another fresh water question: my *future* 40g tank

[Dkeller_nc]

Everything except the AIO, because like I mentioned above, overflows and freshwater planted tanks don't mix. If you want a bigger planted tank that gives you more room for aquascaping, 40 gallon breeders from Petco make really nice tanks because they're easy to get your hands into to do maintenance. If you want to go higher end, Aquamaxx sells several rimless tanks with no overflows in the mid-size range. If you want larger and higher end, Waterbox has just came out with a line of freshwater no-overflow tanks up to 170 gallons.

 

[Waters]

I actually did run both my piranha and planted tanks with a sump, just to hide the equipment (CO2 reactor, heaters, UV). They were heavily planted tanks.....other than the loss of some CO2 due to the high oxygen enviroment that a wet/dry/sump provides, I didn't have any issues with the overflows at all. I did have to clean them weekly but only from the buildup of plants due to my trimming.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

I did have to clean them weekly but only from the buildup of plants due to my trimming.

Yep, this is the issue. I suppose it's a personal choice with how much maintenance you want to do, and what the consequences of not doing it are. In the case of an overflow, the extreme case is overflowing the tank, so I err on the side of caution and don't run planted tanks with overflows. The consequences of plugging the intake line of a canister is, as you might guess, a reduction in flow through the canister, which I judge to be a lot less severe.

But like a lot of things, it's a personal choice.

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

Everything except the AIO, because like I mentioned above, overflows and freshwater planted tanks don't mix. If you want a bigger planted tank that gives you more room for aquascaping, 40 gallon breeders from Petco make really nice tanks because they're easy to get your hands into to do maintenance. If you want to go higher end, Aquamaxx sells several rimless tanks with no overflows in the mid-size range. If you want larger and higher end, Waterbox has just came out with a line of freshwater no-overflow tanks up to 170 gallons.

I think I will try to find an AquaMaxx tank

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

So you don’t have an overflow on this tank?

So how about canisters on an AquaMaxx 57 g rimless tank?

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

Yep, this is the issue. I suppose it's a personal choice with how much maintenance you want to do, and what the consequences of not doing it are. In the case of an overflow, the extreme case is overflowing the tank, so I err on the side of caution and don't run planted tanks with overflows. The consequences of plugging the intake line of a canister is, as you might guess, a reduction in flow through the canister, which I judge to be a lot less severe.

But like a lot of things, it's a personal choice.

What about an AquaMaxx rimless 57g tank with cansters

 

[crusso1993]

Following along to see how things go and give you a hard time, er, um, I mean some suggestions.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

What about an AquaMaxx rimless 57g tank with cansters

Sure, that would make a pretty nice tank IMO.

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

Following along to see how things go and give you a hard time, er, um, I mean some suggestions.

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

Sure, that would make a pretty nice tank IMO.

Ok think I may go with that

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

Ok everyone need help deciding with lighting. 1 or 2 AI Prime HD freshwaters? Or should I go with something completely different.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

I would get a 4-bulb ATI T5HO 2' fixture for a tank like that. Dimmable/not dimmable would be an aesthetic choice. Part of the reason I'd get T5HO is because of shadowing with LED fixtures. That's not quite as big of a deal in a reef tank because one doesn't generally have a forest of corals. OTOH, it does depend on how densely planted a tank you plan on. If you look through some of the aquascape competition tanks, many of them are very open, "savannah like", while some of the them are very dense "jungle like" plantings.

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

I would get a 4-bulb ATI T5HO 2' fixture for a tank like that. Dimmable/not dimmable would be an aesthetic choice. Part of the reason I'd get T5HO is because of shadowing with LED fixtures. That's not quite as big of a deal in a reef tank because one doesn't generally have a forest of corals. OTOH, it does depend on how densely planted a tank you plan on. If you look through some of the aquascape competition tanks, many of them are very open, "savannah like", while some of the them are very dense "jungle like" plantings.

I think I may do something inbetween. as for the tank, still trying to decide. can you help? want something 40g-60g that is more lagoon like and shallow if possible. originaly gonna get the cobalt c vue 40g which was perfect, but now don't rly want an aio tank. aquamaxx 57 gallon isn't really shallow, its more of a cube...

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

I would get a 4-bulb ATI T5HO 2' fixture for a tank like that. Dimmable/not dimmable would be an aesthetic choice. Part of the reason I'd get T5HO is because of shadowing with LED fixtures. That's not quite as big of a deal in a reef tank because one doesn't generally have a forest of corals. OTOH, it does depend on how densely planted a tank you plan on. If you look through some of the aquascape competition tanks, many of them are very open, "savannah like", while some of the them are very dense "jungle like" plantings.

For the lighting, would I get the same ones hat are used for reefs?