tank upgrade for my cichlids

[skeletor121]

I am upgrading my tanks. I am picking up a 125 gal tank this weekend. I plan on putting the livestock from my 55 gal into this new tank (see user cp for tank livestock). The tank comes with a canister filter and an under gravel filter w/ an air-pump (not sure what it is rated with). I do not believe that a powerfilter is included, but will find out on Saturday. Will the canister filter with the under gravel filter be sufficient? Can you recommend any other tank mates?
Currently all of the tank mates get along well and play with each other (no nipping or fighting). I know these fish will get large and I don't want to start stocking more fish into the tank, only for it to be overstocked later on. I would like to get a couple other fish that have different coloration than what I have in there now. And I'm not 100% sure if the green terror is actually a terror yet. It is small right now and doesn't have the orange coloration on it's fins like the bigger ones that I have seen, but I can't find another fish that looks anything like it.
I am also going to move the fish from the smaller tanks up one tank (the 30 gal livestock to the 55 gal and the 10 gal to the 30 gal). Are there any suggestions as to possible tank mates for the 2 Angels (number and type)? I was thinking of 2 blue gouramis, but would like to keep my choices open for the moment to make sure I have some good fish together.

[vjvl51]

You have a lot of questions. :) If I miss answering one, please repost.

The canister filter is better than any hang-on-the-back power filter but is it big enough? I can't answer that unless I know make and model.

A canister with an underground filter are good choices. An underground run by an airpump is not going to do anything unless you have a real small tank (20 gallon max, I think) which you don't. Replace the air pump with a power head or two and you'll have an effective filter.

New tank mates? I think you will be taking your chances. As your present fish become adult, their territory becomes more important and you will probably have territory fighting. The only way to avoid this, that I know of, is to make many hiding spots and divide the tank into areas with plants (with those cichlids - not much chance) or rocks. You may be one of the lucky ones and your fish don't develop a need to defend their territory but don't count on it. There was a recent post about two oscars in a 90 gallon fighting. :D http://www.aquariumpros.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1696

As I understand it, your two angels are going to the 30 gallon tank, right? You should allow 10 gallons for each adult angel. That doesn't leave much room for other fish. Gouramis can get to be territorial as well. It might work but might not. I would suggest maybe adding some interesting eels, loaches or cories as a clean up crew and enjoy the angels as the show pieces of your tank.

Vickie

[aquak]

When your crayfish get bigger they are likely to eat your other fish. They do it when the fish sleep, so it doesn't matter how big or fast they are. The angelfish in my 30 gallon have coexisted with guppies. I removed the female when she was "dropping" so she could do so in peace, and then put the fry in the tank as live food. I have heard that neon tetras make them nervous or that they will eat the neons, but neons tend to school and the ones I had did not dart around at all. I have Bolivian rams with mine and have successfully had at different times dwarf gouramis, siamese algae eaters, rosy barbs (to eat thread algae), otocinclus, clown loaches, kuhli loaches, and cory cats. I currently have 16 fry in with the rams and others and the 2 adult angels in the 10 gallon in hopes that the fry will grow up before the adults freak out at being in such a small tank. None of the larger fish bother the fry.

[skeletor121]

I picked up the tank this weekend. I found out that the canister filter is a fluval 303. I am looking into getting a powerhead for the ug filter. I am wondering what type of powerhead would be good for this size tank. I am also wondering if I should get another canister filter or just upgrade the one I got? Any help would be beneficial. Thanks.

[skeletor121]

Sorry to post another filtration question, but I would like some help before I set up my tank. I just got a 125 gallon tank which came with a fluval 303 canister filter and an UGF. The person who used it last only used the canister filter and said that was fine. I am planning on putting in some cichlids (I have asked for advice from the cichlid forum as well) into the tank. I know that alone the canister filter won't suffice for the tank. Should I use the UGF with a powerhead or two? Should I get another canister filter and scrap the UGF? Should I upgrade the canister and use powerheads? I have read the pros and cons of the types of filters, but haven't been convinced either way. Please help.

