New to the hobby

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Greetings all,
I'm starting out in this hobby because my wife wanted to get my son a fish. Next thing I know I'm spending every opportunity online researching the hobby, as a result I'm hooked. Instead of a kiddy tank here's what this thing has grown to. I have to says my wife prolly knew I'd jump in with both feet, shes so sneaky. Anyways, I'll be ordering 90% of stuff from great lakes aquarium as follows.

125 gal tank- this is going to be a community fish tank for now.
sicce whale 500 canister filter
25 lbs of estes gravel ( not sure of the color maybe black)
Fluval digital heater with booster heater 500 watt ( I'm thinking of opting for the Neo-Therm Heaters by cobalt aquatics )
2- 36" current satellite led fixture with remote and 4 color spectrum
stand, 7" canopy and sliding  glass top

I'm looking forward in learning from all of you, and being another additon to the hobby and this forum

[Regalblue]

Welcome to the forum.

[linuxrulesusa]

Welcome.

This is how I got into the hobby too.  My wife suggested a little goldfish for my son's 2nd birthday and then I had to go and research and find out you couldn't keep one (humanely) in a fishbowl, so then we ended up with one tank, and a few more, and now 10.    But at least it's down from 20.  Sounds like a good plan to go big so you have room for lots of stocking ideas.  Speaking of, what are you thinking of keeping in your community tank?

[Marty]

I would recommend getting a couple of 300 watt Ebo Jäger heaters instead of a single 500 watt heater.  That way, if one heater goes, you won't lose all your fish.

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Wow 20 tanks at one time! The bigger tank will also fill  up the wall its going against. As for stock, the run of the mill beginner fish such as danios, tetras, cory cats, barbs,swordtails, gouramis. I not certain how that group gets along with one another, but that will be the pool I draw from to start with. I know I would like a tight school fish, cory's for the bottom, and I'm not certain of upper tank fish. I would mind getting some fish that will grow to 4 or 5 inches. I also would like live plants in there as well.

I had to laugh when I read how you got started all from a innocent goldfish.

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Marty,

I may of miss typed but there is 2 heaters. I'm really interested in the neo therm by cobalt aquatics, have you heard of them? Pretty sturdy heater from the looks of it. I will check of the heater you mentioned and get 2 as you said. Thanks

[linuxrulesusa]

Wow 20 tanks at one time! The bigger tank will also fill  up the wall its going against. As for stock, the run of the mill beginner fish such as danios, tetras, cory cats, barbs,swordtails, gouramis. I not certain how that group gets along with one another, but that will be the pool I draw from to start with. I know I would like a tight school fish, cory's for the bottom, and I'm not certain of upper tank fish. I would mind getting some fish that will grow to 4 or 5 inches. I also would like live plants in there as well.

I had to laugh when I read how you got started all from a innocent goldfish.

20 tanks and 500 gallons, now about 175 gallons, but there are several guys on here in the 1000-1500+ gallon range.

Sounds good on your stocking plans.  Post up a thread when you narrow down some options and we'll give you more feedback if you like.

I never did get that goldfish. 

[jcunningham0295]

Welcome to the forum.  Get a hold of me.  I am right around the corner from you and running almost 100 tanks.

[Cat(fish)lady]

I would recommend getting a couple of 300 watt Ebo Jäger heaters instead of a single 500 watt heater.  That way, if one heater goes, you won't lose all your fish.

2 heaters is a great thing. I have a 135 and I have one 300W and one 150W heater and I keep an average room temp of 68 and never have any issues with keeping a steady temp.

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Welcome to the forum.  Get a hold of me.  I am right around the corner from you and running almost 100 tanks.

Howdy neighbor! 100 tanks sounds like a full time hobby I will contact you via email.

[breaktime]

I would recommend getting a couple of 300 watt Ebo Jäger heaters instead of a single 500 watt heater.  That way, if one heater goes, you won't lose all your fish.

2 heaters is a great thing. I have a 135 and I have one 300W and one 150W heater and I keep an average room temp of 68 and never have any issues with jepping a steady temp.

I was thinking 2- 200 watters  for my 125 but marty suggested 2- 300w which may be the route to take considering the house temp during the winter is approx 66 during the day and 63 at nite.

[greg y]

My personal feeling is 2 heaters is twice as likely for one to fail on and cook your fish. If a heater fails off you have some time to notice a problem before it gets too cold.

I like my inline hydor heater, and I have never heard of that filter.

[greg y]

Also 25 pounds of gravel isn't going to cover your tank bottom

[Marty]

My personal feeling is 2 heaters is twice as likely for one to fail on and cook your fish. If a heater fails off you have some time to notice a problem before it gets too cold.

I like my inline hydor heater, and I have never heard of that filter.

a single 300 watt heater stuck "on" in a 125 gallon aquarium isn't strong enough to cook the fish.  It will keep the tank temp from falling too low, though, if one heater fails in the "off" position.

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My personal feeling is 2 heaters is twice as likely for one to fail on and cook your fish. If a heater fails off you have some time to notice a problem before it gets too cold.

I like my inline hydor heater, and I have never heard of that filter.

I haven't heard about an inline heater that's something I'll have to explore further. How long have you ran an inline heater. I see how that would be an advantage as it is hidden for one. Two, water will be heated as it pass through the heater instead of ensuring the water around the heater in the tank has adequate circulation. The heater I mentioned has been around a few years won some award in 2012. . Check it out on you tube, tell me what you think. As for the gravel that is what the sales guy sent me on his quote. I have no idea what would be required. All I know is the cory cats I want to get require rounded gravel.