I am going to be setting up a 125 gallon fish tank with 8-12 Cichlids, and I may do 2-4 live feeding per month. I know that I will have to do water changes, but I'm looking for filtration suggestions that I require the least amount of water changes and aquarium maintenance. FYI...whatever system I get will need to fit under the tank (not besides it, and I do not have a wall to hide it). This will be my first fish tank ever, so thanks in advance for any suggestions.
First Fish Tank Ever - Need Filtration Help for 125 Gallon Tank
- Thread starter pistonville
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What kind of Cichlids? What are you planning on feeding as the live food?
There is no magical filter/setup that will having you do less water changes. It mostly depends on you stocking. Heavily stocked tanks require more water changes, couple times a week or more. Lighter stocked tanks once a week or two. I always suggest every week for beginners so the get into a routine and if you miss a couple times its not that big of a deal. Test your tank's water every week as well before water changes for the first 12 months.
Maintaince really depends on your setup. I have a 600gph 30 gallon sump for my filtration on my 125. Once a week I take out some sponges and rince them in tank water in a bucket takes less than 5 minutes. I siphon extra gunk out of the sump every month or so and adds a couple extra minutes.
There are many different ways to setup your filtration and most depends on your needs and your fish's needs.
There is no magical filter/setup that will having you do less water changes. It mostly depends on you stocking. Heavily stocked tanks require more water changes, couple times a week or more. Lighter stocked tanks once a week or two. I always suggest every week for beginners so the get into a routine and if you miss a couple times its not that big of a deal. Test your tank's water every week as well before water changes for the first 12 months.
Maintaince really depends on your setup. I have a 600gph 30 gallon sump for my filtration on my 125. Once a week I take out some sponges and rince them in tank water in a bucket takes less than 5 minutes. I siphon extra gunk out of the sump every month or so and adds a couple extra minutes.
There are many different ways to setup your filtration and most depends on your needs and your fish's needs.
If I was you I would go to the tank setup filtration part of this website and look at some of the stickys on there about nitrogen cycle, filtration its got some good info. A large canister filter with a hob would be fine on a 125 gal. The only way to do less water changes is to stock less and plant heavy or do a drip system
After a few decades of fishkeeping, I've come to conclude that water change is the major key to successful and healthy fish. While heavy filtration will take care of the nitrogen cycle and keep the water crystal clear, it does not replace fresh water changes. I do 50% every 3-4 days and disease and infections are just about non-existence in any of my tanks
I would also like to add to this: While some of my tank contains plants and the nitrate level stays very low, I still do my routine w/c. I'm just not convinced that nitrate is the only "bad molecular compound" that's floating around in the tank water
