Old Timer - New Aquarium

[Donno]

After having been out of the aquarium business for 25 years I've decided to jump back into it. It started out recently with a Betta and a 5 gallon tank, now I'm about to buy a 75 gallon tank and stand and have been doing my research.

Anyhow I have about a $1000 budget out of which I'll spend about half of it on a tank and stand. What do you recommend I spend the rest on. Filters, heaters, substrate, plants etc?

[PhillipOrigami]

You probably won't make it out alive if you have only $500 to spend on things other than the tank.

For filters, I would say a Fluval 406+HOB.
Are you planting the tank?
if so i recommend:
Jungle/Corkscrew Val
Amazon Sword
Java fern
Java moss
Anubias Nana
I don't know much about floating, but I like the look of Brazilian Water Ivy- only seen it once.
Wisteria
Crypts etc.

Driftwood, I reccommend getting manzanita from Tom Barr-
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sp...new-batch.html
but idk if you want driftwood
What do you want to keep?
I would do a amazon biotope, ooh yeah!
Eco-Complete, aquariumplants.com, all good substrates.
Heaters- I heard EHIEM Jagers are very good
and lighting, if you have plants T5HOs I have heard good things from, if not some... idk. I think redder bulbs increase color in fish.

[MLBfan]

I would not spend $500 on a tank and stand. I can usually find a 75 gallon in my area on Craigslist for <$100. As far as other things that will be needed, you will need a filter, air pump, heater, light and a background of some sort as well as a gravel vac. You also should get a test kit. If you want you can also get things such as substrate, plants

I suggest you read this and other books and resources.

[FinalJenemba]

Good budget, lots you can do with that! For your filter, go with this guy: http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Extern...6437954&sr=8-6

A little expensive and just a but more setup but I absolutely love my EHEIM's. You could stock anything you want in that 75 and that filter will handle it. Plus maintenance on them is super easy compared to a HOB.

The rest really depends on how you intend to stock the tank. Planted, non planted, Cichlids, community, Oscar? So many options, let us know and we can help more.

Good lord Ninja'd by two lol. I agree with MLBfan though, you can def spend less on the tank and stand.

[Cliff]

If you watch E-bay or criagslist you can stretch your money a little further

I would suggest a Rena XP3 filter, and a Hydro inline 300 watt heater.

Any lighting a substrate recommendations would depending on what you want to stock and if you want plants

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/revi...duct=262&cat=6

http://www.rena.net/Products/Product.aspx?ProductID=348

[bignellm]

+1 to Cliff's suggestions. Love the Rena Xp3 (Xp4 to be released soon) and wanted to try the inline Hydor, but opted for the Aqueon Pro series heaters. Very reliable too.

If available to you, online forums like Craig's list should have some lower cost tanks. But if you spend the 500 on tank and stand, Rena Xp3 should eat up 130.00, heater >100, and Gravel approximately 100. I would hold off on plants and start slow if funds are sluggish for your tank. That said, if not, then buy a Hagen Dual bulb Glo T5HO for your tank.

[gadget228]

If you really want to spend $500 on a tank and stand I would look for used setups, for that amount of money you could find a larger setup if you have the room for it...

Welcome to the AC...

[ScottishFish]

Welcome to the AC

[Donno]

Thanks for the replies. I'm somewhat torn between buying a new tank and one from CraigsList.

My budget is flexible, I have quite a bit of disposable income, so buying a new tank and stand won't stand in my way of doing it the right way. I just don't want to end up with a crappy setup.

I guess my question should be, if your were going to set up a new aquarium from scratch how would you do it if money wasn't a deterrent?

[Strider199]

Upgrading from a 5 to a 75 gallon tank is a large jump. Remember water changes will be a lot larger. It sounds like fun though.

You haven't mentioned your stocking choice so picking plants and substrate need to wait. And as was said, lighting also depends on your type of plants.

Don't cheap out on the filter or filters, they make or break your Eco system.

If money was no object, I would buy the city aquarium and enjoy.

Do your research based on what you intend to stock the tank with. Once you establish that the other accessories will become obvious.