New Tank, Many Questions

[seanhthemackem]

second post on here now! getting good at this!

had a 40L tank and just got a 100L/28 gallon (US) after giving my brother the 40, his first, i'm sure he'll be on here soon.

many questions to try and help me get this 100L tank right the first time without fish loss . if you could help with any/all of the below questions.

1. a good quality heater/what watage heater?
2. the tank has no lid and no built in light so any idea's and what watage of light needed?
3. Fish choice, i would like a interesting display incorparating angel's when the water is more mature.
4. what type of subtrate would be best? or is it just a personal choice?

any and all help appreciated guys, and thanx in advance for all information and ideas.

Sean

 

[kizno1]

100w watt heater
dont know about the light
angles need a 18inch high tank so it depends on the mesurments of tank
gravel and sand just as good its personal prefrance i personaly prefer sand
and you are going to cycle it or get muture fillter media from the other tank

 

[seanhthemackem]

angles need a 18inch high tank so it depends on the mesurments of tank

the tank is 36" by 12" deep and 15" tall so angels won't be able to go in there??

what would you recomend for interesting display for those measurments?

also got a fluval 3 plus filer for the tank anyone got any past history with them? how are they?

and would there be anything that i'm missing for the tank? never had one this big before.

sean

 

[kizno1]

to small for angles then
what about a pair of rams or cockatoo apisto but you will have to watch out what you stock because they can get agressive if they breed

 

[Rediahs]

to small for angles then
what about a pair of rams or cockatoo apisto but you will have to watch out what you stock because they can get agressive if they breed

Just a note, it's "angel" not "angle". An "angle" is something you use in math, 90 degree angle, etc.

Nobody else probably cares but it really bugs me, it's a pet peeve of mine.

 

[waterdrop]

Sean,

Don't know if you've already picked up a light for your tank but... the way to plan lighting is to first take into account your goals for the amount of effort you intend to put into the planted aspect of your tank. Once the light level gets up around 2 watts per US gallon and way on up above that, you are in the range where the large amount of light will be causing the plants to take up a -lot- of macronutrients, micronutrients and carbon(which is just a nutrient too but is special because they can use a ton of it and its harder to supply to them.) So, as a beginner appearing here on the "New to the Hobby" forum, it would be polite and good practice for us to determine your desired level of effort and get this out of the way if that makes sense.

Assuming you are not (yet) ready for a high level of involvement handling the plants, then what we often call a "low-light" environment with a number of "easy plants" would be a reasonable goal for your light planning. You'd want the light level to be between 0.8 and 1.8 watts per gallon roughly to get yourself solidly in this goal area. The watts per gallon thing is a bit of a crude thing the hobby got into some time ago and technically only refers to wattage for a T8 (1 inch diameter fl. tube) so you have to think differently if you are using compact fl light or other types. Any way, as an example, many tubes come as 15watt fl. tubes, so two of these, at 30w total would put you a little over your 1 w/g mark (which is 28w for your 28g.) Hope this helps you start your planning.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[seanhthemackem]

Assuming you are not (yet) ready for a high level of involvement handling the plants, then what we often call a "low-light" environment with a number of "easy plants" would be a reasonable goal for your light planning. ~~waterdrop~~

difinetly into this range and thanx for help Waterdrop, will be getting the light in the next few days and will look for the T8 recomended and the watt per gallon etc.

thank you all for the help making thais alot more eaier for me.

Sean

 

[waterdrop]

The T8 diameter (1 inch) is a size tube we've been used to for pretty many years, whereas the T5 straight or U-shape ones are the type of skinny tube that you see in the crunched up swirl of a typical compact fluorescent. These newer, thinner ones are more efficient with electricity, so less wattage will equal the same light as the kind of numbers we were talking about with the T8 types. I don't know -how- much but be sure you go in the right direction if you have to get this different type.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[meguro]

Have a look at keyhole cichlids if you're not going with angelfish anymore.