[AquariumNoob]

My mom gave me permission to upgrade my current 35 gallon tank and get something bigger.. I was thinking about maybe a 75 gallon tank. Anyhow, What filter should i get for it? Any other equipment i need? other than heater and filter? Please show links if you have a tank to suggest. Not sure as to what my budget is. Thanks!

 

[AquariumNoob]

Its going to have maybe 36 different neon tetras/small tetras, and some fissidens as a moss floor, xmas moss on the back wall, and some java and phillipine java fern in one of the corners.

 

[lauraleellbp]

I'm a big fan of running 2 filters on tanks that are 4' long and up. This helps add a safety measure should one filter ever fail, and also gives a significant boost to your filtration and flow with dual intakes and outputs.

Personally, I'd go with 2 of any combo of Eheim 2217 or XP3s. Or since you're sticking with a low tech setup, you could go with big HOB filters instead if you want to save some $$. 2x AquaClear 110s would be my choice in that case.

If you can find a used setup on www.craigslist.com there's a good chance you could save yourself a ton of $$ on the basic setup, and then just add/upgrade equipment as needed.

For lighting, I'd put 2x of these Coralife T5NO fixtures over the tank: http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsU...7/cl0/coralifefwt5aqualightdoublestriplight48

For substrate, I'd go with DIYing your own Mineralized Topsoil (see the sticky at the top of the Substrate forum).

 

[AquariumNoob]

Is it necessary to have all of that fancy substrate.. will plain old gravel from my LFS be fine? petco sells the river rocks/gravel which i like..

 

[lauraleellbp]

You can use regular (pea) gravel or sand if you'd like, you'll just have to be extra sure to supply the plants with nutrients using root tabs and/or by dosing ferts into the water column.

IME it's also much more difficult (takes much longer) to get a carpeting plant going in inert substrate rather than something with some nutrient content.

 

[AquariumNoob]

Nice.. i was thinking of getting two smaller filters that are for 40-50 gallon tanks rather than getting those huge external filters that require drilling and stuff. Is that what you meant by two filters? Seems cheapest and easiest to me.. just buy like two aquen or marine filters or something that cost like 40-50$ each or whatever lol..

 

[Digsy]

I think you can use whatever substrate you want as none of your plants (mosses, ferns, etc) will be rooting in the substrate.

As mentioned, two canister filters is a good idea for something this size. I have a 105g gallon that I'm running a Marineland C-360 and an Eheim 2217, which is slightly overkill but when one of my filters began leaking earlier this year, it was much less of an emergency to get the replacement as it would have been had it been the only filter.

 

[hoa101]

Nice.. i was thinking of getting two smaller filters that are for 40-50 gallon tanks rather than getting those huge external filters that require drilling and stuff. Is that what you meant by two filters? Seems cheapest and easiest to me.. just buy like two aquen or marine filters or something that cost like 40-50$ each or whatever lol..

I think you may be confused. Cannister filters don't require drilling. There is an intake pipe and outlet pipe going from the filter to the tank that attaches to the side using suction cups. I also recommend 2 cannister filters. I run an eheim 2217 on my 40 breeder, and it is barely enough.

 

[AquariumNoob]

Yea haha i found that out in another thread.. drilling is for sump pumps. Anyhow, I was told by a few people that one eheim 2217 plus a powerhead for additional circulation is enough.. But hell, for the cost of two eheim 2217's ill just get two Marineland Emperor 400's.. no way in hell im spending almost 300$ just on filtration.. Not now, at least .