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G'day all,
I have just got permission from the Mrs to purchase a new tank. Yippee !! I am looking at purchasing a 48"Lx24"Wx27"H Tank. This tank will be to house hopefully a couple of Plecco's (yet to be determined) and some Corys. My questions are: 1. What would be a good filtration system to set up ? 2. What would be the best medium for the bottom ? 3. Any suggestions on plants that go well with the fish I hope to be getting ? I really want to set this tank up well the first time so if there are any tips of the trade it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Woody

mate,
it all depends on what you are going to place in the tank .
my rule of thumb "go big " in the filter department .
talk to people that have set up a tank the way you want- fish ,plants ( store or someone's home )
then the rest should fall into place
have fun !!!

Wall

Hi Woody! I guess the answer's going to be depends on the pl*cos: some are gentle grazers who will nibble away the slightest bits of algae without harming plants, others are bulldozers with fins who can reduce a planted tank to debris in a matter of minutes. The medium is pretty much dependent on plants, I'd steer clear of 100% sand at least, and you can rule out undergravel filtration if you want plants. I think a lot on the board might run 2 filters in 'the show tank', seems to work for me. Hope that helps? Good luck!

I you need a setup that is quiet than probaby 2 large external filters will do like eheim 2217, 2228 or fluval 404 etc. Trickle filter is great but can be noise.
If you can keep it nice and quite your Mrs will be happy too and she might even let you have another one next time.

Woody
If you want a planted tank dont use a trickle filter, it removes to much co2.
A good filter for solids and high water flow and all med-larg cichilds( trickle filter)
A planted tank use canister filters but watch how much water movement some plants dont like this .( gentle wave action only)
i run a trickle filter on my bays - canisters on my disply tank
This is what i mean you need to tell us want is the overall affect you are going for .

Wall

2 canister filters(eheim is cheaper) , one mechanical, other biological!
...2 or 3 kind of substrate... preferably larger (7-10mm) on the bottom, then 5mm in the middle, and finnaly fine (1-3mm)layer at the top!!
also if you want very planted tank you could use on the bottom dirt for pot plants, very efective, no algea problems, and no contamination of water, just put fat layer od sand on top of it...but mix of substrate will be very good if you put some fertilazer with the bottom layer!!

Plants...depends what U want... Biotope??? if no, then your options are nummerus... anubias is allways my best choice... there is no pleco that could destroy it

Jeff B. wrote:Plants...depends what U want... Biotope??? if no, then your options are nummerus... anubias is allways my best choice... there is no pl*co that could destroy it

Not true. In my experience, Anubias is very vulnerable to plecos and other herbivorous fish. Fish eat the tender pink shoots, never allowing the plant to put out new leaves. It will eventually die if it can't replace its leaves.

Rusty

i apologize cuz i have my own way for planting anubias, and therefore my statment isn't good!
i plant anubias on driftwood, but i drill small holes on the wood so it can be rooted firmly... and then again... i have exp only with plechostomus, BN and small panaque...
regards