Re-entering the fishkeeping world - need help

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Defiant1

AC Members
Oct 15, 2006
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Hey all,

After several years of being away from fishkeeping so I could raise scorpions and tarantulas, I've decided to re-enter the world of tropical freshwater fishkeeping. I have a 29g tank (30x12x18), currently housing my tarantulas, so I'll need to buy all the other equipment. I've got a bunch of questions so I hope you guys can help me:

- I'd like to get a fluorescent strip light that can hold two tubes. I'd like to keep real plants this time out so the "Flora-Glo" bulb would be one. Could I use one of the blue-coloured bulbs normally used for marine tanks as the other bulb without causing detriment to my fish and plants? I like the blue look as opposed to the more natural appearance of freshwater bulbs.

- I've narrowed down my filter choices to either the Emperor 280 or the Penguin 200. Which one would you guys recommend?

- for the air pump, it'll either be the Rena 200 or the Tetra Whisper (the one with the four little legs). Again, which one is better?

- for the plants, I'd like to get corkscrew Val, an Amazon swordplant, and Sagittaria for the foreground and carpet. Your thoughts?

- for the fish, I'd like 3 corys, 2 otos, 5 zebra danios, 5 congo tetras (or emperor tetras if I can find them), and 2 angelfish. Is that too much for a tank this size?

Thank you all so much in advance. I'm looking forward to getting wet again!
 
I'm not sure if the blue light would be as good for plant growth. I've read that in general plants don't care about spectrum, but the blue bulbs might be too dim. Maybe blue sunglasses would work better? ;)
 
Defiant1 said:
Hey all,

After several years of being away from fishkeeping so I could raise scorpions and tarantulas, I've decided to re-enter the world of tropical freshwater fishkeeping. I have a 29g tank (30x12x18), currently housing my tarantulas, so I'll need to buy all the other equipment. I've got a bunch of questions so I hope you guys can help me:

- I'd like to get a fluorescent strip light that can hold two tubes. I'd like to keep real plants this time out so the "Flora-Glo" bulb would be one. Could I use one of the blue-coloured bulbs normally used for marine tanks as the other bulb without causing detriment to my fish and plants? I like the blue look as opposed to the more natural appearance of freshwater bulbs.

- I've narrowed down my filter choices to either the Emperor 280 or the Penguin 200. Which one would you guys recommend?

- for the air pump, it'll either be the Rena 200 or the Tetra Whisper (the one with the four little legs). Again, which one is better?

- for the plants, I'd like to get corkscrew Val, an Amazon swordplant, and Sagittaria for the foreground and carpet. Your thoughts?

- for the fish, I'd like 3 corys, 2 otos, 5 zebra danios, 5 congo tetras (or emperor tetras if I can find them), and 2 angelfish. Is that too much for a tank this size?

Thank you all so much in advance. I'm looking forward to getting wet again!
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Defiant, If cost is an issue for the bulbs (as everyone knows they can be QUITE expensive) and its not really anything more than your appreciation for the way the blue bulb looks, I'd recommend looking on fish.com for them.

I don't know how much research you've done yet on the bulbs but I can tell you from personal experience that the Aqua-Glo plant bulb I am using is very dim. I'd equate that one bulb (running alone with no other lights on the tank) to what dawn or dusk looks like underwater. I'm currently waiting on my Sun-Glo and Flora-glo bulbs... should liven the tank up. I can't speak as to the brightness of the Flora-Glo but I can't see it being very bright if its ANYTHING like the Aqua-Glo, which I think it is. I picked up a Sun bulb for $5.99 ( 36" bulb) on fish.com in case anyone is wondering.
 
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corkscrew val ,sword and sagittaria will do better with more light.

2 flo lights will shed about 40 watts that's about 1.4 watts per gallon..or about a low light tank.

the sword and sag will survive in that light but the val may not fare so well..

you might want to look at compact flo for this set up and shoot for atleast 2 wpg. this will give you a med light set up and more versatitlity in plants.
 
After doing some further reading, I think I'll go with an Aquaclear filter instead. I used an Aquaclear 300 back in the day and figured they wouldn't be top-of-the-line anymore. But it seems that you guys all love it!
 
Defiant1 said:
After doing some further reading, I think I'll go with an Aquaclear filter instead. I used an Aquaclear 300 back in the day and figured they wouldn't be top-of-the-line anymore. But it seems that you guys all love it!
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It is not that I do not like the Peguin filters, I love them and actually own 5 of them. It is just that the AquaClear filters seem to cause less surface disruption which will be better for a planted aquarium.
 
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