My 45 gal dream!!

nice! glad to hear the filter dilemma has been finally solved! (that's one weird looking filter system...sorry, but where I'm at I've never seen anything like the hose dumping water into the box).

Where's the water return (that returns the clean water back into the tank)?? (you may want to put your heater just beneath it so it can circulate your heat throughout the tank).

Oh, and in the last photo (I believe its your intake)..you can always kinda hide that with fake/real plants that are tall

 

nooo, leave the gravel in there...simply siphon it when your doing your partials/water changes.

Filter media should be replaced every 1-2 weeks depending on what your using and how dirty it is.

Prefilter (sponges) should be squeezed into the tank BEFORE doing the partial so you don't loose benef. bacteria (I don't believe you have a prefilter, but in case you planned on adding one I thought I'd toss that note in about them).

Filter should be maint. (thorougly wiped out/cleaned) monthly (rings/seals checked/replaced dependant upon equip used and manufacture ).

 

Awesome! Can't wait to see this full with plants and fish! ;D

And I'd like to add that this tank is so big, that you don't need to, and rather shouldn't empty the whole tank and clean it out. At most once a year or so, that's what my mom does with her 23 gallon, and with the weekly water changes, it's working perfectly that way
Clean the gravel in old tank water to make sure that the beneficial bacteria are alright! And try saving a few buckets of the old water (less than half though) just in case C:

 

looking really good...

 

yep, you got it! the cotton will probably be able to be rinsed and put back in depending on how dirty it gets (at least once)...then you'll simply need to toss it and replace with new (you can use the polyester stuff I told you about in the other thread--wal-mart Morning Glory Premium Fiber Fill Polyester--very cheap).

 

maybe lack of oxygen/room..or possibly temperature issue/fluct.
I'm glad to hear they're doing well in the new tank...keep an eye on your readings (especially since your not cycled yet). If you can find Tetra SafeStart I suggest tossing a bottle of that in (according to bottle).

 

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Junction? (I'm guessing you mean a power strip/outlet).

And yes, they'll be fine if you switch the filter on later...just make sure your running an airstone for them.

as far as switching the heater on later...it depends on what the waters current temp is.

goldfish are a cool/cold water species so you have to be careful what you mix with them, they truly are better as a species only tank though in all honesty.
Here's some things that are compatible with goldfish:
[*]weather loach
[*]Hillstream/Butterfly Loaches
[*]Chinese Algae Eaters
[*]corydoras
[*]bristlenose pleco
[*]rubbernose pleco
[*]Apple/Mystery Snails
[*]white cloud minnow (if you having adequate hiding, but realize when the goldfish come of size they will be eaten..the minnow that is).

A big no on the rummynose (that's a tropical and needs warm water as such).

 

minimum tank size for a rummynose is 10g...they need room to swim back and forth.
with a 5g I'd use it for inverts (cherry shrimp, crystal shrimp...or possibly a betta....that would be a cute planted tank too with maybe some 4 leaf clover).

 

ok, nice filter. now that I can see it running its an in-tank wet/dry.

 

Don't put any plecos with your goldfish, please! :C
The plecos might end up eating the protective slime coat on the goldfish while they sleep, which would lead to all kinds of infections!
I've of course heard of lots of people keeping plecos with their goldies, but not without taking the risk of the plecos changing their diet! So whenever you might notice any strange wounds on your goldfish, remove the plecos right away.