Fluval FX5 - freshwater tank setup

Hello all, looking for some helpful hints to set up my new tank. First off, it is a 125 gallon and I have a Fluval FX5, I will be freshwater for right now.

1) what type of media should I put in the baskets?
2) I'm planning on using black beauty blasting sand as a substrate and planting some live plants. Any helpful hints?

Thanks to all

Loring

 

Hey thanks for joining 3reef - that is a nice filter.
(I moved this to the freshwater board)

When I have a freshwater setup, I do porous surface area stuff on the bottom of the filter like Eheim substrat:
Eheim Biological Filter Media

Then some kind of carbon in the next basket.
Then floss on top.

I changed the floss once every 1-2 months depending on load and feeding.
I changed the carbon every 2-6 months depending on whether I used cheap stuff or chemi-pure or the like.
I rinsed the Eheim substrat once a year.

Hope that helps!

matt

 

Thanks Matt!! I have ordered some media, I will let yall know how it progresses

 

I was just using sponges in the baskets before I modified mine to use the whole filter and not just the baskets.

 

Just be cautious with the sand. Depending on the fish you get they can kick the sand up and it can get sucked into your filter and damage it.

 

good quality carbon = sweetness.

You cna also run a lil phosban media if you want to keep your algae growth down