Doing some serious research before i start my first big tank

[MHcblues119]

ok so since the deal i had on a 300g fell threw i think my dad decided that 300g's is way to big for his house..i think we agreed on a 180. so a 6x2 footprint. Still a monster tank for me since atm i have a 55g.

My 55g currently houses:
9in+ silver aro
4in+ pbass
4in oscar
4in silver dat(staying in 55g until bigger)
8in senegal(staying in 55g)
8in black ghost knive(staying in 55g)
x3 clown loaches(staying in 55 until they are monster!)
(i understand these fish are gonna pop out of this tank soon...but after the summer were starting this project and will take less than a week to setup because im so excited)

were probably going to buy used because money is a little tight since im 17 and pay for most of our tanks...dads helping me out on this one. depending on what filters if any come with the tank will change what filtration i use...i plan on running an Fx5 and then transform my 20 gal into a sump for the tank also..

ok heres question number 1.

should i go bare bottom with one big piece of driftwood in the middle or should i do my normal poolfilter sand with a few pieces of driftwood? since its gonna have some monsters in it i think the barebottom would make it easier to keep up with the bioload and waterchanges right?

question number 2.

iv read up alot about rays lately and i really wanna give them a try. Motoros are the easiest to begin with but they will quickly outgrow my tank. so i think im gonna take a shot with hystrix. I understand that they are pretty difficult to care for but i am a fairly experienced fishkeeper as well is my dad. so were up for the challenge. my main question is tankmates for them. i also really like polys. are there any species that wont nip on this guys disk and will leave him alone? i see them with aros all the time so i assume he will be fine. but what about my pbass and oscar? will they mess with him?

sorry for the length of this post..ill have more questions soon enough...thanks in advance everybody. and sorrry mods i wasnt sure where to put this thread since its gonna touch multiple topics

 

[Darth Scohin]

For a Silver Aro you'll need an 8x3 minimum really....Highly recommend getting a bigger tank now as your current tank has already "popped"

 

[Dayvydp]

Honestly, you don't need anymore fish, especially rays unless you can adequately provide a big enough tank for every specimen. And 180, just wont cut it

 

[CynSyn]

I agree, you have a lot of fish now. As far as substrate, I HIGHLY recommend something in the bottom for the biological filter to adhere to. You can still siphon mulm off the bottom, but with a bare bottom tank and that large a bioload, you run the risk of bacterial bloom wiping out everything in the tank.

 

[packer43064]

A 180 will last for "awhile". Ditch the aro and the stingray idea. Keep the bigger aro or the smaller and find someone to take the other.

I'd keep substrate, the senegals would love sand. Plus with that many fish, your going to need any extra Beneficial Bacteria you can get!

After they grow up a bit, wait a year and see if you want any more fish. There won't be that much room left IMO.