Hey all.

Spring is here...summer is coming...

I am planning to start a new tank setup and would like to do some good planning before I actually start purchasing...

I will keep my current light setup: Coralife 2x96W
After reading Tom Barr's article on lighting and got some advice from him, I will be running my lights like this:

96W 6700 11am-10pm (11hours)
96W 10K 12pm-3pm (3hours)

FIRST QUESTION:
How big of a tank should I get?

36x18x18 (50G) or 36x18x20(55G)

- My parents do not want the tank to be bigger than 36"Lx18"W...so I can't change that.
- dutch style aquascaping
- I will be keeping few young discus and algae eaters...will focus on plants mainly
- I am not going to be standing the light fixture on legs.
- low maintenance (ie. biweekly water changes or less w/c per week)

SECOND QUESTION:
CO2 or non-CO2?

- I don't mind pruning everyweek, but preferrably biweekly
- but I do not want plants grow only an inch in a month...
- anyway I can compromise? good growth + semi-fast growth? perhaps shorter CO2 period?

THIRD QUESTION:
What substrate should I get?

- something good for planting.
- something that has high in nutrients (in case I go non-CO2)

Sorry if that is too many questions...I feel like I've learnt alot every since joining this site...and I really want to put all the stuff I've learnt into making an aquarium suitable for me...

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!
Barry.