Heating for 180 gallon

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Fishguy679

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Oct 30, 2016
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I just got a 180 gallon aquarium on cregslist for a really good deal (200 with the stand plus a the line and a 54 gallon corner aquarium he threw in). I am trying to do heating and filtration cheap as possible. I used to have a bunch of aquariums (about 6 and my biggest was 120 gallons) but i got out of the hobby and sold them and now im getting back in the hobby. and I do have a bit of experience with has aquariums but I'm a bit rusty. for heating I was hoping a single aquegon 300 watt would do the job, I was looking at some threads and it seemed like the rating didn't matter. it also dosnt get too cold were I amiss so I'm hoping just 1 300 watt would work, I'd not what's the cheapest thing that would work (and for heating I'm not gona mess with anything that's not a name brand beacuse I don't want to fry my fish). for filtration I want to go cheap as possible while giving my tank adequate filtration for large and messy fish (cichlids and possibly an arowana or something exotic and Larget like an arowanna). I was thinking maybe a few of those cheapo sun sun things on ebay and amazon or maybe a cascade 1500 and one of those. also, I'm not little low on money right now but I want to start the nitrogen cycle as soon as possible. so if I got one smaller filter now (ethier a sun sun canister or an aquegon 55 75 hang on back filter) could I start the nitrogen cycle with one smaller one and add more filters after the nitrogen cycle is done? also for lighting I am trying to go cheap as possible. I was thinking of getting 2 30 inch lights and that would cost me around 50 dollars, is there anything cheaper than that that could light my tank well?
 
I prefer to have more than one heater and smaller so if one fails you don't cook or freeze your fish
 
I would but the aquegon 300 watt is pretty much the same price as the smaller versions I just need to know is a 300 watt will be able heat my tank and maybe down the old when I have more cash I can get a second 300 watt. also I was looking at sponge filters, there very cost effective, maybe I could get a a few sponge filters and a medium sized canister filter or filtration? also could I get a sponge filter or 2 and use it on start the it nitrogen cycle while I save for a canister?
 
If you go sponge for bio I would get hobs for mechanical. Aqua clear is the best but penguin is cheap and I find them functional
 
So maybe an aquegon 55/75 for mechanical and 2 large sponge filters for bio?
 
So maybe an aquegon 55/75 for mechanical and 2 large sponge filters for bio?
I would say do two sponge filters and maybe a sun sun 304b or 303b..they are very cheap but decent quality..fo heating my 220 that I sold off I used a eheim jäger 300 watt, kept the temperature just right
 
Ok I think I'll go with 2 sponge filters and a canister and maybe a hob toof, ND for heating I'll just go for 1 300 watt. but what's the cheapest option for lighting?
 
Ok I think I'll go with 2 sponge filters and a canister and maybe a hob toof, ND for heating I'll just go for 1 300 watt. but what's the cheapest option for lighting?
Led light strips off amazon..I think they come in like 6' and 8' lengths
2 sponge filters and the sun sun 304b or aquatop525 would be good enough
 
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