Looks like I need a new tank :o( :o)

[BadHairDay]

So... I woke up at 2:30 on Tuesday to the ominous sound of splashing water - after over 40 years of use my old 3' tank decided it had had enough and unceremoniously dumped around 30l on the bedroom floor. Two and a half hours and many many soggy towels later, the fish had been temporarily rehomed and it was back to bed.

So, I need to start looking for a replacement of similar dimensions, and have to make decisions on kit. I am massively out of touch with current kit (the 40 years of service should give you a clue), so need some guidance/pushes in the right direction. The old tank inhabitants are a non-specific bunch, a couple of dwarf cichlids, some tetras, loaches, and the mix is likely to continue along those lines.

Firstly, does anyone have any strong or medium strength opinions on rival manufacturers e.g. Juwel, Fluval, Oase?
Secondly filters, I've always had an external cannister filter, but would be happy to see the back of trailing hoses and pipes, but are there advantages to internal or built-in filters and maintenance?
Thirdly, substrates - I have buckets of gravel from the old tank which used (many years ago) to have an undergravel filter - do people still use gravel as a substrate or is it all sand now? I'm not a great plant grower, although the old tank was a jungle of various anubias and java fern on bogwood.

I appreciate I'm asking a lot here, but if you can give me any guidance to at least rule out some options, that would be helpful, as soon as that carpet has dried I'll be on the hunt.

 

[ohhfishhh]

After 40 years, that tank definitely earned retirement! For your setup, I’d stick with a reliable external canister if you don’t mind the hoses, as they offer good biological filtration and easy media customisation. Gravel is still perfectly suitable, especially for Anubias and Java fern; sand isn’t a requirement.

 

[Jennet32 90]

Diversa aquariums on Amazon UK do good quality aquariums, and sell both with lids or without lids if you want to buy new. Decent glass and cost too. Loads of good reviews. Don't think they ship to US though?? Maybe a similar company over there.

Many people do mixed gravel (pea gravel for me) and sand aquariums. Good if you can make a physical barrier of some sort , I've used rocks to separate off about 1/4 of mine on one side, but others use stones to make a 'pathway' through their aquariums and backfill with pea gravel to fill holes etc.

I've gone for an in tank filter, on youtube there is a channel called pimp my filter that shows how someone pimps not so good (mostly foam filters) to mixed media filters. I think there are a number of cannister filters he has also done, but I just looked at in tank.

There is some good info out there on just gravel plants. I have it saved somewhere, so if you want it, just ask and I'll send a link.
Good luck.