New Tank

[laxplayacs]

Hey I'm looking to get a freshwater tank in the range 0f 40-50 gal and was wondering what equipment is best to use. I will be planting it, and I want to have as much light as possible, and I will probably be using a DIY CO2 system. I currently have an HOB filter on my 10 gal. What is the diffrence between a HOB filter and a Canister filter? I have never seen one before. Thanks!

 

[FroggyFox]

A canister filter has a hose coming out of the tank that goes to a canister on the ground or in the stand that holds your filter media, and then another hose that brings the water back into the tank. If you want to inject c02 you're probably going to want to look into getting a canister filter because the amount of surface agitation that a HOB filter creates will be counter productive.

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

I personally choose canister filters over HOB, because it is more efficient, and holds more media. If you have a bit more money, you should go with the Ehiem canisters. If you need some a bit cheaper, a Fluval 305 or FilStar XP3 would be fine. There are some good threads about injecting CO2 and what not here from another nice forum. For lighting, you should aim for around 2.5wpg. For substrate, Eco-Complete or Aqua Soil would be beneficial.

 

[laxplayacs]

All right, I'll probably use a canister filter because it creates less surface agitation and I can easily make an inline reactor to up my CO2 count. What about an air pumper thing-a-ma-jig (sry i'm spacing the proper name right now ) Mine at the moment is a cheapy wally world number and it is really loud. Are there better ones that I can use that would be quieter and more reliable (I've heard of the wal-mart pumps breaking easily). Also, I've been thinking. Would it be easier to make the CO2 reactor have to pump inlets and have the air go in there too, so that I could use a smaller air pump and get 100% efficiency? Just a thought.

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

You don't need an air pump for a planted tank, unless your fish are gasping for air at the surface in the morning. Then you can turn it on at night. Here are some good ideas for the setup. http://personal.utulsa.edu/~colin-anderson/pictures/ExternalCO2SystemDiagram.gif http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/attachment.php?attachmentid=471&d=109959750DIY

 

[laxplayacs]

for a 55 gallon tank, what is the 60 gallon rated Eheim ok?

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

I have read that the Eheim Pro II is the best canister Eheim makes.

 

[laxplayacs]

Yah, I'd like one of those filters, but the only problem is $$$. I'm already having to wait till christamas to get the tank and the stand. Luckily, I can do fishless cycling and make money at the same time, enough to get plants and about half the fish I want into it. Then, its another money break to get my other fishies. Is the 70$ Ehiem Eco canster rated at 60 gallons ok? Or should I just wait another bit and get the 150$ Eco canister rated at 100 gallons.

Also, as I was daydreaming in English class, I was thinking, what if i made a pvc doohickey like a PVC reactor, but instead put my heater in it? Would that work? Or would that put way to much stress on the heater... (I was thinking that I could somehow put it into the canister also, but that would be at the cost of filter media....)

 

[Orion]

IMHO, XP canister's are just as effective as Ehiems for a lot less $$. Sure, I could afford it, but if I need another canister I'll get an XP or Fluval that's for sure.

I have seen some DIY in line heaters made out of PVC pipe. To me, they didn't look that sturdy, but it looked like they worked. I'm using an Inline ETH heater and I love it though. As for putting the heater into the canister, I don't think I would do that. If something small went wrong you risk breaking the canister, heater and draining lots of water out on the floor.

 

[laxplayacs]

Do inline heaters heat as effectively (As in energy cosumption)? I didn't even know that they made them commercially.

 

[Orion]

I'm really not sure, but if I had to guess I would say that the in lines are probably somewhat more efficient than the standard heaters just because they can heat the water quicker, so they don't have to be on as long. lol, but I could be wrong on this.

This is what I'm using on my 65 gallon:
Hydor ETH In-Line Heaters
I love it.

 

[laxplayacs]

OK, cool. I think I'll go with the XPs because they do cost a lot less. Is that aquatic soil that people find at walmart ok looking? I would like black substrate to make my fish look more colorful, but I also don't want to spend a fortune...