First Time doing it the right way...
 

Ok so I am going to be setting up my tank next week once I get my new filter. Here are the specs.

29 Gallon (30 1/4 x 12 1/2 x 18 3/4)
Nova Extreme T5-HO Freshwater Light Fixture - 2 x 24 W - 30"
1 perfect piece of Driftwood
Tetra Whisper Power Filter 40
Fluval EDGE pre-filter sponge

This is what I have now for my co2 setup...
Milwaukee Regulator with bubble counter
5# CO2 Aluminum Tank
And I am leaning towards a Rex Riggs Reactor (easy to build and inexpensive to make)

My goals and idea's

Eventuay everything will be moved to a 55 gallon tank in 8-12 months but I want to start now of course.

Substrate I am having some trouble choosing and could DESPERATLY use the help. I am going to have a HEAVILY planted tank and be dosing some type of EI or PPS-Pro I just havent worked the exact kinks out yet. This is going to be a shrimp tank, Neo's maybe RCS or Pumpkin (leaning towards RCS.)

Here is my Plant "Wish list" HC will absolutly be my "carpet". Since I first came across it I have fallen in love with it and I have wanted to do a carpet for years. With shrimp I think its a great idea. Ok Here is the list

HC (Dwarf baby tears) (goggle image search for the image)
Anubias barteri
Wheeping Moss
And some type of Sword I am just not sure what. Probably Java or something of that nature.

The filter should be fine with the sponge on the intake correct?

I will be filling the tank this weekend and will have the filter by mid-week. I know I dont have the substrate yet but I want to get the wood soaking to be sure it will sink. Also in case there are a lit of tannns in it I would like to try and leach them out.


I looked (and I am not exaggerating) at over 700 pieces online before I found this one. The top section and the section coming towards you will be covered in the weeping moss, which I plan on using fishing line to attach unless regular old superglue can be used (tho that makes me nervous).
nervous).

People are going to want to know what you plan on doing for CO2?

Oh i forgot to put that in lol. Ill add when i get home. Its iirc Milwaukee regulator with solinoid and a 5# co2 tank. I used it a few years ago in my 20 gallon tank. I just need a new hose and checkvalve. Also i have a glass diffuser.

I think the Whisper Power filter is going to be quite undersized for a high light co2 injected 29 gallon. What would be ideal, would be to run 2 cannisters on your 55. You could start 1 of them on the 29, then you would have a cycled filter when you moved over to the 55.

That might not be a bad idea. I am strapped for cash atm but I think I may ask my gf for aquarium stuff for our anniversary in october so that would get it started :-p

[edit]
Also I was just thinking... I can get the HOB to start (since I already have it) and cycle the tank. Then get 2-3 otto's and a couple snails to keep it going and add the canister filter and get that seeded then eventualy remove the hob to try and convince my g/f on a 3rd tank :-P
This is what I have now for my co2 setup...
Milwaukee Regulator with bubble counter
5# CO2 Aluminum Tank
And I am leaning towards a Rex Riggs Reactor (easy to build and inexpensive to make)

driftwood picture

Sounds like a good plan. The otto's are pretty sensative. You need to be darn sure your tank is cycled and there is plenty for the otto's to eat.

I have had good luck with them before until my Creyfish at them all lol. Oh sure the fish store said, they are fast enoughm they can get away... 15 minutes in my tank he had one in his claws.

As for cycling, will snails help cycle it or no? I am leaving for vacation in 10 days and I dont want to have to wait almost 3 weeks to start cycling it. I mean hey ya gotta do what ya gotta do but you know... patience isnt my best virtue

So the driftwood floats bigtime lol. So i am going to let it soak for 2 week i guess.

Here is the tank with my floater lol

the light is only on for the picture I am going to leave it off. i was actualy thinking about covering the tank to keep it from getting any algea

Hey Braves fan - I was trying to send you a PM (message) about being a Braves fan but I don't think that you made that option. I am a huge Braves fan also! So will you be sad when Chipper Jones retires? He's kind of gimpy now.

Will be a nice tank when you get it filled out. I have some Narrow leaft Java fern if you want to put any of that on the wood. It would look nice. All I ask is for $ shipping. Let me know.

nice driftwood!

might want to boil the driftwood once it sink befor oyu do anything else to the tank.

Its going to grow some white fungus. which can be food for shrimp and oto. but looks really ugly.

I am going to go to the HOF when he gets inducted :-P I am only abut 3 hours away so I go every year the last week of march with my grandfather. I am DEF going to miss him but with all the injuries the last few years its not going to be quite as hard as It would have been had he played 150+ games a season the last 5 :-P

TY I literaly looked at 700 + pieces before I decide don that one. I really like it a lot.

unfortunatly I have no way to boil it or I DEF would have. I figure its going to take 6 months or so to look really the way I want so I dont mind TOO much if its kind of eh for a few months