Right way to start a 55 Gallon to possibly avoid future headaches

[bucilini]

I'm new to the hobby and recently purchased a 55 gallon aquarium (pictured below) Since i'm new to the hobby, i've done a lot of reading and got some good answers. I'm trying to build it in such a way as to avoid problems in the future mainly algae and dirty water. Of-course this will be a planted tank, and i'm still searching for ideas on how to scape it.

I got a fluval 306 filter with inline heater and Marineland LED Double Bright 48" light, as well as a UV sterilizer and eco-complete substrate. There will be driftwood some marble rocks etc.

I was thinking of installing a some plumbing under the substrate and have a few air stones around the tank that i can plug-in a air pump. I've seen planted tanks that have air pumps and oxygen tubing, and i though that too much of oxygen would be bad for the plants.

How many hours should i run the UV sterilizer daily?

Thanks

[Willamette]

My advice is to plant densly from the very beginning. Lots of plants, if they have all the nutrients they need and can freely grow, will outcompete algea for resources. That is simply the best way there is to control algea: Healthy plant growth. Algea happens, and you will never fully defeat it, but you can make it maneagable, so as to avoid it taking over. Its like trench warfare

Also, I recommend avoiding the airstones. The surface agitation will offgas the dissolved CO2 in your water, which is what the plants really crave. The plantd tanks with "air stones" you've seen have likely actually had CO2 injection...they are feeding CO2 into the tank, not air.

[if_fishes_were_wishes]

Welcome, and agreed...no need for airstones.

You have some nice equipment, what a great start!

Add tons of plants and even another filter. I have 3 on mine - an Eheim Ecco, an Aquaclear and an old-school HOT Magnum. The more filters, the merrier.

[bucilini]

Filtration filtration filtration.... would it be a good idea to put in a http://goo.gl/q8W90 or maybe another fluval 306 on the other side of the tank?

[Gold Finger]

I'm about one year into planted tanks. I have never had any trouble besides algae. If there's an easy way to avoid algae altogether it's way beyond me. I have come to terms with mine but will continue "the good fight", of course. I think Williamette summed it up nicely, and would add that one way to promote your plant's success over your algae's is to run your lights at an optimum duration. I hear closer to eight hours a day of good light is best for plants and least useful to algae.

I have, more or less, a Walstad setup so I keep the front of my tank crystal clear and let the algae grow on the back and sides. My fish enjoy eating it, and I kind of dont mind the look... usually. it's the best I can do so far.

[if_fishes_were_wishes]

Originally Posted by bucilini

Filtration filtration filtration.... would it be a good idea to put in a http://goo.gl/q8W90 or maybe another fluval 306 on the other side of the tank?

Sure, another Fluval would be great. Aquaclears are another all-time favorite...they're so versatile and inexpensive - there's great deals on Amazon.

[HybridHerp]

I'm not 100% sure what lighting category your tank would be considered, but I would venture to guess that it hovers somewhat around the medium category if not lower. Also, I am assuming you are not planing on running co2, or are you? From what I can tell, the addition of co2 can make it or break it as far as the addition of particular plant species. Airstones are not really worth the time, money, or effort, since the bubbles themselves do not add oxygen to the water, simply the process of breaking the surface does. I would therefore recommend having the outtake of your filter be set up in a way in which it creates small riffles in the surface of the water. Aside from that, I cans ay form experience that you will probably want more flow going around your tank. I cannot recommend anything for that as of now, since I myself am currently in need of something to remedy my own flow problems. I also second the notion of adding more filters. I am not familiar with the filter you have, but I always like to at least have double what the average person would tell you is appropriate for your tank, and of course the more filtration the merrier. Extra filtration might also help with moving water around and getting better water movement throughout the tank.
Do yourself a favor as well and buy timers for your lights if you don't have that covered already, and research as much as you can about fertilization. Even with eco-complete, fertilizers are still at the very least appreciated. One of my tanks is a low light tank with no co2 and eco-complete for the substrate, and the tank is really in need of regular do sings of iron and potassium since I can tell my plants are not all they should be as it currently stands.

I just now want to ask you though, what kind of plants are you interested in, and what kind of fish are you considering placing into the tank? I'll give you a warning now, since you've already started your journey, that once you get going you will never stop going. Welcome to the obsession .