Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

I am a newby, looking at buying a 20 gallon SeaClear Acrylic tank. I want to put platies in it and maybe one other type of fish, any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

My questions are:
What type of filter system is best for this size and type of tank?
What type of heater would I need?
How difficult are live plants in this type of tank and what kind are best for platys?

I know I am probably missing something important.. so if you notice I didn't ask about something, please feel free to answer the unasked questions!

Thank you!

Hello, firstly have you ever heard of 'cycling' your filter? If not read this it is very helpful http://www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/

For filtration you have two options:1) internal- these are the filters which go inside of the tank, usally stuck on the glass with suction pads.
2) external- these are canister filters which go in your cabinet and water is passed in and out of the tank through intake and outtake pipes. These are arguably the best types as they hold more media but are more expensive.

Have a look at the 'Fluval' range as they do good internal and external models. Remember it is best to overfilter than underfilter to keep on top of your fish wastes.

Any heater at 100w would be sufficient for your tank and there are alot of brands who do them ( usally submersible ones)

As for plants, it really depends on the lighting in your tank. Alot of plants require high-light intensity and im guessing your tank comes standard with quite low lighting. If this is the case i recommend plants like vallis, anubias and maybe java moss and riccia. Platies will enjoy any plants which are aquatic so it really depends on what plants you like and whether you can meet there requirements. If you have any other questions feel free to ask or if i havnt explained something properly.

don't for get Hang-on-Back (HOB) filters. some of them are almost as good as canister filters and they're a LOT cheaper. If you go with a HOB filter, the best are prolly Marineland Penguin series or Hagen Aqua-clear. You can't really go wrong with either of those for a 20 gallon