N00bz0r First piranha tank, questions about setup

[T3hFu><0R]

I am preparing my first piranha tank at the moment. I'd Like some advice on what to buy for setting it up. This is what the guy who at the moment I'm calling awesome has suggested.

2 HoB filters, such as 2 emperor 400's

recommends an fx5 but could technically go smaller.

2 large heaters

and using crushed black coral for gravel

this is all I can remember right now but I'm just pricing it out and adding extra filters to the price tag. I'm looking on amazon for the filters and I see you can buy a 25 bulk pack of "rite size E" filter cartridges for less than half the cost of 25 singles.

Should I start the tank with some cichlids to acclimate the tank? I was thinking I might try to get a pair to breed for feeders once the P's reach good size.

I thought maybe 12x1-1.25"ers would be a good start expecting them to not all make it. I know that's over the 20 gal. per fish rule of thumb, but it's 1"ers starting in 125 gallons.

Last one at the moment; I was also planning on buying a large plecostymus to keep in the tank starting at the time they are babies. would buying 2 of the 8" range be a good/better idea? It's a big tank. well, it's the biggest tank I've lived with other than my old room-mate's home made 168gal for a long-nose gar.

what am I over-looking? I've already spent an hour in the store twice figuring out what I'm going to do. I just really want to know that I have my essential filtration and tank needs covered before I drop over one hundred dollars of fish into it. Pics will come when we get a camera wedding gift. The woman is watching the on-line registry like a hawk on baby rabbits. We have some giving relatives.

I've already gotten great feedback in the 18 hours I've been active on the site. You guys rock.

 

[jp80911]

Hi, welcome to MFK and the world of piranha
first a little comment on the information you already received.
when it comes to filtration, over filter is always better than just enough filtration, especially with piranhas. HOB can be good mechanical filters but canister can also be better bio filter as they can hold more bio media than HOB filters. I would suggest to go with a FX5 if you can. with canister you don't really need to replace filter media. the foam you can just wash and the bio media you don't need to touch it unless they get really really dirty and all clogged up, in which case a cleaning in tank water will do.
a single 300W heater will be enough for a 125g, larger wattage heater or multiple heaters just help speed up the heating process but if you do use multiple heaters I would suggest also get a temperature controller other wise you may have one or two heaters always on and wasting your electricity.
I don't think crushed black coral is a good idea as substrate goes, if remember correctly that coral will increase your pH level and for piranhas you want to keep it around 7 or slightly below it. if your tap water doesn't have the idea pH level that's fine, don't mess with it. stability in pH level is more important so as long as you can keep it stable your fish will get use to it. if you constantly trying to adjust it the swing can easily kill your fish.
a doze 1"ers to start with is a good number, the 20g per fish is more of a general guide line especially when you have small tanks. with 125g you can start over stock a bit.
there's no need of getting a pleco or two in your tank unless you have some kind of algae issue (they don't always do a good job when it comes to algae) and pleco poops a lot so it will add some stress to your bio filtration. it may also get eaten when the rbps got bigger so it's your decision. you can use it to start cycle your tank tho, your call.
i couldn't suggest using cichlids to cycle your tank as they can be a bit aggressive to your 1" rbps. as mentioned you can use the pleco to cycle your tank, or you can add some mollies, swordtails,etc to cycle your tank. they possess no harm to your rbps (unless they carry disease and parasites).

there are better deals on rbps if you buy from online vendors, I think around $50 for 12. not sure how much shipping to you will be but you can check out deals on other size as well.
http://aeaquatics.com/Red_Belly_Piranhas.php
http://aeaquatics.com/Piranhas.php

 

[T3hFu><0R]

So am I understanding that if I do buy the fx5 I should not get any HoB filter? just use the under-gravel set up? I remember seeing both types used on the tanks I've lived with before.

 

[jp80911]

with one FX5 and max out the trays with bio media and should be fine with your tank and stock. don't bother with active carbon, those just take up space which can be used for additional bio media. shouldn't need any additional HOB filters, however, if you want to add more mechanical filtration to your tank you can always add some HOB filters. you can also build a DIY wet/dry filter, very easy and won't cost you a lot.
The most expensive part is probably the return pump. The DIY section has great information on DIY wet/dry. or you can pm me if have any questions.
don't use under gravel filter, it's just a waste of money and paint in the butt when you need to clean it. the way it work is that it draws water through the gravel and use the gravel as filter media. once the filter is clogged you'll need to take everything out of the tank in order to clean it. doesn't really provide enough flow rate and surface area for both mechanical and bio filtration.

 

[T3hFu><0R]

Sorry, I am noob. I thought the canister filter had something to do with under gravel. but now after watching the 20 minute video on how to set up the fx5 I now understand how it works. so new plan:

order an FX5 from amazon
order an emperor 400 as well

figure out what gravel/bedding to use

figure out what types of jets for circulation/aeration to use

pick out a heater (300watt i believe)

cosmetics

balance out chemicals

add fish

....

profit?

 

[Otherone]

I like the Mollie idea as to cycle the tank - those livebearers breed like rats, more so in brackish but will in fresh water as well. Your lil' P's will luv chasin' all those babies and they are good food. Usually the females are already pregnant when you buy them.

 

[jp80911]

The price of FX5 on amazon seems pretty expensive ($253 for filter only, $265 for filter+media..either way it comes with foam for mechanical filtration, bio media is what you need to buy separately if it doesn't come with it), try ebay, craigslist and MFK's buy/sell section if you don't mind used ones (sometimes you'll find new ones) and want something cheaper.
one FX5 will be plenty for the 1"ers you will be getting so don't need to get an other filter until they get bigger and you think FX5 alone is not enough to filter the tank. as long as your water parameters are always in check you don't need to add more filter.
as for substrate there are two main options, gravel or sand. there are pros and cons for both so you'll have to decide which one to go for. there are threads regarding substrates in "setup and filtration" section, use the search function and you can easily find them.
you can also find heater on ebay pretty cheap, compare price to see where you want to buy it from, just decide which brand to go with.
for tank decor, personally I like driftwood and real plants, makes the look more natural.
with a well established tank you don't really need any chemical, most important is to cycle your tank first. once the tank is cycled you can add fish, all those chemical stuff is just a waste of money. do a search on the Internet and you'll find out all the information on cycling, why and how. if still have any questions just feel free to ask.