Starting a 20 gallon (long) aquarium

I'm in the process of starting up a 20 gallon long tank. I have purchased the aquarium and some black sand, but have yet to buy a filter or lights/hood.

I've been looking at Aquaclear filters but am unsure which would be best. Should I buy one like the aquaclear 50 or get two smaller ones? (this tank will have my otos, dwarf rasboras, honey gourami and mystery snails for right now and they all seem to enjoy the current)

Also, I have been trying to grow live plants such as anubias, java ferns, banana plants, wisteria and even dwarf hairgrass. Some are growing well and others like the dwarf hairgrass have died off. Should I buy the typical hood/light combo or is there something out there that works better?

I've purchased Tetra Safestart and plan to use that as well as some media I have in my other aquariums that are cycled. However, I read somewhere on this forum about using a piece of raw shrimp with the safestart just to be on the safe side and not chance any harm to the fish? I ask because my otocinclus aren't the easiest acclimaters and I don't want to put them at risk. If I should cycle it this other way, then I can certainly do that instead.

I've always just bought kits in the past, so any help would be appreciated.

 

I would recommend the aqua clear 50 filter. And for lights I would get a T5HO around the 30 to 40 watt range also get some root tabs for the plants, plants get most of there nutrients threw there roots

 

I agree. Go with an aquaclear 50 of a fluval c3 power filter. For
lighting I would recommend this light fixture:



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Thanks for the help!

 

The aqua clears are great filters and I would highly recommend them.

As for the plants the T5HO might be a bit overkill for these plants but it can't hurt. As for the root tabs none of your plants are heavy root feeders. I would look into some of the soluable fertz such as API leaf zone and flourish comprehensive.

If you really want to get into it some CO2 would be great as well as swapping out to Dry fertz but that is a big jump form where you are now.

 

Any thoughts on LED lighting?

 

Root Tabs, Flourish Excel and Flourish Comprehensive would all be a good ideas but follow the directions and don't over do it.

I'd stick with the T5 and not bother with any LED's.

AC filters are very good for a tank that size IMO.

Just my :

 

I have never used LEDs on plants, always wanted to try it. Some people have been using LEDs on reef tanks but I'm not sure about the results they have been getting.

IMO root tabs are the most important part to get your plants the right nutrients even if there not huge root feeders it will still help a lot.

And a T5HO might be overkill a little like pirahnah said but later on if you decide to have some high tech plants you will wish you would have bought the T5HO over the T5