JRaffy

I appreciate it! The filter question is the big one. Like I said, I'm coming off the era when everyone seemed to be slapping massive filters on their aquariums and I really never saw the point myself. I also really like the idea of tying a light to my phone, and the ability to crank it down would work out well enough. I also wanted something I can program to ramp up instead of just snapping on. That, and I may want to go higher tech at some point. So, Planted 3.0 it is. And thanks for the air pump recommendation!

So, I'm not going to argue that I'm an advanced aquarist or anything, but I've been apart of the hobby since I was young. However, due to life circumstances I've been out of the hobby for five or so years. I'm planning out my return to the hobby with a 75 gallon aquarium for our new living room that'll be centered on several large schools of small tetras (Cardinals, Embers, and Black Neons or Lemons) with moderate planting dominated by Amazon Swords and Frogbit. I want a loose Amazon biotope where all of the fish and plants are from the region. The whole planning phase has left me with a few questions, though, and I was hoping some of you all could give me some help! When I left the hobby everyone seemed to be pushing hardcore filtration, and I'm actually happy that this seems to be ebbing. I dislike servicing cannister filters and I've historically used Aquaclears, but for a while it seemed like everyone was just obsessed with spending tons of cash to move a LOT of water. I really just want to try the new Seachem Tidals with a sponge combination for funsies, but I'm at a lose here. I was thinking a Tidal 75 in the middle with a sponge filter in each back corner, but would this be enough flow and filtration? Air pumps. Recommendations to power the sponge filters? I've had a lot of bad luck with the Whispers over the years so I'm looking for something a bit different. I like the USB nanos, but would those power the bigger sponges? Lighting. I've done a LOT of reading on the Fluval Plant 3.0, and I'm a fan. I just wonder if this would be overkill given the plants and my intention to, at least for a good while, not inject CO2. Would the Aquasky work for a tank as deep as a 75 gallon? There's also the possibility I may want to switch to CO2 injection eventually, and I like to plan ahead for such eventualities. I'm leaning towards the 3.0 on that basis alone. Anyway, thanks in advance!

Another suggestion in line with what Cory mentioned is the use of a leveling mat under the aquarium. A cheap yoga or cork mat will serve the same purpose.