Need advice on setting up a 125 gallon FW tank.

hookedonfishtanks

I just bought a 125 gallon tank that was previously used, as of two weeks ago, as a salt water tank, I want to know if it's safe to use as a fw tank and how to clean it properly.

Also, what kind of filtration and heating do I need to buy.

That tank is not drilled and does not have any overflow, the biggest tank I have ever had is a 40 gallon so I am unsure of setting up a larger tank and what is necessary any advice is appreciated.

herefishy

Step one. think of what you want in the tank, a theme. Plants or no plants. Type of fish you want to keep. What type of biotope are you looking for. And proceed from there. But step one must be decided first

hookedonfishtanks

Step one is easy. I want what I have now just on a larger scale. Right now I have two bolivian rams, one german Blue Ram, gold barbs, corries, shrimp and guppies.
I would also like to have some rummy nose tetras in the tank.
Live plants, my 40 gallon is all live plants. The only difference is I would like to go from gravel, to a really fine gravel or sand.

okiemavis

A lot of people say sand can be difficult, but I really like it. I did my 6 ft tank in play sand- it cost me $5/50 lbs at Home Depot. The trick is to make sure the sand stays plenty stirred up- gravel vacs and Malaysian Trumpet Snails are the two things I use.

As for filtration, multiple filtration is the best. Perhaps a reverse flow UGF and a canister filter? I love my Magnum 350, so I'm always quite happy to recommend Marineland to anyone, but Fluval and Ehiem also make some good canister filters.

herefishy

EcoComplete would be my suggestion for substrate. Not real course and full of the food stuff plants like. I would also suggest that you explore and study a biotope that would use wood. Some rocks to provide areas for the rams, but alot of wood and alot of plants.

In a tank that size, filtration is key, no matter what the stocking scheme. I have a 125g with reverse flow filtration(4 Marineland 660r's with a ugf). Neat deal. I also would "layer the filtration. You use various types of filters to accomplish this. Power filters(my suggestion would be Emperor 400's) canisters(Magnum 350's or 360's are my choice). I also use Fluval 3+ internal power filters. But I'm anal about filtering.