New tank starting, help me round out my equipment!

[WinnipegDragon]

Thanks to everyone that offered me advice in my other threads, I have finally started buying equipment for my new tank. I'm biting the bullet and going a little higher with my lights and I will likely dose dry ferts and run DIY CO2.

So far, I've ordered:

29g All-Glass/Aqueon tank (was going to go with a 18" deep tank, but I couldn't squeeze it into my budget)
Black All-Glass/Aqueon pine stand and canopy
150w Heater
Eheim Ecco 2232 Canister
2 x 36w AH Supply CF retro kit (or 2 x 55w, still undecided)
2" Flourite Black Sand Substrate

I have a Hagen 'ladder' CO2 diffuser that I was using on my 5g Eclipse, so I could use that in the new tank, but I am debating a better diffuser. I don't know what I could use, but I think doing something in-line with the canister filter would be the best.

Is there any other equipment that I should be getting or does it sound like I'm set?

[Squawkbert]

I'd suggest going w/ the lower of your 2 lighting options (2x55W for a 29g seems a bit extreme) and just putting a sm. airstone on the end of your CO2 line and plumbing that right into your Eheim's strainer. If you've not yet ordered, you may want to consider getting a Tek reflector and doing a single 56W(?-I think you can get a 36" T5 in approx this wattage) T5 bulb, or 2x 24W(?-again).

Either way, if your canopy is a standard plastic one, you'll have a bit of work to do to get the kit in there - don;t forget that your lights will get pretty hot, so figure out a way to keep them a few inches from the tank lids, and cover that black plastic brace w/ something white to prevent heating it up too.

[WinnipegDragon]

It's a wooden canopy. I'll be getting rid of the plastic 'versa top'. I could also do an AH 1x55w CF, but I was holding off on that since I was concerned that a 4" reflector couldn't properly light a 12" tank. I think the TEK retro would have the same issue?

How about a TEK 2 x 24" retro kit? That's 48w of T5HO...

[Squawkbert]

Wood is the way to go - easy to leave holes or mount fans in the back of...

48W of T5 would be pretty good over that tank too... it's a close call to be made after you decide whether you're in love with the idea of growing higher light carpet plants, myriophyllum, exotic Cabomba species etc. or if you'll be happy w/ medium & low light plants only. More light means more chance at algae issues, especially if you're going w/ DIY CO2. If you're contemplating doing a NPT, you probably don't want more than ~2W/G.

[WinnipegDragon]

I just received an email from AH Supply, and they recommend their 1 x 55w PC unit, which will be much cheaper than the 2 x 24w TEK T5HO and more wattage to boot. It's not like this is a 24"+ deep tank either, so PC should be sufficient.

I am also considering the Rena XP1 versus the Eheim. I don't doubt the Eheim is a great unit, but Rena supplies and parts are more easily available to me here in Winnipeg, and the Rena does push more GPH which should mean better filtration. It's a bit cheaper too.

[Squawkbert]

It's more than "a bit" cheaper and it isn't a bad choice, but I think Eheim is a bit more conservative when rating their flows...

Try comparing the Rena to a Eheim 2213 (Eheim classics - more flow, more media capacity, less $ than the rest of their canisters)...

[WinnipegDragon]

Actually, there is a new player in the canister selection game. For the same price as the Ecco, I can also get a Marineland C160. The guys over on Cichlid Forums seem to love these C-series canisters, and I can't find a bad review on them anywhere.

It's another tempting option...

[bigwave]

Heres my 2 bits.

I run a 29 gallon with a custom hood using the 2 x 55 watt kit from AH supply. My co2 is pressurized and uses a hagen ladder. I use liquid fertz and am not quite as regular as I should be. Filtration is a Rena XP2.

Everything is great, fish are healthy and the plants look good. My only complaint is that I have a fair amount of green hairy algae that I have to clean out every week. I probably throw out a handful of it every 2 weeks or so.

I think my biggest problem is that I don't get enough CO2 into the water, and if I had it to do all over again, I would get the CO2 controller and get the CO2 to dissolve better than it does now. I realize that adds a couple hundred dollars to system, but I wish that I had done it from the beginning.

Otherwise if you have half the light I have now, you may not have the same algae problems as I do. On the other hand, I love the colors and growth I get from my plants.

I also love my XP2. I have just the right amount of flow with it. I also noticed that my fish got healthier when I switched to it. I had been using a DIY filter system, that sure looked good on paper, but in practice it was terrible.

There is a couple pictures of some of my plants on the 2nd page of "Post pictures of your plants 2.0" sticky at the beginning of this forum, if you want to see how they have turned out. You can also see some of the green algae hanging off the plant in the first picture.

[WinnipegDragon]

Wow, I would have thought an XP2 would be way too much flow for a 29g...

[Squawkbert]

Wow, I would have thought an XP2 would be way too much flow for a 29g...

Not once it's "heavily" planted - plants really put a dent in your circulation.

As to C-series, they look good on paper, but there has been at least one report of leak problems. I'd go Eheim or Rena or ViaAqua first. If Rena parts are readily available, go with it. I'm sure you'll be happy.

For hair algae - yes, fluctuations in CO2 conc. seem to add to the problem. Excel is the most reliable "cure" for it I've found. I hit my affected tanks w/ a healthy dose a couple of times per week - keeps it at least somewhat under control. Be cautious about how much & where you use it if you have mosses, Hydrocotyles or Vals.

[bigwave]

The XP2 is just perfect for flow, and it is adjustable, if you find it is too much flow you can turn it down. I have it directed out a spray bar just under the surface of the water. I run it at full speed, except when doing water changes, and then I just turn it down so it doesn't splash.

I actually just ordered my CO2 controller yesterday, so if that doesn't help the algae, I'll try your suggestion regarding the Excel.

[Squawkbert]

If you want to maintain flow while putting a dent in velocity, drilling out the holes in the spraybar (just a little) will work wonders.

Also - w/ CO2 injection, you'll want a dropchecker (to be certain you are not over-doing it) and you'll want decent water circulation w/ minimal surface agitation (well, you need a little, but no more than a little) to prevent quick off-gassing of the CO2.

PS - Good canister filters make good CO2 reactors.

[WinnipegDragon]

Alright, I think I'm sold on the Rena then. Frankly they have the most readily available parts and supplies around here anyhow. I was planning on doing a sub-waterline spray bar with any of the canisters to prevent CO2 off-gassing, so having the spraybar included is a nice feature.

I'm being meticulous with my canister selection as I plan on getting a second one to run my reef's QT/hospital tank. Having two of the same means emergency backup parts are on hand if the QT is not in use.

I just need to find the best way to get my DIY CO2 into the canister for absorption and dispersion. It should bes as simple as tubing->strainer, but I need to make sure that I won't create suction in the CO2 line, or a siphon going the other way.

Thanks again for all the tips. I've been posting like mad here and in the plants forum for the last week or so :)

[WinnipegDragon]

Okay, I think I will stick my my Hagen Ladder for CO2 dispersion. It's probably not 'great' in a 30" long tank, but I will place it directly under the spraybar from the Rena, and that should help it disperse. I don't want to risk running it into the canister intake, and I think an inline reactor on the output is just going to cause suction in the yeast container.

So, to ensure that things are going well, I just ordered an Ebay ADA knockoff drop checker. It looks pretty invaluable for DIY CO2 setups. As soon as someone buys my old camera on Ebay, I'll be ordering my lights and canister and then I can get this tank started.