75 Gallon Tank Build - Filters and Fish?

[muddywaters7]

Just picked up this guy with stand, hood, and light on the list for $150!
Its a 75 gal.
I know im gonna do a low tech tank with fine grained gravel with some live plants and a few big rooty pieces of wood. No c02, no ferts, no tabs, just easy plants.

I just have a few questions...

First: Eheim Classic 2217 or Filstar XP3?
Noise isnt a concern (I know the xp3 is louder). I want the filter with the least amount of problems (infrequent and easiest maintenance, least leaks).
Both are around the same price so which one should I get?

Second: Stocking Check! All good?
2 Hujeta Characins
1 Leopard Ctenopoma
1 Fire Eel
1 Red Spotted Severum
4 Siamese Algae Eater (or something similar)
1 Pleco (What is a cool common cheap one?)

Third: Plants?
Floating: Wisteria? Other Recommendations?
Planted: Java Fern and a tall grass looking plant that is commonly found at most stores... vals? Other recommendations?

In general I am going for pretty inexpensive stuff, easy to find fish and plants, etc.




Ill update as I put stuff in! Thanks

 

[lp85253]

I personally , given that choice would do the xp3 ... opinions however , will vary .. given ANY choice I would do ac110 and PENGUIN 350... plus a sponge filter... about the same cost As 1 canister .. but more redundancy and easier by far to keep the nitrates down with frequent media cleaning................... as far as stock goes I will let others comment... with the exeption that the sev's prob going to eat those plants

 

[muddywaters7]

Instead of Severum, how about Salvini, Firemouth, Rainbow, or Jewel? I want a fish with a lot of red in it...

 

[letstalkfish]

pretty much any decent size cichlid is kinda hard on plants

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[Conlin2]

For filtration I would do a Eheim 2217 and a AC70.

 

[muddywaters7]

I'll plan on attaching bottom plants to rocks or wood so digging won't be a problem.

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[Armand]

For filtration I would do a Eheim 2217 and a AC70.

Why an AC 70 when you can have an AC 110?.


Eheim 2217 and aquaclear 110 should be the way to go, the best call IMO.

 

[muddywaters7]

Do I really need a canister and hob? The canister I'd already rated for over 2 times the gallons...

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[Dark Rose]

Do I really need a canister and hob? The canister I'd already rated for over 2 times the gallons...

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I've always wondered that myself, why so many run a HoB with a large canister... What is the benefit of running both, if the canister is already a sufficient size?

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[virgil2090]

Everyone has a different take on GPH/turnover.I shoot for 6-10 times the tank size.if you have bigger fish I would lean towards 10.another reason for 2 filters is so you can clean 1 and not disturb too much BB in the whole system

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