First Big Tank plan (Help)

[Deeterl@hotmail.com]

hello fellow fish lovers. i am farely new to fish keeping ive only been doing it for a couple of years and it is very addictive but i would just like to know what are some of your opinions on starting with my first bigger tank ive never really planned out a fish stock and tank plan and it makes me feel bad so with my next tank i want to do it right just wondering what my best bet would be and where to start ect. im looking for something 240g-300g and would like some advice on nice backrounds, nice filters, and especially some fish suggestions my other big tank got thrown together it seems like and it wasnt what i wanted. Its perfect now but Id rather get it rite the first time this time
Help it you would plz

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Well how you build and stock your big tank will depend on how many small tanks you have. Can you rear fish in separate smaller tanks to stock your larger tank? What are your preferred kind of fish? What do you have in mind? How would you like to decorate/aqua scape your master tank?

 

[Deeterl@hotmail.com]

The only other fish i have that is planned on entering the new Tank would be my red oscar he is still young so im going to have base my fish off him which is pretty open for the most part and i want to find a nice 3d backround amazon or jungle type scene. I like almost any cichlid so im open there but i want a nice catfish to put in there too.

 

[jsodwi]

What kind of filter do you want to run? Wet dry setup or stick with canisters? If you go with canisters 2- Fluval fx-5 or Eheim 2262 I believe is the big one. If you want to run a wetdry setup, on a tank the size your looking at, I would use a 55g sump loaded up with bio media and a 1800gph return pump. For this setup you need to either (a) have the tank drilled for plumbing or (b) go with a hang on back overflow box. 2- 250-300 watt heaters would be good. For decor that is personal preference. I like solid black background and black bottom. I've learned from my mistakes and every tank I get now I paint the back and bottom. I had a 300g inwall tank with the taped on background and was always pissed about the watermarks on the back of the tank.