Filter and heater for 125G

[ddang]

Hi all. I'm working on setting up my 125G aquarium, and currently shopping for a filter and heater. This aquarium will house a yellow bellied slider (they usually need temps around 75F), and I'll probably get some fast and small tropical fish for the tank as well.

I see the Fluval FX series recommended a lot, so I'm planning on getting one. I see the FX4 recommended the most for 125G aquariums but it's not clear to me why when the lower FX2 filter is already rated for 175G?

For heaters, I'm less clear. I see recommendations for multiple brands. It seems heaters simply just don't last very long regardless of the brand? Are there any reputable ones that I can expect to last for 5+ years? What wattage should I expect in the heater for this size of a tank?

 

[wvned]

You want to buy 2 heaters and put hem on a controller.
The FX filters have a valve and can be throttled back. I am running a FX4 on a 75 gallon tank. I bought the FX4 for the extra media capacity.

250 watt Eheim Jager. 300w if it gets cold where the tank is sometimes. I run 7-9 at a time.

 

[ddang]

Do you mean the 2 heaters should be on the same controller or separate?

 

[griss]

2 heaters on separate controllers. That way if one fails, the other won't allow the temp to drop too far.

 

[wvned]

I have always plugged 2 heaters into an Inkbird controller.
There are lots of heating elements now too. I am sure some are good. They have no internal temperature control and are regulated by the controller.