Starting Up.

[The Old Bill]

G'day all,

Am starting again after 30 years. :?

Will want to keep a few Discus again.

Tank will be 48x18x14 or 48x18x18, with cabinet & hood.
Need input on Filter thinking Eheim 2213 or 2215.
Need your input on Heater size and make, thinking 200 watt.
Need input on Lighting make and tube info.
Need input on tank plant media, sand? or gravel.

Thanks, TOB.

[ILLUSN]

thats a good sized tank for 5-6 discus, id go 4x18x18 personally.

filter 2217, 2215 doesn't have the guts on my 4x18x20 i run a 2217 with 36w uv and a 2228.

heater jager 300w (best you can get)

lighting if you dont want plants a single standars T8 will do, I like the lifeglo2 by hagen, its a nice natural looking midday globe, if you want to show off the color more go for a 2 globe setup, 1 lifeglo2 or somilar tube at the front and something like an aquaglo at the back to highlight reds and blues.

if your going planted get yourself a 2x54w T5 setup, id sugest 1 growlux for the back and either an aquastar or some kind of 6500k for the front, that light would be sufficient for low to mediu, light plants, if you want high light plants get a second 2x54w T5 and put 2x growlux tubes in your second fitting.

gravel is up to you, pool filter sand is proably the mosrt natural, and cheep, if you want to go planted the best substrates i've used are red sea flora base, dulpa ground and carib sea ecocomplete, these will all cost you plenty though.

[taksan]

G'day Bill ...I did the same but after only 12 years.
Illusn's got you pointed in the right direction I too would go a min of a 2217 on a 4x18x18 and probably I'd use 2 of them.