New 180 setup need some guidance

[dfritschle]

Okay, let me start by saying that I'm definitely on a budget and am trying to spend as little as possible. I am willing to get new equipment later as funds become available.

Here goes. I'm going to pick up a 180 gallon aquarium(6x2x2) in a couple days. I have big plans for this, but some of the plan isn't finished. That's where the guidance part comes in. I am going to put it in my basement and build it into a wall. The tank will only be visible on one side. The back and sides will be painted black or dark blue. I will also put insulation around the back and sides. The back side of the tank will adjoin a bathroom. My plan is to put in a drip system with overflow to the sink drain pipe. I will be purchasing a chloramine filter as my latest available data states that I have 2.1 ppm of chloromine. I am planning for .5 gph drip, that would make for 46.7 percent water change per week at 84 gallons. This is my potential stock list:

1 Jack Dempsey
4 Firemouth
4 Convict
4 Red Hook Silver Dollar
2 Butterfly Pleco
2 Bristlenose Pleco
4 Ornate Pim (Pimelodus ornatus)

I already have 1 Jack Dempsey, 2 firemouths, and 1 convict. They are all still under 3" and the new tank mates would be purchased at the same size.

I am planning on using half pool filter sand and half play sand to get a little bit darker looking substrate. Heating will be done with two 300 watt Rena Smart heaters.

The things I need guidance on:

Lighting - I am thinking of using a 4 foot flourecent fixture with 4 T8 bulbs. Does this sound okay? Tank will not be planted.

Filter - I am thinking of 2 Filstar XP3s. I would like to keep my initial filter costs under $250 and this seems like it would work. I am, by all means, open to other suggestions within that price range. I also have considered Sunsun filters as I have read nothing bad about them. I'm not sure if the Sunsun filters would have the appropriate media for bio filtration though, and that would add extra cost. From what I gather, the XP3 would already have the media I need.

Stock list - How does it sound? To many fish, incompatible?

Thanks,
Dustin

 

[dfritschle]

Bump

 

[Egon]

Lights - T8 is a great choice. T12 is old school and cheaper, most likely will be phased out in the next 5 years. T8 will be around for a lot longer and will save ya in electric also but a few more $$ at first.

Is the tank drilled? If so, you may want to look into making your own wet/dry and submersible pump. Easy and cheap. If it's not drilled look into www.glass-holes.com and install the over flow they sell. I still think it will be cheaper than a canister filter. Also look up "pot scrubbies" for filter media on here. That will be a very productive search as far as cheap DIY filters and media.
Stocking looks fine to me.

 

[fishbum]

I would get a Fluval FX5 for your filter.Look on ebay,you can find them shipped for around $200.

I would not have that many Cons and Firemouths.They will inevitably breed,possibly cross breed,and you will have fry,and territory issues.
You could cut down their numbers to one of each,and then add a Green Terror or another smaller sized,moderately aggressive SA/CA cichlid.I would also increase the Red Hooks to 6.

The lighting sounds good to me.

 

[Egon]

^^^^ A agree with the breeding. That will go bad after a while

 

[sizors]

Filter - I am thinking of 2 Filstar XP3s. I would like to keep my initial filter costs under $250 and this seems like it would work. I am, by all means, open to other suggestions within that price range. I also have considered Sunsun filters as I have read nothing bad about them. I'm not sure if the Sunsun filters would have the appropriate media for bio filtration though, and that would add extra cost. From what I gather, the XP3 would already have the media I need.

^ why not build a sump? there are tons of examples in the diy section. that would definitely help keep your costs down. if not that, check craigslist as ive seen quite a few sumps for sale at least in my area.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I am thinking of using a 4 foot flourecent fixture with 4 T8 bulbs. Does this sound okay? Tank will not be planted.

T8 bulbs are fine, the only thing I might suggest is going with two 3 foot double fixtures instead. I use this on a 6 foot 150 and its great.

you may find that with a 4 foot fixture on a 6 foot tank the ends of your tank are a bit dark.

if you suspend the fixture above the tank though, it wouldn't be so bad.

as for the Rena's, that would work. I run twin Rena XP3's and an Aquaclear 110 on a 150g and its fine.

 

[dfritschle]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I will add 2 red hooks to the list and change the number of convicts and firemouths. I know that a lot of people like sumps, but I don't think it appeals to me. Looks like the xp3 vs fx5 is still up in the air. I may go with 2 xp3 and add an fx5 when I have funds. This is the light I was looking at http://bit.ly/a2ojpx I plan on putting power glow bulbs in it and hanging it above the tank.

 

[dfritschle]

I was supposed to go and get the aquarium Friday and the guy called me and said he couldn't get it out of the basement and we arranged to meet Saturday (today) morning. Well I woke up this morning to a text message from him, more on that in a minute. So I drove 2 hours away, get there, and the aquarium is still in the basement. Well i waited around a while and got another guy to show up and we got it out. Here's were the text message comes to play. The craigslist ad said that it was a 180 6x2x2 and the text message I got was that it was a 210 7x2x2. Well this is both good and bad. The bad. I sold my truck about a year ago and got a chevy hhr. A 6' aquarium will fit in it pretty well, but 7' doesn't. I had to take out the front passenger seat, take off the driver side armrest, and move the drivers seat waaay forward. The aquarium was also not very clean and I am going to have to reseal it. The good. The wall I am building it into is 7' 9" and this aquarium will allow me to put it at the end of the wall (like I wanted) and be able to see two sides instead of one. It's also a foot longer and that can't be bad for the fish. I believe it's an oceanic made in 1990 or so. The sticker was hard to read. But the glass tops said oceanic.