Newbie Tank Advice

[Erik With A K]

Hi all -

I am in the midst of setting up a new tank. I haven't bought anything yet because theres so much to read first. I have narrowed my options to what I think would be suitable for a 26g tank. I figure I should run this by the veterans before I commit.

Filters options;
Tetra/Second Nature Whisper Triad 40
Marineland Penguin 200

Heater
Marineland Visi-therm Stealth submersible 20

Gravel Vacuum - Marineland siphon clean

I'm up in the air about putting in a UGF as a 2nd filter, been reading the great UGF debate.

I'm not married to these options so if I'm way off base its better to know before I buy

:dance2:

[Erik With A K]

Another filter option I'm considering:

Hagen AquaClear 50 Aquarium Power Filter

I'd like a quiet reliable filter with more than enough power for a 30g tank.

[danzig]

An AquaClear 70 would give you a little over 10x turnover rate which is good.
I use an AC 300(70) on my 29g, and have 2 more AC's on other tanks.
They are quiet and very efficient. AC's are the only HOB's i will buy.

[clawlan]

i'd also go with teh visi-therm 150watt, thats what i use in my 28g. And I highly reccomend the python system for cleaning, vacuuming, refilling.

[Erik With A K]

Yeah I heard good things about the python except for it maybe a bit bulky for my size.

I think I made a typo with the Visi-Therm. Think it should be 200. But I'm not sure.

[clawlan]

Yeah I heard good things about the python except for it maybe a bit bulky for my size.

I use a 50ft python for my 28g tank and its amazingly awesome. absolutely no mess, no buckets, no spilling. It does everything for you and does it in half the time. I do 35% water changes from start to finish in about 15-20 minutes.

[Erik With A K]

Well I think I'll go with the python then. :)

[clawlan]

Well I think I'll go with the python then. :)

excellent. I also recommend the AQ70 filter. What type of fish are you thinking about stocking?

[Erik With A K]

With the python, do you need a sink nearby? I wont have a sink so I maybe forced to use a bucket.

As for fish, I think I will start with a couple guppies. Then once the tank is fully cycled and everythings good add some Tetras. Beyond that I haven't made up my mind, but it would be limited to fish that get along well with those.

[clawlan]

With the python, do you need a sink nearby? I wont have a sink so I maybe forced to use a bucket.

As for fish, I think I will start with a couple guppies. Then once the tank is fully cycled and everythings good add some Tetras. Beyond that I haven't made up my mind, but it would be limited to fish that get along well with those.

Yes you need a sink for the python to work. I'm in a college dorm and use a 50ft python and run it to the bathroom :). As for the guppies, have you thought about a fishless cycle? More humane and you wont have to worry about torturing and potentially killing fish before the tank becomes fully cycled.

[Erik With A K]

I might be forced into a different siphon.

I've thought about the fishless cycle - and like I said I haven't committed to anything so I could easily change my mind. From what I've gathered the guppy is a pretty hardy fish and if I was to put only 2 in there for a month with close monitoring it would be ok.

Also; my g/fs father has a 150g tank so I think I will get some used media from him to jumpstart the cycle.

So in contrast to my first post

Filter will probably be AquaClear 70
Marine Stealth VisiTherm 150-200w
Python seems to be unusable, I dont have a sink w/in 50 ft. so I may have to go to a Marineland.

[clawlan]

sounds good.

[Erik With A K]

Thanks you've been a tremendous help!

[Hound]

Just to mention it the stealth 75w heater is rated for a 25g aquarium and the 100w is rated for a 30g. Their rating indicates that the heater will be able to hold an ambient temperature of 18f above ambient room temperature. Having a larger heater won't necessarily be a bad thing, but should a stealth 200w somehow get stuck on a 26g aquarium could get pretty toasty fairly quick.

[Erik With A K]

I went and purchased the tank, filter, vacuum, and some other stuff. They did not have the heater I wanted so I will probably stop by another place, see what they have. I think I will go with a 150w.