Equipment recommendations - new planted freshwater « Thread Started on Sept 30, 2009, 12:08am »
Tank Size: 40 gal Age of the tank: new pH: n/a Ammonia: n/a NitrAtes: n/a nitrites: n/a GH/KH: n/a Temperature: n/a Fish in your tanks: no Fish: Question/Problem:
Hello,
I want to set up a 40 gal hex planted fresh water aquarium and I'm doing my research first. There's so much information that I can't take it all in and make a decision. I would like some concrete recommendations brands and sizes of various things needed. I am on a tight budget, but I believe in buying the best quality and am willing to acquire things piecemeal until I have what's needed to set it up and stock it.
40 gal hex glass is about the biggest thing I can pick up (empty) without help. I like the look of the shape.
I want to keep 3 or 4 female bettas, 3 or 4 killifish (if these can be put with the bettas), maybe 4 or 5 cory cats, a chinese algae eater, a plecostamus and about 10 neon tetras. I want lots of live plants.
Do hex-shaped glass aqariums leak after a few years? Should I go acrylic?
If I use 2 filters, what should they be? I don't like the look of HOBs, so what specific 2 filters should I use? Quietness and tank health are priorities.
What kind/size/brand lights? I like mood lighting, small spot lights on plants, lighter and darker areas. Can this be done in an aquarium?
I think that's enough to chew on for a while! Thanks for any help!
Joined: Aug 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 3,094 Karma: 53
Re: Equipment recommendations - new planted freshw « Reply #1 on Sept 30, 2009, 9:32am »
*Hex shaped aquariums do leak more often than glass tanks that have glass fitted at right angles, however if well made with at least 1/4 inch glass sides and a 3/8 bottom, as well as additional silicone added inside of seams this should not be a concern and your glass hex tank can give you years of service.
*A Canister Filter such as the Filstar #1 or #2 as well as the Via Aqua 750 would be a good choice that would be out of the way. Other possibilities other than HOBs include Internal Wet/Dry and Sponge Filters, however you may not care for the more obtrusive nature of these filters since you do not care for HOBs.
More than one filter is always best for redundancy and bio filtration, often the before mentioned Sponge filter makes a good second filter (& primary filters as many breeders and professionals also recognize)
*As for lighting, there is no better plant light than the SHO light for the price, however for mood many LEDs can be adjusted this way and provide a beautiful shimmer (however they are much more pricey).
It will be difficult to spot light in a Hex aquarium do to the tall shape, this is easier to accomplish in a long aquarium with reflectors placed strategically.
Re: Equipment recommendations - new planted freshw « Reply #2 on Sept 30, 2009, 5:53pm »
Oooh, thank you, Carl! I appreciate the recommendations. I've already read through a couple of the articles you listed and they're just jam packed with great information. Thank you so much for all the time you've put in to this. And thanks again for the specifics.
Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 1,301 Karma: 24
Re: Equipment recommendations - new planted freshw « Reply #3 on Sept 30, 2009, 6:02pm »
one thing with a hex is that they are tall....you can combine many fish that don`t work well in a rectangle tank since fish all live on different levels. unfortunatly, in my experience corries don`t do well in tall tanks. the down fall to a tall tank tho is the smaller footprint.fish will for sure have to be small. all these have to be weighed in when making the decision. also with a tall tank it is much more difficult to vacuum and to groom plants etc....
Re: Equipment recommendations - new planted freshw « Reply #4 on Sept 30, 2009, 8:27pm »
I wouls also like to add not to get a common pleco - asBill mentioned, hexes are deep w/ not mich of a footperinf amd commom plecos can grow to over 2' in length - CAE can also get big and become agressive, especially w/ a pleco from my experience.......hope it helps - good luck!
Re: Equipment recommendations - new planted freshw « Reply #5 on Sept 30, 2009, 8:31pm »
I've never kept killies. I would love to try, but from what I've read, they are very specific about what kind of water they need to thrive in. Most of them need soft acidic water, so be very diligent when researching these fish depending on what kind of water you have. Also, killies have trailing fins like bettas, so they may be a target for the female bettas. I also think that the neons might have fun picking at the tempting fins of both the bettas and the killies.
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