Undergravel filter? Powerhead?

[willisrad]

Ok.
So I just got my first aquarium a few months ago.
I bought it from somebody online with accessories and whatnot.
It didn't come with an undergravel filter, or anything like that, and he assured me that the HOB filter would be fine (and it does seem to be fine). I also have plants, so that helps as well.

I just recently aquired a beautiful 75 Gallon tank!
It came with 2 undergravel filters (which cover the bottom of the tank perfectly.

Should I use them? How exactly do you use them?

I plan on having a planted tank. Probably not overboard planted, but planted nuntheless.

I am completely unsure of what kind of substrate I will be using. NO IDEA YET!
Thinking about small river pebbles, small gravel, or maybe even some kind of coarse sand.

Any help or info would be AWESOME!

Thanks!

[Chrona]

Ok.
So I just got my first aquarium a few months ago.
I bought it from somebody online with accessories and whatnot.
It didn't come with an undergravel filter, or anything like that, and he assured me that the HOB filter would be fine (and it does seem to be fine). I also have plants, so that helps as well.

I just recently aquired a beautiful 75 Gallon tank!
It came with 2 undergravel filters (which cover the bottom of the tank perfectly.

Should I use them? How exactly do you use them?

I plan on having a planted tank. Probably not overboard planted, but planted nuntheless.

I am completely unsure of what kind of substrate I will be using. NO IDEA YET!
Thinking about small river pebbles, small gravel, or maybe even some kind of coarse sand.

Any help or info would be AWESOME!

Thanks!

A canister filter would be ideal for a planted tank of that size. Definitely don't use the UGF though, if you are going planted or with a sand substrate. 1-3 mm sand will work decently for plants, though you will want to get some root tabs like Flourish tabs.

[willisrad]

Sweet.
So I don't need to mess with powerheads or anything as well as long as I have no water circulation problems, right?

Also, should I go with a canister filter as well as a HOB?

[Chrona]

Sweet.
So I don't need to mess with powerheads or anything as well as long as I have no water circulation problems, right?

Also, should I go with a canister filter as well as a HOB?

Yes, that would be good. More filtration is always better, assuming you don't have too much current

[willisrad]

Got it.
Is it a necessity?
Would I be ok running it with just a canister for a little while until I had some extra cash to pick up a HOTB?

[Chrona]

Got it.
Is it a necessity?
Would I be ok running it with just a canister for a little while until I had some extra cash to pick up a HOTB?

Not a necessity, the canister, provided it is large enough, will provide plenty of filtration on it own. The HOB is just supplementary.

[jeffs99dime]

yeah. a canister would be best. i never recommend an ugf to anyone for any reason. they're obsolete.

[Lady Hobbs]

ditto *lol*

[Chrona]

ditto *lol*

Oh dear, cocoa has corrupted you.

[Lady Hobbs]

LOL Naw. Jeff dittoed one of my posts this morning so I dittoed his here.

[jeffs99dime]

LOL Naw. Jeff dittoed one of my posts this morning so I dittoed his here.

"can't triple stamp a double stamp FLOYD!"
1000 points to whoever knows what movie this quote is from. NO CHEATING EITHER- I'LL KNOW IF YOU DID! LOL

[cocoa_pleco]

pink floyd? no idea

[frizzlefish]

"can't triple stamp a double stamp FLOYD!"
1000 points to whoever knows what movie this quote is from. NO CHEATING EITHER- I'LL KNOW IF YOU DID! LOL


I cheated but I think I know where it's from...... if no one else guesses I'll post what I found!

[Fishguy2727]

How planted are you planning on going? Canisters are good because they do not disturb the surface, keeping in CO2.

UGFs are not good for planted tanks (or any tank). What canister will you be using or are thinking of?

Get a good book on planted tanks if you don't have on yet. They will usually explain the substrate options, with pros and cons of eahc. They will also help you learn all the other things you didn't even realize mattered at all. Barron's has a good one: Mini Encyclopedia Aquarium Plants.

[jeffs99dime]

pink floyd? no idea

lol. when did pink floyd become a movie? lol

[willisrad]

HELLO!
DUMB AND DUMBER!
the best movie ever!

I've got worms!

[jeffs99dime]

HELLO!
DUMB AND DUMBER!
the best movie ever!

I've got worms!

and 1,000 points you shall have! lol
good job.
check your bank--jeff

[Drumachine09]

HELLO!
DUMB AND DUMBER!
the best movie ever!

I've got worms!


"Tic tac sir?"

lol

"pretty bird, pretty bird. Can you say pretty bird? Polly want a cracker?"


LMAO

[willisrad]

Ok.
So I am going to be going with some sort of Cichlid species I believe, with maybe an eel or 2 mixed in. Not 100% sure of the Eels, but definitely want to do some cichlids.

What kind of substrate do you guys recommend?

I'm not gonna do mbuna cichlids since they are a bit too agressive, and that's about as narrowed down as I have it.

I plan on going "moderately" planted, and I'm not 100% positive of what filter I plan on using.

[cocoa_pleco]

sand would be nice. cichlids and eels like sand

[willisrad]

Would an Eheim 2213 be good enough?
I found a really good deal on one.
I know that it's probably cutting it a little close, but it doesn't hurt to try.

And, I can also get a HOB biowheel filter for still an insanely low price to help out.

[Fishguy2727]

2213 would not be enough. If you are only wanting to use one filter I think it woudl probably have to the Fluval FX5. They are great and will be more than enough for an overstocked 75.

What kind of eels are you thinking? What kind of cichlids? If you do Africans the water quality won't really allow eels. My cousin ha sa 90 with Geophagus spp., a fire eel, a few bichirs, and a hujeta gar. It is a nice tank. What do you think of those?

[cocoa_pleco]

FX5 is best

[jeffs99dime]

i recommend the eheim professional 2 for your application

[willisrad]

Would the Eheim Pro II 2026 be enough you think?
It's rated for 100 Gallons I believe.....


i recommend the eheim professional 2 for your application

[jeffs99dime]

Would the Eheim Pro II 2026 be enough you think?
It's rated for 100 Gallons I believe.....

you could also run 2 canisters. i would run 2 eheim 2217's. but for one canister, the 2026 would be a good choice.