filters/lighting for very limited space

[oxlongm]

After a few years away from fishkeeping, I'm planning to put in a new freshwater aquarium -- probably an Amazon river environment, with natural plants, a few tetras and possibly small angels (not planning on an especially heavy fish load). The main issue is that I'm in a small city apartment. The only available space is on a counter with no room behind it, and the only shelving is above.

I'm leaning toward getting a SeaClear 18G high tank, since I can't quite fit a 24" tank. I may get an Eclipse 1 hood to fit it -- here are my circumstances:

- don't really have room to hang anything on the tank, which may lock me into an over-tank filter
- want plant growth, which means a) undergravel filters may not be suitable and b) if I get an Eclipse, I'm also going to want to retrofit for more powerful lighting
- don't mind spending a little more, would prefer to get separate components if it means better quality or flexibility, and if I can fit them.

So: are there any other over-tank filters besides the Eclipse? Or will any other filters (canisters, etc.) work if I place them on a shelf above the tank? Or any small filters I can actually place inside the tank?

My concerns with Eclipse are that a) I could get a better filter elsewhere, and b) since I probably need to retrofit the lighting anyway, I'm probably wasting some money on the standard Eclipse lighting. Am I overdoing these concerns?

thanks much for any help!

 

[Hound]

Well, you could always go with something like a Fluval 2 Plus. Another idea would be to use a powerhead with a sponge filter attachment. Its not exactly high tech, but its something that would work.

 

[tonytheboss1]

I believe that SeaClear 18T is 20"x10"x20" which means most market sm. tnk hoods won't exactly fit. EclipseI was designed just for this (& ClarityPlus). Sufficient enough filtration & lighting for sm. bio-load, low to med light plants. If your demands are greater (as most of ours are), suggest some type of cover (plexi should do fine). For filter maybe the Fluval 2plus or 3plus http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=7375&N=2004+113424 . For lighting maybe Coralife Quad 20" http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13734&inm=1&N=2004+113345+2032 . Just a thought. Good Luck, "T"

 

[oxlongm]

Great, thanks to both of you for the info. I think the Eclipse may have sufficient filtration for my bio-load. Its lighting is not sufficient, but it looks as if the $50 retrofit kit from drsfostermith.com will be. And it looks like the Eclipse plus the retrofit kit is still a decent price (about $100 plus shipping).

I get the impression from both of your posts than the underwater Fluval 2plus and 3plus have more effective filtration than the Eclipse 1. This is useful, because I wouldn't have assumed that. Is the Eclipse 1 basically the same filter as the Penguin 150?

 

[tonytheboss1]

Not overly familiar w/ EclipseI built-in filtration. Only suggested Fluval 2/3 plus internal filters as descent alternative if you weren't gonna use the 'all-in-one' hood. If there was room on the back or side, I might opt for one of the sm AquaClears (20/30) but since you're set on using the Eclipse hood, the 'retrofit' lighting should be fine. If you find the filtration to be insufficient, you can always add an internal or sponge filter later. Good luck, "T"