first timer options

[kyle0331]

hello all my name is kyle and i am thinking of setting up either a 37gal eclipse show, a 46 to 72 gal bowfront or a 54gal curved class corner tank.  i have limited carpentry and finish carpentry skills so i will be building the stand and hood for whichever i choose to set up ( i know i will have to make modifications to the eclipse hood if i do choose to use it, or i may just have to ditch the hood and go with a different filtration and light unit, this is not very cost effective but anyways) I am not as familiar with plants as i would like to be but the aquarium is going to be pretty heavily planted.  I am wanting the main emphasis of the tank to be the plants ( i thing i am going to buy one of those plant packages off of aquabotanical.com) but i am also going to have driftwood and some slate,  i am somewhat up to speed on diy co2 but i am having a hard time thinking about how to balance (CO2, pH, water hardness) or the specific equipment that i am going to need to accomplish this.  I would like to have a nice healthy planted aquarium with a moderate amount of healthy fish.  I am planning on having the aquarium planted for a month or two before i ever introduce a majority of the fish (i plan on having a sailfin pleco in the aquarium after the first week or so).  After i get everything nice, healthy and balanced i am going to start with the fish (so they can come in and destroy all of the pretty scenery and habitat that i have created for them.  I want to have bala sharks (5), clown loach (1-2), sydontis (1), pictus cats (3-4), my girlfriend likes angelfish so i guess i am going to eventually get one, coolie loach (1),  bristlenosed pleco (1) some guppies (3-5), and whatever else i find that is attractive and compatable (but not too many more).  I am very much looking forward to getting my setup but i am in no hurry to jump into it and do anything stupid.  Therefore all advice is welcome and do not be afraid to really critique what i am thinking about doing so far.  If you reply please include material lists/items that i am going to need to acheive the look/setup that i am wanting.  If anyone wants to describe in lay-terms how i am going to go about balancing in the CO2/pH and the filtration i would very much appreciate that. Looking forward to hearing from everyone..kyle

 

[Pooky125]

Bigger is Better. Go with the 72 Bowfront. However, that might not be quite big enough for 5 Balas maybe more like 2-3. Balas get pretty big, and need big tanks. Angel Fish prefure to school, and can be aggresive towards other fish when young. Clown Loaches like schools also, 4 plus would make for happy clowns. Hope that helps, its not much, but should be a start.