New To Planted Tanks: Filter And Co2 Advice?

[DBridges]

Hello all,

I'm new to TFF, and I'm looking to get back into tropical fish keeping. I kept fish in high school and college, and it's been about 10 years since I last had an aquarium. In the past, however, I never did very much with live plants. This time around I want that to be the focus of my new aquarium.

After doing some reading though some books and lurking around here a bit, I have developed a general idea for what I want to do. I'm going to be buying a 50 gallon tank (36x15x20), and probably a SunDial quad T-5 lighting fixture (156W total). I want it to be a relatively bright aquarium, and the end result that I am looking for (over time, of course) is for a lush, heavily planted tank whose fish inhabitants will largely be zebra danios and probably a few corys.

What I have not determined yet is what kind of filter or CO2 system to use. I am leaning toward some kind of canister filter, but my local fish store advised heavily against that type. I am open to anything, but I'm not sure if any particular kind would work best for a planted aquarium along the lines of what I intend to do. Also, I have very little knowledge of CO2 systems, so any good suggestions there would be appreciated.

Thanks!

David

 

[Geoff1991]

For a tank that big, i would definatly go pressurized co2. This can cost a lot, but don't worry. There is a cheaper way. You defiantly need pressurized in a tank that big with such high lighting.

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=212550"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=212550[/URL]

I and a few other members that i know of have done this with success. As for the filter, ive never heard anything bad about cannister filters. But im not the right person to be suggesting one.

 

[AdAndrews]

like geoff said pressurised really is the business, but if you cant afford it (around £120) then you could use DIY Yeast based method.. may i ask why the local store was against canister filters? they are superior in terms of flow, and being able to filter out mechanically and biologically better than internals and hang on filters.

 

[DBridges]

may i ask why the local store was against canister filters? they are superior in terms of flow, and being able to filter out mechanically and biologically better than internals and hang on filters.

I found his opposition to canister filters quite odd, but I took it as a means for him to try and sell his own custom variety of filtration system. He claimed that canister filters were notoriously unreliable and hard to maintain. Though his store had some very good looking fish, I wasn't impressed by what he was telling me in regards to tanks and filters.