Setup questions for my new 130g

[L021]

Pretty straightforward questions...

1; What's an easy-to-clean substrate? I had sand for my 55 and it was a ***** to clean.

2; What's an inexpensive kind of filter? I'm kinda broke so I can't afford canisters

3; What's are some good but inexpensive forms of decor? I think I'm going to have a flowerpot or two and the driftwood from my 55, but that's not much for the tank.

4; The center brace gives me two 30"x18" boxes to cover, and aquarium stores don't make 30x18 hoods. Where could I get the acrylic to make one?

 

[aclockworkorange]

Pretty straightforward questions...

1; What's an easy-to-clean substrate? I had sand for my 55 and it was a ***** to clean.

2; What's an inexpensive kind of filter? I'm kinda broke so I can't afford canisters

3; What's are some good but inexpensive forms of decor? I think I'm going to have a flowerpot or two and the driftwood from my 55, but that's not much for the tank.

4; The center brace gives me two 30"x18" boxes to cover, and aquarium stores don't make 30x18 hoods. Where could I get the acrylic to make one?

1. The easiest to clean would be... no substrate. Bare bottom tank.
2. It depends on what you want... the reason so many people run canisters or wet/dry is because they work well on that big of a tank... you could try under gravel or something old school, but I'd suggest at least a cheap canister and a couple of aquaclear 110s or something similar.
3. PVC pipe, anything ceramic that's non-reactive, large non reactive stones can be glued together with aquarium safe glue (like what they use for corals in salt water tanks), if you like java moss will quickly spread throughout a tank and make it look more decorated.
4. If you go to a hardware store, they will usually custom cut plexi-glass for you for a very reasonable price.

 

[L021]

^Thanks!
What are some good brands of canister filter?

 

[Cliff519]

^Thanks!
What are some good brands of canister filter?

I have personally used Fluval and Rena and they are both outstanding filters. I have also heard a lot of good things about Ehiem.

As long as you properly match your filter to the size and bioload of your tank, you can't go wrong with any of these three brands, IMO