So I managed to get my hands on a gorgeous Marineland 46 gallon bow-front tank. I'm not expecting to actually put the tank together until about Mid-May (I've gotta move a stocked 15 gallon, and come up with some cash before I can even consider setting up the tank).
The tank is glass, with an all-glass lid, and flourescent lighting. The dimensions on the tank are 36"L x 16"W x 24"H.
Anyway, up to this point, I've dealt almost entirely with just gravel-substrate, silk/plastic plants. And I think its time to try my hand at a planted tank.
I've been debating between either a community setup or a Yellow Lab cichlid setup. I'm leaning more towards a community setup now. Either way I'd like to go with a sand substrate, and try my hand at real plants. Is a just-sand substrate sufficient for plants, or do I need something else as well?. What plants would you suggest?
As for filtration, I've been pricing filters any time I see a pet store. Comparing them, I've been thinking of putting an AquaClear70 on the back of the tank. They look to be my best value for money. Would this be okay on this tank?
Heating.... One big heater or two small heaters?. How many Watts should I be looking at?. This tank will be in a particularly cold room in the winter, and a warm room in the summer (despite airconditioning, I had a tough job keeping the 15 gallon at an acceptable temperature last summer).
Basically, my goal for this tank is to have everything planned and thought out BEFORE I start setting up the tank so I have a plan to work from. My other tanks have all be spontaneously set up with no plan or goal in mind... and I want to have a plan for this one.
The tank is glass, with an all-glass lid, and flourescent lighting. The dimensions on the tank are 36"L x 16"W x 24"H.
Anyway, up to this point, I've dealt almost entirely with just gravel-substrate, silk/plastic plants. And I think its time to try my hand at a planted tank.
I've been debating between either a community setup or a Yellow Lab cichlid setup. I'm leaning more towards a community setup now. Either way I'd like to go with a sand substrate, and try my hand at real plants. Is a just-sand substrate sufficient for plants, or do I need something else as well?. What plants would you suggest?
As for filtration, I've been pricing filters any time I see a pet store. Comparing them, I've been thinking of putting an AquaClear70 on the back of the tank. They look to be my best value for money. Would this be okay on this tank?
Heating.... One big heater or two small heaters?. How many Watts should I be looking at?. This tank will be in a particularly cold room in the winter, and a warm room in the summer (despite airconditioning, I had a tough job keeping the 15 gallon at an acceptable temperature last summer).
Basically, my goal for this tank is to have everything planned and thought out BEFORE I start setting up the tank so I have a plan to work from. My other tanks have all be spontaneously set up with no plan or goal in mind... and I want to have a plan for this one.