[CrazieEddie]

I'm not familiar with the Fluvals, but I'm assuming they are sufficient filters, especially if used along with a UGF (with powerhead).

I like using the ZooMed Powersweep rotating powerheads becuase they sweep from left to right. Disperses the water more in a wider area than those that just point in one direction.

There are several articles (http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/) and FAQs (http://www.aquariumpros.com/faqpro/index.shtml) you can read for answers to some of your questions and future questions. If you need additional help, please feel free to post them here.

Also, please read this post (http://www.aquariumpros.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1563), which may help you out also.

[vjvl51]

I'm going to merge these two threads to make it easier for you to follow and so people don't have to post the same info in both places.

The Fluval 303 might work on a 125 gallon providing you do not skip any partial water changes and filter maintenance. It will be a touch and go situation since this would mean that your filter is slightly undersized for this tank. I run the biggest Fluval (the 404) on my 75 gallon with cichlids and find that it doesn't leave much room for error. (I know that they are both rated for larger tanks. I find that many filters are over rated.)

Two canister filters (the 303 and another 403 or 404) would do the job without any worries. It will also give you a backup should one filter need a new part. (I have had to replace the impellor in one of my Fluvals. The Fluval was down for a week while the store ordered in the part for me. Now I keep a spare on hand. :) ) The 303 with an underground filter run by power heads would work as well providing you have no problems with the underground. Many people (myself included due to incorrect instructions for the store) have trouble getting the undergrounds to work. They are cheaper than a canister and when they work, very efficient.

I would not recommend going with the underground, if you plan on using live plants. Many plants don't like the water movement around their roots and the roots can clog the underground.

Vickie

[skeletor121]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I have done some more research on the filtration subject and still have more questions. I have read about the Reverse UGF's out there that use the canister filter on the outside with the return tube going into the UGF. Does anyone have any experience with this? It makes sense to me, but I have never heard of someone using one. I was thinking about using the canister I have now to power it, and then maybe getting another one as a back up. Would this work? There will not be any live plants in the tank.

[vjvl51]

Nooboon has lots of experience with underground filters. He is working towards his final exams and doesn't visit the forums too much now. Here is a thread where reverse flow underground with canister is mentioned.

http://www.aquariumpros.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1233

this one discusses reverse flow as well

http://www.aquariumpros.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1424

Hopefully this will help you.

Vickie

[skeletor121]

Thank you all for your help. I just wanted to get the most information about all the filtration out there since this will be my first really large tank. I have decided to go with a two canister system. I will be using the fluval 303 that came with the tank and a fluval 404 as the second filter. The guy at the LFS was saying that this would work, which I believe him since he hasn't lead me astray before. I'm glad that you guys on the forum pretty much agreed with what he said. Thanks for all the fast responses and the help. I will let you know how the system works out.
On another note, I do have one more question. I have been reading a lot about the non-fish cycling process for a new tank. Does anyone have any experience with it? Does it work as well as they say? I do not plan on buying any bacteria in a bottle product, but thought that the fishless cycling sounds like a pretty good idea, since I don't want to purposely hurt any fish.

[vjvl51]

It's nice to see so many people concerned about not hurting their fish. Fishless cycling came up recently in this thread http://www.aquariumpros.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1702. I am too lazy this morning to retype the info :)

If you follow the guidelines in this article http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/stockguide.shtml and use the fish in this article http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/fishcyclefw.shtml you should be OK. I also closely monitor the ammonia and nitrites. When the ammonia gets above 1 ppm or the nitrites above 0.5, I do a 10 to 15% partial water change to dilute the toxic chemicals without removing all the bacteria that I am trying to grow. Usually, this is only once (if that) during the cycle. Like you, I don't like stressing, even hardy fish, too much.

Vickie