75 planted tank need an update.

[got_nailed]

It’s time to for my 75 planted tank to go to the next step. The lights and the filter have to go.

The lighting that’s on there now is 2 shop lights, 4 40watt tubes 2 Plant & Aquarium and 2 Daylight Deluxe 11 hours a day. I’m hoping I can get away with replacing one of the lights with a 2x55 watt kit from AHSupply, and leaving the other shop light. Would this give me lighting needed to grow about anything any plant I could put in the tank? I can go with the 4x55 watt kit but then I would be putting the filter on the back step again. I don’t want to have to update the lighting again and I have been told that the 4x55 watt kit will grow anything (with right conditions) in a tank that size.

As for the filter I was thinking of using an overflow and running it into a 20 high. I would put some acrylic to make a chamber to hold some filter floss and have room a pump, Co2 diffuser, and a heater. I have it figured out in my head on how to get the sump to be quite, but how loud are overflow boxes? The current filter is a magnum 350 and a low powered power head to keep some water movement. This tank is in my bedroom and I don’t want anything louder than a HOB.

Any thoughts would be nice.

[Captain_Obvious]

I have a 75 with 4x55 PC lighting and my plants grow like weeds. My radican sword has sent out multiple flower stalks as has my ozelot sword. Even my bacopa flowered. I have to constantly give my plants haircuts and keep all the "runner-type" plants in their areas, including glossostigma. So I think 4x55 is the way to go, with half the light, I don't think I would be as successful.

Most overflow boxes will make noise. Some people say it sounds like a toilet flushing constantly. I am sure there are some that are quieter, maybe someone has a suggestion.

Just out of curiousity, why do you want to change your filter? Just to keep the diffuser, heater, etc. out of the tank?

George Booth writes about using a sump with a planted tank here:
http://users.frii.com/gbooth/AquaticConcepts/

select filtration from the menu on the left.

[got_nailed]

Nice article.

I’m planning on using a 20 high and running the hose (from the over flow under the water level) in a bunch of filter floss. Thinking of using 2 sheets of acrylic or that white plastic grid to give me a second chamber for some bio balls. This would leave ½ of the tank for the heater, C02, and pump.

A few have told me that overflows are about as loud as a HOB and a few say there louder. After a week I think I would get used to the sound of it.

I don’t plan on stocking up my tank to much more so the need for a huge bio space will not be that high.

I still need some thoughts on the 4x55 or can I get away with the 2x55 and 2 T12’s.