New 125 Gallon Tank...tips From Experience?

[johnnyr]

Hey guys, I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade my 55 to a 125. My cichlids should be much happier. I haven't had any experience with larger tanks, so any tips you can provide would be helpful. My only question is how many pounds of medium sized gravel do you think I would need to get a few inches of gravel cover? What kind of filter should I go for (please be gentle to my wallet).

Additionally, I need some tips on moving the fish...I was planning on getting some bio-spira, as well as putting gravel from my old tank into an old pantyhose and putting it the new tank. I'm trying to not take too much over as I've had a nasty case of green water for over 5 months in the 55. But I don't want my fish to have to go through the cycle, and if I have to I will do a fishless cycle.

Thanks guys!

 

[england]

you have to ensure filters setup n running with bacteria first what filter do you have at the moment?
with cichlids it best to go as big as possible and many as poss for filteration<what cichlids and how many...???
iam buying a fx5 fluval £120 for next week to add to my filtration as stated below
gravel iam not sure<waits for other replys>i emptied all my tanks gravels into my big one.....water changes id reccomend doing a 1/3rd of the tank a week

 

[johnnyr]

you have to ensure filters setup n running with bacteria first what filter do you have at the moment?
with cichlids it best to go as big as possible and many as poss for filteration<what cichlids and how many...???
iam buying a fx5 fluval £120 for next week to add to my filtration as stated below
gravel iam not sure<waits for other replys>i emptied all my tanks gravels into my big one.....water changes id reccomend doing a 1/3rd of the tank a week

I'm going to be running an Ehiem...2270? I think that's the model thats rated for my size. for my fish I have the following:
2 x Blood parrot
1 x Green Servrum
1 x Jack Dempsy
1 x Firemouth
1 x Algea Eater

They are getting way to big for my 55 gallon, and I raised them since they were babies so I can't just get rid of them :sniff:

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Jules H-T]

Get the new filter running in the old tank alongside the old filter for a couple of weeks (point it at the corner if the flow is too high), then switch off the old filter for another couple, then move over in one go on the same day, into a totally freshly set up tank. Forget the sock full or gravel rubbish- waste of time.

A few days before the job lot switch (D-Day), get your new tank set up, work out the gravel at the time (clean it, clean it, clean it, and when you think it's clean enough clean it twice more- and lots of little cleans is easier than trying to clean loads at once), get it lit and heated, treat/stand your water.

Then on D-day just chuck the fish over. Don't bother acclimatising/bagging them, it's more stress than it's worth. Just ensure the temps area about the same, net them and chuck them over (invest in a good pair of nets if you don't already have them- one big one to hold still and lift the fish out, one smaller to 'guide' the fish into the big net). Do them one at a time, and as you lift them out of the water grab the net from underneath and hold the fish still- don't let it flip about in the net damaging scales or ending up on the carpet.

Try to be good/over good with the water changes on the old tank though, more and more so towards D-Day so that you're moving the fish effectively from new clean treated tapwater, to new clean treated tapwater. Don't move them from green murky treacle water to shiny mountain stream water.

Leave the lights on the tanks off for the day of the transfer- you'll find it much easier to catch the fish in low light even though you can't see so well, and they will settle in better in the dark for a day too. Also empty the old tank of decor as much as possible just before you move them, they will be easier to catch.

Don't forget to move the filter over as you move the fish, too!

 

[johnnyr]

Get the new filter running in the old tank alongside the old filter for a couple of weeks (point it at the corner if the flow is too high), then switch off the old filter for another couple, then move over in one go on the same day, into a totally freshly set up tank. Forget the sock full or gravel rubbish- waste of time.

A few days before the job lot switch (D-Day), get your new tank set up, work out the gravel at the time (clean it, clean it, clean it, and when you think it's clean enough clean it twice more- and lots of little cleans is easier than trying to clean loads at once), get it lit and heated, treat/stand your water.

Then on D-day just chuck the fish over. Don't bother acclimatising/bagging them, it's more stress than it's worth. Just ensure the temps area about the same, net them and chuck them over (invest in a good pair of nets if you don't already have them- one big one to hold still and lift the fish out, one smaller to 'guide' the fish into the big net). Do them one at a time, and as you lift them out of the water grab the net from underneath and hold the fish still- don't let it flip about in the net damaging scales or ending up on the carpet.

Try to be good/over good with the water changes on the old tank though, more and more so towards D-Day so that you're moving the fish effectively from new clean treated tapwater, to new clean treated tapwater. Don't move them from green murky treacle water to shiny mountain stream water.

Leave the lights on the tanks off for the day of the transfer- you'll find it much easier to catch the fish in low light even though you can't see so well, and they will settle in better in the dark for a day too. Also empty the old tank of decor as much as possible just before you move them, they will be easier to catch.

Don't forget to move the filter over as you move the fish, too!

Wow, thanks for the advice. I only have one issue though, I've been fighting with green water for over 6 months with this 55 gallon. I've tried everything, and I'm a bit concerned about transferring the algea into the new tank, I don't want to have to deal with the same issue.