New tank is set up.

First it was this:


Than it was this:


Running a Rena xp3 and Marineland 350. Have to hook up the heaters and cycle and deal with the algae that is already blooming. Lots of particulates in the water and on top, if anyone has a suggestion on stuff that is to big to get sucked into the filters. Going to repaint the base as well. Ordered 1100w 3x250w 4x90w + led lights to replace the shoddy shop light.

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125gal - 10" bala, 10" irridescent, 6 gourami's, 2 blood parrots, 1 common pleco, 1 Blue Lobster, & 1 Morimo Ball - Rena XP3
75gal - 5 balas, 2 firemouths, 2 albino oscars, 1 common pleco, 6" firemouth - Rena XP3

Looking good!

Use a net to get the bigger stuff if you want. More than likely it will settle on it's own in awhile.

What did you use for your substrate?

A very low cost and easy option for a background is construction paper. You can get large sheets of solid black or blue (many other colors) at Hobby Lobby.

Have Fun!

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Do fish get thirsty?
How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html

Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

How can there already be algae blooming? Do you have a link to the light you ordered? Sounds like an awful lot, even for a 125g tank. I have 2-36" fixtures on mine that are only 156W of T5HO light each (312W total) and they put me in the low end of high light. Just for reference. Not knowing much about that light, sounds more like it was made for marine and placed on your tank it will become a 125g algae machine.....unless you plan to elevate it quite a distance above the tank. Just need more info on the light.

Maybe the OP wants their fish to have a nice tan JR!

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Do fish get thirsty?
How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html

Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

lol, maybe.

I used black sand for substrate. The tank was already established, so I didn't clean it very aggressively to avoid a full cycle.

I'll admit I went cheap on the light. I figure all it has to do is provide light, not very complex, and I can switch out bulbs if I need, and I just spent a pile of money on everything else so I wanted to get something that would get me by for now. This is it:
72 Metal Halide Power Compact Aquarium Light 1134 watt - eBay (item 330558735715 end time May-04-11 00:20:23 PDT)

I'm also going for live plants as well.

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125gal - 10" bala, 10" irridescent, 6 gourami's, 2 blood parrots, 1 common pleco, 1 Blue Lobster, & 1 Morimo Ball - Rena XP3
75gal - 5 balas, 2 firemouths, 2 albino oscars, 1 common pleco, 6" firemouth - Rena XP3

That won't be the end cost for that, I hope you know that. The actinic bulbs are no good for plant growth and you'll have to switch those power compacts out to a 6500k to 10000k bulbs and that size will be at least $25 each. The 15k MH bulbs will be useless for plants also.

Bascially, all the bulbs in this will be no good for plants and you'll have to change them all out. Not sure on the LEDs. Like I thought, this is a reef ready light.

I don't understand aquarium light at all. I figured the brighter the better. what does the 15k vs 10k mean? I thought it was intensity.

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125gal - 10" bala, 10" irridescent, 6 gourami's, 2 blood parrots, 1 common pleco, 1 Blue Lobster, & 1 Morimo Ball - Rena XP3
75gal - 5 balas, 2 firemouths, 2 albino oscars, 1 common pleco, 6" firemouth - Rena XP3

In simple terms, it refers to the spectrum of light. The spectrum of 6500k - 10,000k is the spectrum that is closest to the daylight spectrum, with 6500k being what it is like during peak daylight. 15k lights won't do much for plants. You can get that light, but like I said, yu'll need to replace the bulbs.

I wouldn't use them at all. It's likely to ignite some algae growth.

I get it, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarrification. Well at that rate, I at least have the fixture, right? Then change out the bulbs for some 6.5k bulbs, and some low intensity bulbs for evening, then use the LED for night.

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125gal - 10" bala, 10" irridescent, 6 gourami's, 2 blood parrots, 1 common pleco, 1 Blue Lobster, & 1 Morimo Ball - Rena XP3
75gal - 5 balas, 2 firemouths, 2 albino oscars, 1 common pleco, 6" firemouth - Rena XP3

Catalina Aquariums has good prices on compact fl bulbs.

Ohhhhhhhhh, i found something.

Currently the plan is 5x bala sharks, 1x fire eel, 1x placo. Then I happened to come across what's called a "teacup stingray", freshwater, 6". I know it's a long shot but can anyone comment on that?

Thanks for the reference, I'll be checking htem out when I find out what size 6500k bulbs I need.

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125gal - 10" bala, 10" irridescent, 6 gourami's, 2 blood parrots, 1 common pleco, 1 Blue Lobster, & 1 Morimo Ball - Rena XP3
75gal - 5 balas, 2 firemouths, 2 albino oscars, 1 common pleco, 6" firemouth - Rena XP3

The stingray is illegal in a lot of states.

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Yup, these states:
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Nevada
Oklahoma
Texas
Utah

Luckily, I live in PA. I think that's going to be something I'll consider a few months down the line though.

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125gal - 10" bala, 10" irridescent, 6 gourami's, 2 blood parrots, 1 common pleco, 1 Blue Lobster, & 1 Morimo Ball - Rena XP3
75gal - 5 balas, 2 firemouths, 2 albino oscars, 1 common pleco, 6" firemouth - Rena XP3