125 Gallon Planted Comunity tank

[75 gallon]

I am currently in the process of getting my 125 gallon tank back into shape i just got married this year in November so there was a bit of neglect. thankfully my wife loves my fish tank so i have been able to spend some money to get it up and going good again.

What i got...

Equipment
-Marineland Multi-Stage C-530
-200 watt heater (I'm wanting to add another just in case on of them went out.)
-Milwaukee SMS122 controller (for my co2) (saving up to get this)
-Milwaukee MA 597 regulator (for my co2) (saving up to get this)
-Ro water system for generating water
-currently i am running a 3 2litter let up for diy co2, until i can get the above items for pressurized co2 it seams to be working well.

Lighting
-1 T5 fixture that is a 4 bulb 2 circuit 5600K
-1 compact florescent that is 2 bulb 65 watt 5600K

Fish
-2 Red Chromide
-2 Bolivian Ram
-8 Head Light Tail Light
-3 Redfin, Rainbow Shark
-30 Neon Tetra
-1 Hatchet
-1 lemon Tetra
-4 Black Skirt Tetra
-3 sepia tetras
-47 ghost shrimp
-10 nirite snails

Plants
-Anubias Coffeefolia
-Java Fern
-Java Lace Fern
-water sprite
-Cryptocoryne spiralis (i think)
-red Ludwig
-Pennie wort

[75 gallon]

here are some pics from the other night when we got some new fish.

[Gtdad2]

Looks very nice. Could use some more hardscape. But, that's just my opinion. If you value your current stock, I highly recommend a quarentine tank for all new additions. Still, I like the look. Welcome to TPT.

[75 gallon]

Originally Posted by Gtdad2

Looks very nice. Could use some more hardscape. But, that's just my opinion. If you value your current stock, I highly recommend a quarentine tank for all new additions. Still, I like the look. Welcome to TPT.

i only had a hand full of fish so i just went for it. this list in my first post is what my fish stock is now after the added fish i added about 80% of what is on that this.

i do like your idea of adding more rock! i was thinking of placing some long ones vertically to add some height. also i would like to add some bunch plants to help fill in some of the backdrop.

if anyone has any other ideas i would be happy to hear them as i am new to the aqua scaping scene ?

[Fishies_in_Philly]

how about some more "robust" driftwood along with the rock you are planning on adding? and maybe some stem plants in the background that will grow and cover the bulkheads. Just a thought :-) looking good so far and on it's way to being a nice showpiece

[SlammedDC2]

The knifes are going to eat alot of what you have listed.
However I love the way it's looking as of now. I'd throw some DW or mantz in there to help the scape.

[gotwins86]

Looks really good! What is the plant that is covering most of the foreground?

[75 gallon]

Originally Posted by gotwins86

Looks really good! What is the plant that is covering most of the foreground?

i wish i knew, i grew it from a bulb about a year ago and i am not sure what it is i know they are all produced from one mother plant that i have in the tank.

[75 gallon]

Originally Posted by Fishies_in_Philly

how about some more "robust" driftwood along with the rock you are planning on adding? and maybe some stem plants in the background that will grow and cover the bulkheads. Just a thought :-) looking good so far and on it's way to being a nice showpiece

I do like the idea of adding some more robust drift wood i have a few pieces that are hiding in the back of the tank and some more that i don't have in the tank perhaps if i moved it up to the front more in the tank. also i am planning on adding a bunch of stem plants in the back to help hide the bulk heads also i am going to get some new caps paint them black and change them out when i do my next water change.

Thanks the the ideas

[75 gallon]

i got my diy co2 set up going now and it seams to be working very well at this point. im running my first tests today to check my co2 level's as well as my ph, kh, gh, chelated iron, nitrate and nitrite.

the test results are....

PH - 7.2
KH - 40ppm
GH - 20 ppm
Iron Chelated - 1.0 ppm
Iron Free - .1 ppm
Nitrate - 5 ppm
Nitrite - .1 ppm

from what i am seeing looks like i need to get some Barrs GH Booster from aquarium fertilizer.

i did some clean out on my plants and moved some things around i will get some pics up latter today or tomorrow.

[75 gallon]

well time for the weekly tank maintenance today, i will post some pics latter that has been some changes with the tank i got some new plants this week and also did some re-scaping. i will try to get some pics up when i get home latter today now that my internet is back.

[75 gallon]

i picked up 24 ghost shrimp today to help with algae control well see how it goes.

[75 gallon]

Finally here are some pics of the tank, currently i am in the process of killing off some evil algae, then I'm going to be moving some things around.

[75 gallon]

Added 20 neon tetras tonight, this week i also added 10 nirite snails i plan to add more of them.

[75 gallon]

Originally Posted by SlammedDC2

The knifes are going to eat alot of what you have listed.
However I love the way it's looking as of now. I'd throw some DW or mantz in there to help the scape.

Thanks for the heads up! the knifes are gone, my wife is sad she liked them but sorry if they are going to eat our other fish they got to go, she agreed.