Now we need to set up the tank equipment. This will include filter, heater, CO2 and lights. You will want to make sure you have a multi-plug higher than your tank as you should have a drip loop for electronic appliances in water.
CO2
I'm not rich enough to get proper CO2 yet so I have a Seachem Bio System from Hartlands. This is basically a sealed bottle with a clip, a silicone tube, a diffuser power-head, and bottles of yeast and sugar. The yeast reacts with the sugar in warm water to produce CO2 which is sucked through the pipe and diffused by the power-head. This system is not actually sufficient for my 270l tank, but I will be using easy plants so hopefully it will work out. CO2 is poisonous to fish, but there won't be enough of it in my tank to worry them. I will run the power-head 24/7, but if you have a proper system you will have to turn it off at night using a timer or a tank sensor. When I can afford it, I will definitely be trying out a proper pressurized CO2 system.
Filter
I would suggest going for an internal filter or an external cannister filter, the reason being that you don't want to disturb the surface of your aquarium. You need to keep as much CO2 in the water as possible. Sam's Aquarium sells a wide range of filters at good prices. Make sure you get one that can handle the volume of water you have in your tank. I chose an Eheim cannister filter. If I had the extra cash I would probably have gone for a Fluval. Hopefully your manual-reading skills will get you through setting up your filter. I also bought a surface skimmer attachment for my filter which can improve the look of your tank.
Lights
The cheapest and easiest lighting that is still very effective is T5 fluorescent. I bought Sylvania Grolux tubes specifically designed for growing plants from The Lamphouse and found an affordable 2-bulb Odyssea light fitting which clips over my tank at Sam's Aquarium. When buying a tube, make sure that its colour profile is mainly in the red and blue range. Many people hang their light fitting from the roof, but if I tried that where my tank is the ceiling would come down. You could put in more lights, but more lighting means that everything in your tank will grow faster, including algae. If this is your first tank, you should start with low lighting and get all the other factors right, otherwise things could get out of control.
Heater
I bought a fairly expensive Eheim heater because of some scary stories I've heard about cheap heaters breaking in various ways, but there's not much to this piece of equipment. Set it to the temperature you want (probably about 25 degrees celsius) and plug it in. You will also need a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. Stick it to the inside of your tank at an angle of about 45 degrees.
Thats about it for equipment. Next is to fill up the tank and put some plants in it!
CO2
I'm not rich enough to get proper CO2 yet so I have a Seachem Bio System from Hartlands. This is basically a sealed bottle with a clip, a silicone tube, a diffuser power-head, and bottles of yeast and sugar. The yeast reacts with the sugar in warm water to produce CO2 which is sucked through the pipe and diffused by the power-head. This system is not actually sufficient for my 270l tank, but I will be using easy plants so hopefully it will work out. CO2 is poisonous to fish, but there won't be enough of it in my tank to worry them. I will run the power-head 24/7, but if you have a proper system you will have to turn it off at night using a timer or a tank sensor. When I can afford it, I will definitely be trying out a proper pressurized CO2 system.
Filter
I would suggest going for an internal filter or an external cannister filter, the reason being that you don't want to disturb the surface of your aquarium. You need to keep as much CO2 in the water as possible. Sam's Aquarium sells a wide range of filters at good prices. Make sure you get one that can handle the volume of water you have in your tank. I chose an Eheim cannister filter. If I had the extra cash I would probably have gone for a Fluval. Hopefully your manual-reading skills will get you through setting up your filter. I also bought a surface skimmer attachment for my filter which can improve the look of your tank.
Lights
The cheapest and easiest lighting that is still very effective is T5 fluorescent. I bought Sylvania Grolux tubes specifically designed for growing plants from The Lamphouse and found an affordable 2-bulb Odyssea light fitting which clips over my tank at Sam's Aquarium. When buying a tube, make sure that its colour profile is mainly in the red and blue range. Many people hang their light fitting from the roof, but if I tried that where my tank is the ceiling would come down. You could put in more lights, but more lighting means that everything in your tank will grow faster, including algae. If this is your first tank, you should start with low lighting and get all the other factors right, otherwise things could get out of control.
Heater
I bought a fairly expensive Eheim heater because of some scary stories I've heard about cheap heaters breaking in various ways, but there's not much to this piece of equipment. Set it to the temperature you want (probably about 25 degrees celsius) and plug it in. You will also need a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. Stick it to the inside of your tank at an angle of about 45 degrees.
Thats about it for equipment. Next is to fill up the tank and put some plants in it!
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