New tank , need some advice

Hey guys / gals,

I've been looking around at getting a 2nd tank to become my display tank. Currently have a little 54L Juwel which I love.
So I found what looks like a pretty good deal at one of the LFS and just need some one to agree or disagree really.

It is a custom built tank 910Lx32Wx51H (with a little sump built into the one side with 3 chambers, one for heater / bio materials / return pump).
Then I've added a 250w heater, some bio material (ceramics, wool, purigen) and ofc lighting (white and blue) - http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm-img/386303123-ODYSSEA-36-90cm-T5HO-Dual-Pro-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Light-lamp-extendable-to-110cm-fits-tank-wholesalers.html


Is this a good idea or can anyone think of something I should be considering that I'm not thinking about ?

Any input much appreciated (cost is under R2000).

 

Sounds like a pretty fair deal to me...the lighting alone should set you back round a grand... Just replace the blue lamp with a tube round the 6500k spectrum and you got a very nice setup that would be well suited for a nice planted tank...

Those are nice light fittings...tank will look cool as an open top tank...

 

It does come with glass sliders on top so that should be good for keeping evaporation down and the light fittings will certainly provide ample light for the plants.

Any advice on substrate ? I don't want to go for gravel, i'd rather look at something more natural and befitting plants while I'm at it.

 

Ooh sliders...have a love/hate relationship with those... Keeps fishies and evaporation in,but reflects a LOT of light... Thank goodness you will have T5's over it - should be o.k...

With substrate - there are wide choices....still a sucker for Filter pool sand mixed with some Pea gravel - looks nice and natural... and its relatively cheap when compared to enriched specialist substrates... Couple of rusted panel pins and some Root Tabs and you ready to go...

 

So we move down the list next up, tank friends!

I currently have 7 swords, 5 rummies and 5 leopard dannios.

For the new tank i am looking at going for a well planted environment and then on the fish side i was thinking the following:

Panda corys at the bottom
Mixture of dannios
Some silver hatchet tetras
If i can, one male betta

All of these should school fairly well.

Any other fish you have had good experiences with?