Upgrading to bigger tank have questions

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Pleco1st

Aquarium Advice Regular
Joined
Apr 22, 2013
Messages
57
Location
Wisconsin
Hello all,
So I'm new to the site as a member but I have read through many posts while searching questions online and I'd thought I'd try a more direct method so any advice is appreciated.

We currently have a 10 gal freshwater tank that the current inhabitants are: 1 common pleco about 7in long and a blue dwarf gourami. We use a 50 watt heater and a simple over the back Aqueon quiet flow filter. We use standard aquarium gravel and mostly fake plants. We have 1 live plant which grows from a piece of wood that we got for our pleco to chew on. We also have a 1.5 gal betta tank that we use for 2 African dwarf frogs with sand substrate and a silk plant with a curved rock they hide under.

We recently bought a 40 gal breeder tank from Petco during their dollar per gallon sale because our pleco is rapidly out growing this 10 gal. We are interested in transferring the pleco, gourami and dwarf frogs into this new tank and then possibly getting a betta as well. (We have not purchased anything besides the tank and stand, no lights hood filter or anything) We want to do a planted tank but we're not really sure where to start.

I've read that some pleco's destroy and up root the plants and we don't want that but he is going to have plenty of hiding places and we feed him algae wafers, seaweed and zucchini so, should he be fine? He's never done any digging in the current tank. We want to do low/medium light/maintenance plants but we're not sure what type of lighting we are going to need or even what is recommended? Also going forward what type of substrate do we need to keep plants healthy in?

What type of filter should we use? We were looking into fully submersible fluval filer, the under-gravel filters and/or a canister filter and were wondering what you would recommend? What are the pros and cons of each? How do the canister filters work? We want one that does not have much current for the frogs and possibly a betta or one that we can adjust the current.

Should we use our current heater and just buy one more and put one on each side of the 40 gal or would it be better/easier to just buy a bigger heater and use one?

I'm sure I've forgotten some of our questions but for now that's all I have.
Please add information on anything I may be overlooking/forgot. Any and all advice and comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks so much :)
 
To answer one question, plecos dont uproot becuase they hate plants, there thrashers when they swim. Wipping there tail around.

For filters, i have always liked canister filters. I used a canister on my 75 and 95 gal.

I would buy a heater for that size tank with a contoller
 
I have a spotted pleco in my 95 gal. I waited till the roots grow before i added him(or her) other then the one floating you see in the picture(becuase i didnt plant it well) all has been good

ForumRunner_20130423_072333.jpg
 
To answer one question, plecos dont uproot becuase they hate plants, there thrashers when they swim. Wipping there tail around.

For filters, i have always liked canister filters. I used a canister on my 75 and 95 gal.

I would buy a heater for that size tank with a contoller

Okay that makes sense, I thought they liked to dig or something but I can see how the way he swims could disturb plants if there isn't enough room.

How does a canister filter work? I understand that you place it outside of the tank and then run lines into the tank but where in the tank do the lines go? Lol do they go under the gravel or just attach by suction cups to the side?

Thanks
 
I have a spotted pleco in my 95 gal. I waited till the roots grow before i added him(or her) other then the one floating you see in the picture(becuase i didnt plant it well) all has been good

Oh wow beautiful tank :) what type of substrate did you use?
 
If you look in the pic i posted in the top middle you will see two outlate lines. Picture was taken when i had only one of my lights in(have two now) but are intake tubbs at each side of the tank. The lines go to the canister i have located under my tank
 
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