Got A New 125 Gallon Tank. Looking For Suggestions On What To Fill It

[EricNiequist]

Hello! 
 
My husband and I have had a 35 gallon fresh water tank for about a year now - we have mostly river fish that we caught in our local river. A large mouth bass, 2 bluegill, a crayfish and also a spiky catfish we got from out lovely local fish store. They are all baby fish and so fun to watch (we know they will grow... especially the bass... and then back to the river they go). We have enjoyed learning all the in's and out's and have had really great success so far. (liquid testing kits, de-chlorinator, water changes, etc...) 
 
Anyways, we are quickly becoming crazy fish people and my husband just got a very good deal on a 125 gallon tank. We are very excited to get it all set up and start the cycling. We have cleaned it with water and vinegar and rinsed it a bunch and let it dry. 
 
Before continuing the set up process, I am looking for advice on 2 things (all thoughts on all things are welcome, actually):
 
-What kind of filters are you all loving these days for large tanks? I have seen the DIY thing... however I think id rather buy one (or two) since turning a cooler into a filter seems daunting. 
 
-What kind of fish do you love having in your tanks? Since we have always had "wild" fish, we have not entered the world of store bought fish, but we love the idea of having a variety of fish and since we have an awesome local fish store, we can pretty much get anything. Our tap water is really good water, so we are blessed with that. The PH runs on the higher side- around 8.0 so we want to keep that in mind as we'd love to not have to mess with that (if possible). Cichlids are really neat - but I would love to have a wider variety and it seems like they mostly just like their own kind (?). We are open to live plants, rocks, drift wood, whatever. 
 
The tank is 125 gallons. 6 feet wide, 2 feet tall, 2 feet deep. Freshwater only for now. 
 
Bonus points for anyone who can share advice on freshwater stingrays, sharks, etc... would love to have some really unique friends in there  
 
Thanks so much everyone!
 
 
 
 
 

 

[Byron]

I won't at this stage offer fish suggestions, but instead suggest that it would be helpful to have the tap water GH (general hardness) and KH (carbonate hardness or Alkalinity).  A high pH might indicate harder water, but not always, and the GH is the more important for fish.  Knowing the KH as well will tell you how much fluctuation might happen with the pH as the KH serves to buffer the pH.  Many tropical fish are much more sensitive to parameters.
 
A word on the wild fish...some states (maybe the federal US government too) have laws prohibiting the release of fish into the wild, including wild fish being returned.  Fish in aquaria can be exposed to diseases and pathogens that could cause real issues in the wild.  Just so you know.  It might be best to grow the bass up and then have a nice fresh fish dinner.
 
Byron.

 

[Blough]

The key to buying fish in the store is that you need to remember that you probably know more than the LFS. If they tell you something, verify the authenticity of the information before making decisions based on it. Remember that their job is to sell fish and not to keep those fish alive after you've paid for them. Are you planning on putting your wild-caught fish in the 125 gallon? What will the temperature be?

 

[EricNiequist]

I won't at this stage offer fish suggestions, but instead suggest that it would be helpful to have the tap water GH (general hardness) and KH (carbonate hardness or Alkalinity).  A high pH might indicate harder water, but not always, and the GH is the more important for fish.  Knowing the KH as well will tell you how much fluctuation might happen with the pH as the KH serves to buffer the pH.  Many tropical fish are much more sensitive to parameters.
 
A word on the wild fish...some states (maybe the federal US government too) have laws prohibiting the release of fish into the wild, including wild fish being returned.  Fish in aquaria can be exposed to diseases and pathogens that could cause real issues in the wild.  Just so you know.  It might be best to grow the bass up and then have a nice fresh fish dinner.
 
Byron.

 
 
Our pH is about 8.2, our GH is around 20ppm and kH is around 300ppm out of the faucet. Any thoughts about that?

 

[Byron]

 

I won't at this stage offer fish suggestions, but instead suggest that it would be helpful to have the tap water GH (general hardness) and KH (carbonate hardness or Alkalinity).  A high pH might indicate harder water, but not always, and the GH is the more important for fish.  Knowing the KH as well will tell you how much fluctuation might happen with the pH as the KH serves to buffer the pH.  Many tropical fish are much more sensitive to parameters.
 
A word on the wild fish...some states (maybe the federal US government too) have laws prohibiting the release of fish into the wild, including wild fish being returned.  Fish in aquaria can be exposed to diseases and pathogens that could cause real issues in the wild.  Just so you know.  It might be best to grow the bass up and then have a nice fresh fish dinner.
 
Byron.

 
 
Our pH is about 8.2, our GH is around 20ppm and kH is around 300ppm out of the faucet. Any thoughts about that?
 

 
I'm wondering if one of the numbers is perhaps incorrect, the GH of 20 ppm or the KH of 300 ppm?  I think they are usually close.

 

[EricNiequist]

 

 


I won't at this stage offer fish suggestions, but instead suggest that it would be helpful to have the tap water GH (general hardness) and KH (carbonate hardness or Alkalinity).  A high pH might indicate harder water, but not always, and the GH is the more important for fish.  Knowing the KH as well will tell you how much fluctuation might happen with the pH as the KH serves to buffer the pH.  Many tropical fish are much more sensitive to parameters.
 
A word on the wild fish...some states (maybe the federal US government too) have laws prohibiting the release of fish into the wild, including wild fish being returned.  Fish in aquaria can be exposed to diseases and pathogens that could cause real issues in the wild.  Just so you know.  It might be best to grow the bass up and then have a nice fresh fish dinner.
 
Byron.

 
 
Our pH is about 8.2, our GH is around 20ppm and kH is around 300ppm out of the faucet. Any thoughts about that?
 

 
I'm wondering if one of the numbers is perhaps incorrect, the GH of 20 ppm or the KH of 300 ppm?  I think they are usually close.
 


It believe it's because we have a water softener that was installed in our house before we moved in.

 

[Byron]

It believe it's because we have a water softener that was installed in our house before we moved in.
 

 
That would explain it.  And unfortunately, cause another problem.  Water softeners often remove hard minerals (the calcium, magnesium, etc that contribute to hard water) by adding sodium salts, which is common "salt" as we think of it.  This is for some fish even worse that the hardness from hard minerals.  You might want to take a look at how your particular softener functions.  If it is as I have mentioned, using water without going through the softener first, if possible, would be safer.  It depends upon how the softener is installed; if only in the kitchen, then water from the laundry room or elsewhere might not be affected.
 
If you can bypass the softener, presumably the water would be on the moderately hard or fairly hard side.  And fish that require such water would be the best choice.  Soft water fish would have difficulty, and equally so with the softened water depending upon how the softener works.
 
Byron.