Ok ppl i need to know which stores.....

[mydawg8mystash]

I am fixing to be turned loose shopping to get the stuff i need to set up my 125g and im going to several stores in a lil bit which stores are the cheapest for supplys you know like a filter heater air pump etc. etc. and which ones have hardly any supplys but alot of fish im kinda in the mood for both which ones would work a deal the more you buy i dunno only place i have been is fish land and they were very nice i have not been anywhere in 3 months u know cuz im handicap so im gonna make this trip count imma get down taaa day any waays i would apricate ur opnions

[TexSun]

sounds fun! LFS run!
1: City Pets for supplies and such. They have good selection on fish too. Depends on what you're looking for. Good people!

2: fish ranch II they're have good selction of livestock. Tran is awesome to deal with.

3: fish gallery... $$$

4: houston aquarium warehouse. Good selction of livestock. Ans misc stuff. Nice people too.

It depends on what you're looking for. Any thoughts on exactly what you want?

The order I would do is: 4, 1, 2, 3.

[mnemenoi]

+1 exactly the stores I'd hit as well

[mydawg8mystash]

oh yea well this is the deal i gotta set my 125g up and im buying all new chit i found a fx5 for 230bucks and a maxi jet 1200 pro for 20 bucks but i dunno if i can get a better deal or not so i figured i would go see if i can find a bettter deal plus i still need a heater air pump drift wood rocksi got sand alredy if i see soome fishys i like i might pickem up to i usaly cant help myself and ii got a buddy with me that is into it as muchh as i am so we kinda feed off eachother on buyin chit

[DTony]

You could try Xtreme fish and Pets as well for some supplies and live stock.. They'll work out a deal with you if you just ask..

[Bedlamer]

For rocks I would try Alamo Stone or Nepco. They both sell aquarium suitable rock for pennies for the pound rather than dollars per pound like your average LFS. Make sure to get all your dry goods and get your tank running before you pick up your fish. Better for the fish--less stress for you. You know about cycling tanks right?

What sorts of fishes are you thinking about getting? The more you can tell us how you want your tank the better the advice you will get.

[mydawg8mystash]

yes i know about cycling tanks... i already have a 55g with n oscar a jack dempsy 2 jags a ralphie cat n 2 plecos a 29g with a bunch of africans that someone gave me i just movin the big ones to a bigger tank and the lil ones to the 55 but thanks for the tip i just payed out the azz for sme holy rock

[moganman]

If I were you, I would take a few buckets from the tanks that are already up and running to help the tank cycle faster. I have a friend struggling to get his cycled because he put fish in too soon and if it cycles, the nitrate levels get really high then settle down. If u wanna sell your 29g, I'm looking for one.

[Totenkampf]

+1 on TexSuns list and order, call Tran to find out if he has a new plant order in if thats what you are gonig for. Aquarium World off of 290 is another favorite but they are $$$ on equipment. Livestock and plants arent too bad tho and they are good quality.

[CRUSHER]

make your list of what ya want and call around to the stores for prices and supply... then go do your shopping! sucks buying something at one place and going to another and seeing the same thing for much cheaper...

[eklikewhoa]

If I were you, I would take a few buckets from the tanks that are already up and running to help the tank cycle faster. I have a friend struggling to get his cycled because he put fish in too soon and if it cycles, the nitrate levels get really high then settle down. If u wanna sell your 29g, I'm looking for one.

If you meant water I will say that water from an existing tank is just dirty water, aged maybe but still dirty water. Hold no beneficial bacteria to help a cycle.

[Bedlamer]

If I were you, I would take a few buckets from the tanks that are already up and running to help the tank cycle faster. I have a friend struggling to get his cycled because he put fish in too soon and if it cycles, the nitrate levels get really high then settle down. If u wanna sell your 29g, I'm looking for one.

Like Ek said you really want something with a biofilm of beneficial bacteria attached, for example some old substrate or take some used filter media and add to your new filter. I have a bunch of small tanks and I have one additional small HOB and a mini internal filter running on my really stable goldfish tank mainly just to keep a supply of pre-seeded filter media in case I want to set up a little tank on the spur of the moment (like I went the the LFS and just had to buy a new fish I saw--or I need to set up a hospital tank in a hurry). I think above where you said the "the nitrate levels get really high then settle down" you meant to say nitrite. The ammonia spikes first then gradually declines, then the nitrites spike and gradually decline followed by the constant linear increase of nitrate over time if your bio-load remains the same (unless you have a whole bunch of plants, do signifcant water changes or have a some kind of denitrifier set up).