180 native tank planing

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freshyfishy

freshyfishy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 20, 2006
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Barrington, IL
Well im finally getting ready to upgrade to a real monster tank. The plan is to get a 180 wide tank. I just need help with some of the little things.

#1. Glass or Acrylic - I have heard good stories and bad stories about both
#2. What size sump? The tank is Aprox. 187 gallons.
#3. Water issue!!!! - Ok. My house uses a well as the water source. Will this be a problem to use. I have been using store boughten RO water for my smaller tanks. But that would cost a fortune!! (But il do it if I have to). The water has nothing added to it. Im just woried about the iron levels.

#4. Any tank company you recommend? I have been browsing Glasscages.com and they seem to be a company. http://glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewPicture&lPictID=92

Sorry for making this so long:popcorn: :D
I have set my limit to no more then $1000 not including stand,hood,decor,etc to this major part of the project so I want to do it right. Please any info would help me a ton!
Thanks in advanced.
Steve
 
If you can afford it go accrylic. I just had the seam on a glass tank tear open and had water spill everywhere. It really sucked. I thought I was going to loose everything. What kind of natives are you going to put in the tank?
 
acrylic is stronger, clearer, and lighter. but glass is a lot less expensive. just depends on the fish you are keeping. and whether or not you keeping fish that can scratch an acrylic tank.
 
I've heard nothing but good news from glasscages, and I have talked to alot of ppl about them.

If you plan on keeping say, 10-15 sunfish in it, I think 2-3 AC110s would suffice.
 
Im going to keep bluegill. I have 5 in a 45 right now for a grow out tank and maybe a catfish or 2.
 
don't worry about using your well water, just make sure you add a water conditioner to new water and you'll be fine. And, what do you want a sump for? Just get a couple canister filters.
or were you going to make your own filter out of a sump? If your making a filter, then a 10 or 20 should be fine, put your intake on one side and your return pump on the other and fill the rest of the tank with foam or filter floss and there you go.
 
Ahhhh thats music to my ears stingray!!!! LOL the water was one of my biggest concerns. And yes I am going to make my own filter. or do you think the canisters are less trouble. What filter would I use? 2x fluval 404?
 
i say dont use canister youll save some money on a sump. but thats just me, its mostly personal pref.
 
I had a hard time to getting my overflow quiet on my 125 gal tank, also a sump with a wet/dry trickle filter excludes the use of CO2 injection. (i like my native tank planted) I am adding 2 eheim pro II, on my tank i will run them in tandem with my sump and over flow for 2 months or so and them start taking my diy trickle filter down.
 
freshyfishy;471828; said:
Ahhhh thats music to my ears stingray!!!! LOL the water was one of my biggest concerns. And yes I am going to make my own filter. or do you think the canisters are less trouble. What filter would I use? 2x fluval 404?
Click to expand...
Like soggysandwich said, you will save money if you make your own filter, and since you were already planning on it, go ahead. All that a filter does is pass the tank water through foam, and they charge you a butload for filters, especially one or two that would be needed for that size of a tank.

I wouldn't worry about the water too much, my father in-law uses his well water and it has oil in it. That's right, it has oil in it, you can actually set it on fire!!! Just use a good water conditioner and you should be fine.
 
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