What kind of filter should I setup for a 125 Oscar tank?

[lp85253]

Hello. I use 2 Marineland Penguin 350 filter's on my 125 Oscar tank and they do a GREAT job.

those are pretty good hob's .. i have one stuffed with *4* ac 70 sponges , it's on a 75 with an ac 110 and another sponge filter , it's more than i need .. i could easily filter a 150 with this set up.. i used this much filtration simply to avoid an ammonia spike when i first combined *2* 75's when i had a center brace give out (cat error)

 

[Backfromthedead]

i like the idea of a 180 .. but 3 ac110s on a 125 is overkill (imo).. not a "bad " thing , just not needed with the internal sponge ...

I would remove sponge filters in this case to maximize tank space. I find doubling or tripling up on HOBs makes them less susceptible to fouling up when you have a large bioload. With that proposed stock even an ac110 will clog if you forget to clean it out for a week or so.

Sponges are great too and it still wouldn't hurt to have one of those going.

 

[lp85253]

Okay gotcha yeah that’s a great idea

when you start up the new tank (you probably know this) , use the sponge filter and *all the media* from the ac 70 (in another filter or the ac70, if you can fit it on the tank) to avoid an ammonia spike... you shouldn't have any issues.. it's the bio load more than capacity that matters ...

 

[MaseBoogie]

when you start up the new tank (you probably know this) , use the sponge filter and *all the media* from the ac 70 (in another filter or the ac70, if you can fit it on the tank) to avoid an ammonia spike... you shouldn't have any issues.. it's the bio load more than capacity that matters ...

Yes absolutely! I’ve used this method a couple times to jumpstart tanks lol

 

[lp85253]

I would remove sponge filters in this case to maximize tank space. I find doubling or tripling up on HOBs makes them less susceptible to fouling up when you have a large bioload. With that proposed stock even an ac110 will clog if you forget to clean it out for a week or so.

Sponges are great too and it still wouldn't hurt to have one of those going.

using the sponge filter won't be necessary long term.. i would keep it , but that's me, but he pretty much *needs* all the cycled filtration available when he starts a tank.. i *know* that from experience.. tanks don't cycle .. filter media cycles... this *i know* ...edit: i would certainly do 2 hob's(ac 110 preferably) + the sponge to start out..

 

[MaseBoogie]

I would remove sponge filters in this case to maximize tank space. I find doubling or tripling up on HOBs makes them less susceptible to fouling up when you have a large bioload. With that proposed stock even an ac110 will clog if you forget to clean it out for a week or so.

Sponges are great too and it still wouldn't hurt to have one of those going.

Yeah I think I’m gonna go this route instead of canister filter. I love HOB they are simple and effective, idk what the hype is with canisters they are so expensive and if that’s all u have n it happens to go out on u, ur srcewed. I always try n run at least two methods of filtration usually hob and sponge

 

[Backfromthedead]

Yeah I think I’m gonna go this route instead of canister filter. I love HOB they are simple and effective, idk what the hype is with canisters they are so expensive and if that’s all u have n it happens to go out on u, ur srcewed. I always try n run at least two methods of filtration usually hob and sponge

I find ac110s to be pretty effective. I would rather have 3 ac110s than an fx6 (cost equivalent). Much more versatile and easy to maintain. I don't have much to say about other HOBs, but I've heard that the tidal 110 is similarly powerful to the ac110.

I think the only advantage of cans is that they are a cleaner look and you might save a bit on power.

Sponges are great but imo the only ones that will work for you(if only using sponges) would be the largest of sponge filters, which will impede on the space in your 125.

 

[Zack cloutier]

On my 120g I have an fx4 and 2 aq110’s For my Oscar, polly, polleni, and a salicin pleco and things have been great

 

[duanes]

I don't think it matters much one kind of filter or another, they all do the same thing.
But as those fish grow its going to be about filter maintenance and water changes, and which filters are easier to maintain on a regular basis..
I would think as juvies a HOB is fine, but after they grow another couple inches another HOB, and so on, until as adults the entire back of the tank will be lined with HOBs, and maybe one on each side panel, if all those fish are still around doing maintenance on 1 each day.
Same with cans, start with 1 and keep adding as the fish grow.
Or you could start with a large sump, and just add more biomedia as the fish grow, and produce more and more ammonia.
125, 150, 180, are all just minuscule versions of the other.
I'm running a 180 now and feel it would be fully stocked with only 2 or 3 adult oscars alone.

 

[biguebs]

I would tend to agree with duanes ... i think it’s a lot of fish in that tank once they start getting some size. I hate canisters personally, so I’d go 3 HOB across the back. Couple of powerheads sweeping the bottom. Lot of water changes.

The case for AC’s flowing a little better than the penguin 350s seems to be true but i recently switched over from 100% AC110s and AC70s to 100% penguin 350s in my 125s. The ACs are just way too finicky. The penguins just keep running - and start themselves back up without issue. Plus if the penguins take a crap they are inexpensive to just swap out. Got some foam filter media to swap out with those junky filter inserts the penguins come with and makes for simple maintenance. I haven’t had any drop off in water quality from the switch.