seachem also makes a gray substrate, onyx sand, that i'm switching to from
flourite. i found the flourite a bit brassy after having it for a few
months. a lfs has tanks with onyx, flourite, "normal" sand, something
black... i found the onyx sand a pleasantly neutral color which let the
plants and fish show their stuff best. others have recommended it as easier
to plant due to its finer granules.

good luck

jtm

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"Eric Schreiber" wrote in message
...
"Zach" wrote:

I don't know which concerns me more, trying to make an enclosure
or trying to wore the lights...hmmm...I have to have an electrician
friend somewhere.

I just bought a lighting kit from AH, and it includes a basic wiring
plan, as well as an advanced one for retrofit installations. The plans
are pretty straightforward, and clearly designed with the
non-electrician in mind. So long as you're careful, you shouldn't have
any problem wiring the setup.

Not sure what I should use as a substrate. I have read a fairly good
chunk of the archives, but their doesn't seem to be a consensus.

Seachem Flourite is an excellent substrate for a planted tank, but I
don't envy you the price tag of enough to cover the bottom of the size
tank you're talking about.

Thermometer and heaters (I was thinking 2 x 250 watt would be
appropriate?

I don't know about sizes, but get Ebo-Jager brand on the heaters. I
wish I had done that initially. I bought a Jalli submersible titanium
heater, which had the really nice feature of the temperature control
being outside the tank, but the stupid thing died less than two months
after I got it.

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