by thewass » Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:37 am
i would do an external canister filter. And even better than that, instead of getting one really big filter, I would get two slightly smaller ones. reasons why:
1. external filters are easier to clean because all you have to do is detach the hoses from the filter, and carry the filter away to wherever you are cleaning it, and easily just snap the hoses back when finished. The filters are placed beneath the tank, and with your in-wall setup, this would probably be the most convenient for you since you dont have to reach into/above the tank. also, any other kind of filter maintenance is much easier
2. having 2 filters instead of one gives you a backup just in case one fails. It also allows you to have some filtration even when the other filter is being cleaned, and allows the water to be sucked in from multiple points in the tank. in my opinion, this is very important in a larger tank
3. canister filters allow you to place any kind of filter media you please into the baskets. this allows for you to customize your filtration for optimum performance
There are many different kinds of canister filters and you have to do some research to see which one you feel most comfortable buying. Personally, I bought the fluval 406 and I love it. I will be buying another one as soon as this filter is finished cycling. but again, everyone has their own preferences so do some research.
for community fish, I personally have a bias towards tetras. they are wonderful community fish that are interesting to watch. I have had success with them in the past housing them with gouramis, danios, platys, mollies, many kinds of algea eaters, corydora, crayfish, mystery snails, rainbow and bala sharks, and some more that i cant really remember off the top of my head right now.
I bought my filter and heater from amazon. cant beat the prices. the heater i have is the aqueon pro heater 200 watt. lifetime warranty and an indicator light that tells you when the water is/isnt at the temperature you set it at. you cant really beat this heater
as for the lighting, most LED lighting I have seen is custom work (which i see isnt a problem for you). I dont have much experience when it comes to lighting, but I have seen LED lighting and there is nothing comparable to it. I would most definitely go this route.
the most important things you have to remember are:
important thing #1: Research. lots and lots of research. convince yourself you want to buy something, then research it again just to be sure.
important thing #2: NEVER buy something just because someone told you to. take recommendations but dont buy on instinct. (see important thing #1), this is your tank, and if anything goes wrong, it will be you cleaning it up. it is you enjoying the tank so make sure you do it your way
important thing #3: have fun, enjoy your fish, and post pictures when you're done. I would love to see it when it is finished