[Gregoryalln854]

I need some help setting up a 75 gallon. I was wanting to go low tech, but have been overwhelmed by the choices from lighting, filters, substrate. I was going to go with black sand because I move things around quite a bit, for filtration I was thinking a hydro 350, not really sure about lighting and heater. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

 

[FishBR]

My suggestions: Go with the Eheim 2217 canister filter. Very silent and reliable. You can then use the Hydor in-line heater, which you can attach to the Eheim. Less equipment inside the tank this way.

 

[Gregoryalln854]

Thank you, any suggestion for lighting? And is one canister enough?

 

[FishBR]

Thank you, any suggestion for lighting? And is one canister enough?

I use a canister and this sponge filter:


https://www.thatpetplace.com/hydro-iii-sponge-pro-filter-40-gal


This way I always have a cycled sponge in the tank. When I lose power I just attach a battery-operated air pump to the sponge filter to keep aeration and biological filtration going. Works for me.


I always had low-tech tanks, so I use a cheap Marineland LED fixture.

 

[Roboto]

The advice about about keeping a sponge filter going, and having a battery powered pump ready as back up is great.

I've had great luck with these sponge filters:

https://smile.amazon.com/Hygger-Aqu...3&sr=1-2-88388c6d-14b8-4f70-90f6-05ac39e80cc0

You can change a sponge without removing the air tube and the bioballs give a little extra biofiltration function.

For lighting, I've had good enough luck with the fluval aquasky but I'm not in love with it.
It's a little annoying that you need the app to operate them. Typically fine if you keep to a really strict schedule, but when power goes out you lose your programming and you can't just easily flip them on with a switch which is kind of annoying so I'll be looking in a different direction on lights moving forward. So, I guess it's a recommendation to likely stay away from those lights if those "features" would annoy you.

 

[Rid]

i'm cycling my 75 gallon now, and of all the equipment I bought, the filter was the hardest because i could only find one that would fit under my cabinet. If you want your filter to go in the cabinet, measure that sucker.