanks again!!

 

[Batboi3000]

I personally would definitely not add the bala sharks to the mix. I just don't like them and they will take up a ton of your space. I have a 125 and eventually my stocklist will probably need to be thinned down. I'm not sure what fish you are even talking about with half of those names, "Banded, fairy, emerald, red breasted." At least I have never heard those names. I looked up "Red Breasted" and got a species called Amphilophus longimanus. It's cool looking! I am guessing the banded cichlid is a severum, and the emerald is a chocolate. With the fairy cichlid, I found a search of it, and it is an African cichlid. It is not advised to mix centra/south american cichlids with African cichlids. They need different water bases. I guess I would pick at most 3 of the bigger 12" guys, and then add 3-5 of your smaller ones like your cons. So to be more exact i would try, 1 Texas, 1 Red Breast, 2 severum/banded, and your 3 cons. If the red breast is an Amphilophus it may be too aggressive for most of that stock list. Those are my thoughts. Good luck!

 

[Batboi3000]

One other thought I had was to go to the Central/South American Cichlid section of this forum. There are folks there who have tons of experience and more knowledge on these fish than I'll ever have.

 

[gtpsuper24]

For a 125G either a wet/dry sump or something like a Fluval FX5 and maybe a AC 110 filled with biomedia. I am still new to the sump filters and had been looking at the Toms Aquarium Rapids Pro Plus filter system. It you have room and feel like doing DIY project, find a used 55G and set up your own sump.