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I just purchased a new/used tank and stand. The stand is an enclosed cabinet type and my tank is 135 gallon. It's very nice and I'm very excited!!!!!

Here is the meat of my question-
What type of filtration should I use? I have one Oscar that is 7" long and a Pleco that is about 5". I plan on getting another Oscar. I have 3 small Clown loaches about 3".
The tank came with a Aqua Clear 500 and 3- 405 power heads and 2 air stones that are 3" in diameter.
I want to have great water quality and a trouble free environment for my fish... What would you recommend with the information I've supplied?
Thank you in advance,
and yes I'm new to fish keeping!

I want to have great water quality and a trouble free environment for my fish...
What would you recommend with the information I've supplied?

Keep the Aqua Clear 500 and add either another one or an emporer 400.


Power heads and airstones won't do much as far as cleaning the water so if you like what they do use them if not don't.

Welcome to the forum

i also recently baught a used 135 gallon tank and stand and it came with two aquaclear 500 filters so I would agree with stilllearnin in adding another large filter.
as for the powerheads they might be usefull if you had an undergravel filter, but an undergravel filter for a tank that size doesn't seem that practical to me so mabe you could use them for another tank?
the airstones will help with airration and possibly amuse your fish assuming you have a pump for them.
when you get your tank set up would mind posting a few pics, mine is a few weeks away from being ready and i'm still trying to decide on a few decor ideas.

good luck

I had 2 Emperor 400's on my 120 gal tank and it was just not enough. I added a Rena XP3 Cannister filter, 2 power heads and removed one of the Emp 400's and now my water is crystal clear and stays that way. Maintenance is minimal.

I would get rid of the air stones unless you want them for appearance. I really don't think they do much to help in the filtration department.

I do appreciate the help and suggestions, everything that was mentioned was right on!
I spoke with a guy at a local aquarium store {Mr. D} who told me to get 2-E 400's as well, he suggested that I use these over the Aqua Clear 500- His words, "throw the AC 500 in the trash and get 2-E 400's". I was told not to worry about the under gravel filter and use the power heads to circulate water, run 2 high in the tank and 2 low in the tank to create a cross current One more thing, is it true that the tank water should be filtered 10X per hour? In my case that would be 1350 GPH+. I read about this on another website My Oscar is a very messy eater, in the future my Bio load will be going up, I plan on raising these fish to their full potential. What do you think about a home made wet/dry trickle filtration set up? Mr. D at my local pet shop said it's fairly easy to make one and the cost is a lot less, any thoughts?
Hey Gothic, I will post some pics as soon as everything is in place!
Thank you all again!!!!!

What do you think about a home made wet/dry trickle filtration set up?

Best filtration out there :thumbsup: as long as it's done right.