Starting to plan for a 75 - 125 gallon tank...

[genEus]

I found a perfect place in my house for a "mini"-monster tank in the 75-125 gallon range. I don't think it will be purchased or set up any time before the new year, because that room is undergoing major remodeling, but I am already starting to plan for it and want to slowly start buying the things that I need so that I don't go out and end up spending a huge amount of money all at once...

Your suggestions are welcomed, and that's what this thread is for.

My dream is a well planted South American cichlid tank.

Fish:

• Angels
• Rams
• (Maybe) Discus
• Lots of neons
• Suggestions???

Plants:

• Amazon swords
• Vallsneria
• Dwarf saggitaria or some sort of other carpet plant
• I am not well versed in plants, I just know what I like when I see it, so...
• Suggestions???

Other decor:

• Slate rocks
• Lots of driftwood
• Suggestions???

Substrate options (I want only black)

• Eco-Complete or
• Fluorite (maybe + Onyx sand) or
• Vermiculite (maybe + Onyx sand) or
• Suggestions???

Filtration:

• 2 AC 110's (already purchased) and
• Rena FilStar XP3 (not yet purchased, so open to next bullet point)
• Suggestions???

Lighting

• No idea yet how much I need and what kind it will be. I can picture a rail of 3 hanging overhead lights in that location without too much hassle, so maybe that's the route I will go. Perhaps Metal Halides? Don't know yet.

What else have I forgotten?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions you can make!

 

[HiImSean]

if you going planted, check out plantedtank.net

id do discus, rummy nose tetras, and rams for fish. just find plants that you like, i like vals, swords, ludwigia, java moss. for decor i like driftwood. some branchy wood with java moss on it looks awesome. for planted tanks i've heard canisters are better, i'd go fx5 or a wet/dry. for lighting halides would work or t5 lightings. you may want to consider CO2 as well. as far as substrate its what you like, i have 2 planted tanks. one with eco-complete and the other tahitian moon sand. i find they both grow the same, the moon sand grows some plants better. i do like the looks of flourite red

 

[maclak5000]

I would be careful with wet/dry filter for Planted tanks, they can remove too much CO2 due to the water agitation, and depending on whether or not you are going to have CO2 injection this could make a huge difference in how your plants do. The FX5 is a very good filter for this type of set up though, good suggestion. T5s are great, cost per watt is usauly very good as well as power consumtion vs other options.