low cost syno community- will it work?

[worton[pl]]

I got a chance to purchase a 300l tank for about 50$(US). It's very cheap especially that this tank is only about 1 year old!

I haven't got much money so after I buy this tank i'm going to install 2-3 powerheads with big sponges, heaters and put in some flower pots and bigger rocks for begining. Later in time I will make this tank better of course. Better filtration, substrate and light :). There will be no light at all for 2-3 months probably. I'm going to make this tank a riverine-synos community. For begining I really, really want a s. decorus. It's first time I saw them in pet shop. There is two of them (I know much better would be a group - I'm still asking owner to order few more). They are tiny youngsters (about 4-5cm). Will they do ok for week or two alone in such big and low cost tank?

Regards.
P.S.
Any advice in setting up this tank are welcome :)

[MatsP]

I should think as a _BASIC_ setup, that would work. Lights are more for the owner than the fish anyways [and for plants of course]. Is this in a interior room with no windows or cellar, so there's ABSOLUTELY no light, or just no lighting on the tank? Absolute darkness is probably not such a good thing, but if there's light from somewhere for the fish to get a night/day routine, that should be fine.

Unless you keep the tank in a cold room, I would think one heater is sufficient, as long as it's about 200W or more. If you have really cold environment around the tank, you'd want more heating. But the powerheads, assuming they are reasonably powerful, would provide some heating too.

Any reason you can't get substrate for it right now? I think $30(US) or so would be sufficient to buy some decent gravel for it, unless gravel is MUCH more expensive than in this generally-overinflated-prices-country that I live in. That's a 25kg bag of 2-3mm gravel, in case you wondered.

I've never heard of any fish where there was a problem with the tank being BIG. It's usutally too many/too big fish in small tank that is the problem. Small fish in big tank -> happy fish... Of course, if the fish are territorial and you plan on adding more fish, you MAY get a bit of a problem.

Filtration shouldn't really be a problem until you get more fish in there. Sponge filters aren't that bad anyways... Reasonably frequent cleaning should prevent it from clogging...

However, unless your sponges are already matured, I'd suggest getting some hardy fish to cycle the tank with, and then swap those for the synos when the tank is established.

[All of this based on "good aquarium setup", rather than personal experience with this specie in particular. Hopefully it's of some use to you].

--
Mats

[worton[pl]]

I've checked attic where I got room with old tanks, old filters and other things I used to use :). Found there some sand, gravel and rocks with size like a fist :) - should be nice bottom :). It's not 25 kg since I got always rather small tanks :) but I have to buy less now :D.

It is my room where tank will stand :) - I got nice window-like wall :).

I book this decorus since owner knows me - he said he won't sell them to anybody :). So tank will be cyckled with few rainbowfishes probably :).

Thanks MatsP :)