Missfish

Hello! Thought I should pop in with an update since I thought I'd be up-and-running in 6 weeks and here I am after a couple of months in and am nowhere near together! The chick in me spent at least 6 weeks moving the tank to different spots before deciding on exactly the right spot for it  then another couple organizing the house around it  ). So, I now have water in my tank with a working heater, light (with a bulb I'll probably change) and my old Fluval 404 running. (I also have a small tank with 3 guppies and a small tank with a betta because they followed me home from trips to fish-shops scouting out the bits and pieces I want!) I justified my adoptions by deciding I would use some of their 'dirty' water to cycle my ele tank  I thought I'd also put in some water and plants from my outside tank which has a couple of goldfish in it. I'm in the middle of researching the plants I want / will be able to have in my tank type (low light, no additives, etc). I've sourced a 24w UV unit, but want to attach it externally to my filter and the hoses look to be of very dis-similar sizes, is there some magic wee attachment marketed to solve this dilemma? (I'm waiting to hear back from the supplier re: my query, but if anyone here knows?..). I'm going to add a smaller submersible filter too, once I find it among my stored fish-gear! I've also pretty much decided on/sourced my substrate(s). I think I mentioned my tank being kind of split into two sides/areas? - the left side is in a corner (lowest light) and will have my large driftwood pieces (I think swamp Puriri? that has been exposed to mud/frogs - thinking to add it to the tank while cycling?) and dense/high planting, caves, etc (for ele), and the other side with lower plantings and more open swim-space for the discus'. I've decided on putting a thin layer of cheap stones/gravel on the bottom of the tank, then laying an uneven line of large river stones/rocks down the middle before adding 'Black Satin Aquarium Sand' to the full height of the river stones on the left half, and 'Pearl Aquarium Sand' to half-way up the river stones on the right side, thus creating a split level. Both of these products state that they won't alter the pH of the water - am I right in thinking that this means it doesn't add salt/brine - (which of course ele's are very susceptible to)? Also, I was planning on just using river stones out of my garden - is that ok if I boil the proverbial out of them first and add them during cycling? No use adding pics yet - but will hopefully have the substrate/plants etc in in the next couple of weeks (fingers crossed!  )  

Thanks JJ, yeah I'm really excited to have a fishtank again - I just have one (frog) tank at the moment! Hmm, okey dokey, no kuhlis... I think a group of skittery loaches might prove a bit of a challenge to both my ele and my tank-size (however pleasing I may find them! ) and I'd hate to be responsible for making one uncomfy or lonely, so will leave them out of this tank - thanks for the heads-up!  Missfish xx