New 125, I want your opinion.

JosephMCorbett

JosephMCorbett

AC Members
Feb 7, 2005
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Northern California
I've been reading post after post and doing search after search to see if my ideas for tank filtration are sound.
Here's a little backround. I have a 3 year old 55 gallon in the bedroom with 55 inches of fish in it. It recently housed some rather large Cichlids and now houses a large array of peacful community fish. It has a Penguin 330 for filtration and I do weekly gravel vacs. with 25% water changes, and go through a lot of filter cartridges. I have a 125 gallon tank coming next week that will go in the living room.
#1: I am planning on moving the contents of the 55 to the 125 and shutting down the 55. I want to do this in one day. I'm hoping that by moving all of the water, gravel, rocks, plants, filter, etc. that I won't disturb my bio. colony too much. I'll of course add new gravel to the old in the 125 and more water....so it'll be like doing a 50% water change. Does anyone have any tips, advice, or anything that will help me to not stress my fish or loose any? I thought about just setting it up as a new tank, cycling it, and stocking it slowly from the 55. Does anyone think this is a better idea than the one day shot?
#2 As stated above, I run a Penguin 330 on the 55. I also run an airstone and power head for water agitation and airation. For the 125 I'm planning on running an Under Gravel Filter (UGF) with 2 or 3 powerheads depending on plate size. As well as Rena XP3 canister filter for mechanical and chemical filtration. I'll probably use my airstone since I have it. I still plan on the 25% water changes and gravel vacs. as part of weekly maintenance and to insure that the UGF doesn't get too much crud in it. Any thoughts on this setup's filtration, number of power heads, airation, or whatever else would be appreciated.

Current stock:
1 12in Sailfin Pleco
1 2in Borneo Sucker
2 3in Pictus Cats
2 3in Clown Loach
1 3in Bala Shark
1 3in SilverTip Shark
2 2in Dwarf Gouramis
2 1.5in Plattys
14 1in Tetras
2 1in corries

Any thoughts, advice, tips, etc. would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
 
Set up a few large spounge filters in the 55 till the 125 is set up and running with the new filter. Then take the 330 and the spounges and put them in the 125 before you transfer the fish, then you can transfer the fish and shouldn't get and large spikes. just let the 330 run for a week or so before you take it off. You can leave the spounges in the 125 and use them to "seed" any new tanks or just take them out when you take off the 330.
I've done this with all of my new tanks and I haven't lost a fish yet.
N8
 
Sounds like a solid plan. You are moving the Penguin 330 onto the 125 at least temporarily right? If so, you won't need to pre-seed any sponges/media, though N8's idea is a sound one. Put the new gravel down first, the top 1" of gravel from the 55 in a bucket (this is where the majority of your bacteria are...wait a minute, is there a UGF on the 55? If so then just be sure the old gravel goes on top of the new gravel, if not...), then the rest of the old gravel on top of the new gravel and then the top 1" from the bucket on top.
I did basically the same as you're planning (minus the ugf) going from a 55 to a 90g. I'd rather just git 'er done!
 
There is no UGF on the 55. I will be moving the 330 onto the 125 for at least a month. I was planning on putting all the old gravel on the new, but thanks for tip on the top 1" to go on the very top in the 125. Any thoughts on the UGF for the 125. Sounds like it's split on this forum (as well as everywhere else) about 70 against 30 for. My reasons for doing so is that my LFS uses them almost exclusively and have for 30 plus years. They have some very old loaches and eels that have lived 20+ years in tanks with UGFs. I think they can be good filters if you are routine about maintenance. I was thinking about just the XP3, but I wanted more filtration. Didn't really want another cannister or HOB or wet/dry. I just figured the UGF couldn't hurt. As far as crud collecting on the bottom, if my Nitrates ever get out of control, it's as simple as lifting a plate and vacuuming during a cleaning session. This shouldn't have to be very often with the XP3 doing mechanical....maybe every 6mo - 1yr.
 
Everyone says that UGF's are fine... but do they do anything that HOB or Cannister filters don't in return for the extra maintenance and annoyance?
 
Well, I've seen tanks kept for years with nothing more than an UGF plate and powerhead. No matter what filter you use, you still have to vacuum the gravel and do water changes. So, I guess they are just simple and cheap. HOBs are great for small tanks, cannisters for large tanks. I guess I'm setting one up because I need the power heads anyway for circulation, agitation, and airation. I'll have a cannister rated for 175 gallon tank on a 125 as my main filter (loaded with mainly mechanical and chemical media). And the UGF I'll add for it's outstanding bio filter capabilities.
 
Ok. I decided to skip the UGF mainly because I think it's 3 plates for a 72X18 tank and I didn't want 3 power heads. Too much clutter along the back. For my 55 I've always had good quality water with just the Penguin 330 and weekly water changes, vacuuming, and filter maintenance. Looks like so far for the 125 I will have the Rena Filstar XP3, two Penguin 1140 power heads, one air stone (circular - for a column of air bubbles), and two 150 watt heaters. Any comments are welcome :bowing: .

Joe
 
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