New 40 gallon try new stuff setup

Ok so I got a 40 gallon breeder for next to nothing. Like brand new, it's outside on my deck right now filled and sitting just incase it leaks.

So my plan is to build a stand first then plumb a 10 gallon sump filter, with foam block as mechanical filter and lava rock as biological filter. I am planning on using 2 150w heaters in the return pump chamber for heating.

I was thinking about using pool filter sand as substrate and planting this one (I have never had a planted tank before) also I am going to paint the back wall black and do some kind of rock structure

Any ideas or suggestions?

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I'm guessing you're looking for low maintenance plants? If you're willing to use root tabs and ferts, you will have a larger range of plants that you can have.

 

Finally got to working on tank. Painted the back wall and built a stand

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OK. the stand is done and painted tank is up and filter completed, I went with a DIY canister filter with 2 foam pads sandwiching a carbon infused foam pad, and 16 x 4 inches of lava rock. 400gph pump. I used pool filter (silica) sand as substrate and it looks awesome, I found some rocks and did the muriatic acid test on them and they passed (no foaming) so I built a rock structure, 250watt Ebay heater and Ebay LED light all up my total is less that $150. I added my ammonia last Thursday and kept the level at 5.0ppm all week, today I tested nitrite and had 2.0ppm and ammonia dropped from 5.0ppm to 2.0ppm in 24 hours.

 

Pics

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Pic

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