First Time Tank Builder

[Crixtala]

As you can tell by the post count, I'm a new member here, and I want to start my newt/salamander experience by building a custom tank. What I currently have available to me is a 20 gallon tank that my brother had set up with guppies when the two of us lived with our parents. Since then, we've both moved out on our own, and the tank has been drained, so I can easily get my hands on the tank since my brother no longer has the desire to use it.

What I'd really like to build is a semi-aquatic setup for either Chinese Fire Belly newts or Alpine newts. I'd like to do something along the lines of this build (http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=48886) but obviously smaller, and end up with a finished product similar to the one pictured, with a bit more water.

I want to use live plants for the setup, and was also thinking that if things aren't already too crowded with the newts added, add a few freshwater shrimp and white cloud minnows.

Would either of the newts I mentioned earlier work in this type of setup, and what things will I need to start accumulating to start this build? Filter types? Great stuff (not overly familiar with this stuff, but have been reading about it all over the forum)? River Rocks? Sand? Co co fiber?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[JWERNER]

I say get your self a long tank, low and long. Make a false bottom and just google around for some great ideas. You can easily find out here what you need to get a start just by looking as I figured out ( I'm new to.. ) but honestly, as I figured out long time ago, It is mostly your imagination.