If you had a 180g tank and 2000 dollars...

[Gummy Walrus]

I have a 180g with stand.
with a 2k budget, what would you do?
Include fish and filters and what gravel or tile.
I don't know what to do

 

[CICHLIDFAN210]

ummm if i were you id sell the 180 and stand to me for $300 then you'll have $2300 to buy a bigger tank ? um honestly i have one 180 gallon with a Fluval FX5 with the fluval filter pads, bio balls, Bio max, and 3 - 10 oz bags of chemi-pure for media and they seem to work well. you can buy a 12 pack of the 10 oz chemi pure for $65 at almost any mail order catalog. i remove one bag per month so each bag is in my filter for 3 months. For lighting i have the Coralife Lunar-Aqualight series. Big Als sells the 72" lights for about $450. i have 2 - 300 watt Fluval E series heaters (appx $55 a piece), they have digital settings not the knob that you have no clue where it is set. look into those they will warn you when water is 2 degrees above or below your set temperature with a flashing display. i have 2 power heads for aeration, but that's your preference.

 

[Gummy Walrus]

ummm if i were you id sell the 180 and stand to me for $300 then you'll have $2300 to buy a bigger tank ?

lol nice try i got it for 500$!
but i don't want any bigger than 180g.

 

[CICHLIDFAN210]

my first post posted before i was finished sorry... wasn't trying to be a jerk ... lol just that i accidentally posted before i was serious ... sorry

 

[Brian_Indiana]

I assume it isn't drilled since you didn't list it.
2 FX5's, CaribSea African Cichlid Mix Ivory Coast Gravel, Holey Rock, Lace Rock

various African Malawi Peacocks and Haps, synodontis, and BSN plecos.

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

2 fx5s - one with bio filter media, one with mech
Cheap, nice looking fine gravel
Some nice driftwood, floating plants and large plants in the back. some other plants around the tank, maybe a carpet.
angelfish, tetra, discus comm tank

 

[CICHLIDFAN210]

No my tank isnt drilled, bought it used so it wasnt an option at the time of purchase, and since the first used one i bought leaked i wasnt messing with this one.

Do you really think 2 FX5's are necessary? i use one, clean it out every 2 weeks and seem to have no problems with water chemistry.

 

[NCStateFisher]

No my tank isnt drilled, bought it used so it wasnt an option at the time of purchase, and since the first used one i bought leaked i wasnt messing with this one.

Do you really think 2 FX5's are necessary? i use one, clean it out every 2 weeks and seem to have no problems with water chemistry.

I wouldn't say necessary, but if you've got 2 grand to drop on your setup might as well have excellent filtration

 

[BigO6687]

sump
fx5
powerheads

tile substrate
some fake, but realistic plants, maybe even real ones potted
tons of polys
some small cichla
oscar
crenicichla sp. atabapo fire
30 buenos aires tetras ($1 dollar each at petsmart atm)
silver aro
whatever else you like? idk

all would be fine for life, but the aro and cichla

 

[dgk9723]

Sump
Eheim pros
koralina powerheads
Marineland HOBs or Ac hobs
Jager heaters
2 bulb hagen glo t5
White sand
Drift wood
Live plants
AND will go fish in south florida for some wild jags and have a Colline of 5inch and up