Robert Hudson

Somewhere about a month ago I posted that I wanted to get a 30" long tank since I had a 30" power compact fixture with two 96 watt bulbs. I asked for suggestions on what size tank I should get. I can't find the post now, but this is what I ended up getting:

56 gallon "column" tank, Top Fin from Petsmart. The tank is 30x18 by somewhere around 26" tall. Taller than what I wanted, but the only 30" long tank with that much depth from front to back that they had. I figure I will make the substrate 6" deep. The tank and stand together was $249.

My plan for the tank is to use nothing but a mixture of North American plants and native fish. I have lots of moss sent to me from at least three different people here at APC who collected the moss locally. Other plants I am considering are Ludwigias, Proserpinaca, Potamogeton, E. tenellus, Eleocharis, Isoetes, and perhaps some form of Myriophyllum. Other possibilities: Didiplis, Bacopa, hornwort, Lobelia, and Lysimachia.Any other suggestions for plants?

I also want to use some basic aquascaping design model. Any suggestions as to which model (concave, island...) would best suit this size tank?