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input on these items

1K views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  aklick 
#1 ·
I have a 50 gallon tank that I'm trying to make into a planted tank. right now I only have 1 pleco in it and I have 3 more on the way.

I found a light I'm thinking of getting. Its a single bulb T5 that is on sale. It's only a few dollars more then the duo bulb T8 that I was going to get. What do you think?

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I also want to go the sponge filter route...I think. I read some where that a sponge filter is the way to go with a planted aquarium.



Here is a sponge filter that I found:



Are these items ok? If not any suggestions?
 
#3 ·
First I would wonder what type of pleco's you are considering.
Many of this species would happily uproot,eat, your plant's in short order, with possible exception of Clown Pleco's,Bristlenose Pleco's.
Dual T8 Full spectrum bulb's over 50 gal would allow you to grow quite a few low light plant's such as Anubia,Crypt's,Vallisneria, Watersprite, Sword plant's.
Single T5 could also work but I saw no mention of whether unit was single or double tube, and without CO2 enhancement,, A double tube T5 would maybe be too much light = algae= poor plant growth depending on intensity and light duration.
As for the sponge filter's, I would look for product such as .."Oxygen Plus Biofilter's" which have extended tube where bubbles come out which can be raised or lowered to produce steam of water across the surface, rather than bubbles which provide good oxygen exchange at the surface,,but also help drive off CO2 that plant's need.
I believe Byron run's the type I mention "Oxygen Plus Biofilter's" I( see them on Doctor'sFosterSmith.com).
For me,,, I would run Aquaclear 70 HOB filter, or Eheim 2213 canister filter.
I use the Aquaclear 70 on planted 29 gal and keep the water level high enough so that there is no waterfall effect at the surface which would drive off CO2 and plant's do well.
 
#5 ·
Oxygen Plus Biofilter 7

I got the Oxygen Plus Biofilter 7 for my 50 gallon tank. But it doesn't come with an extended tube like I thought it would for some reason. Is this still a good sponge filter? In one of my other threads someone mentioned the extended tube that can make steam rather then bubbles. I"m wondering if I should exchange it for #4 which appears to have the extended tube that I assume makes the "steam"?
 
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