New Aquarium Question, help needed

[vthurd]

I am new to this forum, I have ben keeping african cichlids for over 10 years and just started playing with planted tanks. I started with a 14 gallon bio cube low tech, but have decided to try my luck with high tech tank. I purchased a standard 75 gallon tank and plan to use 2 x Fluval 405''s for filtration and a GLA CO2 system. The problems that i am having now are lights and substrate.

For the lights i am thinking about a 48' SunPod
http://www.petmountain.com/product/ligh ... GgodRifTaA#
or
I am thinking about LED light Galileo
http://www.aquacave.com/searchresult.as ... goryID=633
or
should i jsut go with a 2 x T5?

I am really looking for some expert opinions on these lights.

For the substrate i am jsut curious as to what everyone thinks is the best.

Thanks for all your help,
Brian

[ingg]

You can save yourself a ton of money by going with T5's - I'd do a 4x54 T5 fixture.

We are wrapping up a TEK order right now for club members, or even more budget conscious is a light from catalinaaquarium.com.

I run my 75g with a Catalina fixture, runs great. TEK's are better fixtures, no doubt about it...

[Jeff120]

I agree with Dave on the light, T-5s, either TEK or Catalina, for substrate try ADA aquasoil, eco complete, or the seachem all will grow plants just fine. The ADA will give you an excellent start, but with it comes some added challenges.

[jcali10]

Welcome and hello Brian. I agree with Dave and Jeff on the lights.

Also, for the substrate, aquariumplants.com sells something I believe is similar to Soil Master Select Pro or Turface, both of which work well in planted tanks; it comes in a large bucket, with free shipping.

Most folks like the look of a darker substrate in their planted tanks. There is also something known as Schultz Aquasoil you may be able to pick up at a Lowes or Home Depot, it is not black or dark gray but more of a natural color.

With the ADA, Eco, or Seachem, you may not need to dose ferts initially, but eventually it will become necessary.

Most folks using the above substrates fertilize the water column.

Another alternative is an enriched soil substrate such as a mineralized soil. I don't want to comment further here as I have no personal experience with it yet.

By the way, I am a novice planted tank keeper myself, been at it about 1.5 years now.

[dSerk]

There is also something known as Schultz Aquasoil you may be able to pick up at a Lowes or Home Depot, it is not black or dark gray but more of a natural color.

I tried out the Schulz stuff (if that's what I think it is, I need to check the bag, I may have thrown it out). Think they called it "pond soil." I found mine at Merrifield Garden Center. Looks like kitty litter. One word of caution: I would not use it for your top layer of substrate. Ich medication will stain it... not pretty or natural looking. Supposedly, it's good for absorbing and holding nutrients for your plants' roots.

[vthurd]

Thanks for all the help, after reading the site for the last 24 hours i am down to ADA or Eco-complete for the substrate.

I am still hung up on the lights as i really want the light of the Sunpod where you can see the riples in the water. I would have purchased the system already if i were not worried about too much light and heat problems. Also forgot to included the company i was going to purchase from was going to trade out the bulbs for 14K bulbs for 6500K at no cost.

After reading everyone's post i will probably go with a 4 or 6 buld T5 setup and wait and see if the LED lights come around.

Has anyone tried the LED lights yet?