Wanting To Setup A 150Gal, Need Advice

[phantomlink]

Alright, right now I've got a 20g and a 30g running in separate rooms, but I've ALWAYS wanted a nice, large community tank so I've decided to go ahead and start planning it out. I read alot of the faqs but still had some questions/wanted clarification on a few things.

The tank: I plan to build a 150gallon acrylic tank, for anyone out there who's done it whats that right thickness for the plates? Also how have you worked lighting into the tank since a homemade one wont have the lid/light combo the ones from the store does.

Cycling - I plan to do a fishless cycle when the tank is ready to go in the near future but I just wanted to clarify that its "ready" when the ammonia spikes and goes back down to 1, then the nitrites spike and lower, THEN the nitrates? once they're all back to 0 I'm officially good to go and start adding the fish slowly over a period of a few weeks? I also read that using gravel/filters etc from previously used tanks can help speed up this process. My 30 gallon tank has been setup for the past 2 years and I could use the filter from that or the decorations to help the process if thats true

The fish - This will be a community tank so I'm looking for your advice on good groups that live together. I'm looking for bottom/middle/top dwellers so theres always activity going on. Right now in my 20 gallon I have some guppies and a Shubunkin that have survived from the aquarium crash I had but I was planning on things like Corydoras, raphael catfish, some Khuli loach etc. My heart ( and girlfriends ) was set on some Columbian catfish sharks after seeing them at the store and watching videos of them swimming around the tank in neat patterns but I learned they're brackish water so they're not out of the question. I know different kinds of fish eat different foods, but if you guys know a variety that eat almost the same things so I dont have to worry about any of the fish eating the wrong food or not finding their food in time. Any kind of suggestions to make this tank look great I'll greatly appreciate it

Sand? I really... REALLY want to get sand to work in my tank but my last approach failed so I had to stick to gravel. Whats the proper method for getting the sand cleaned properly? All I see is "clean with fast paced water and filter it out" they dont really explain it very well

Accessories online - Is there a place you can order accessories/sand/gravel from thats cheaper then local pet stores? I dont have a large chain store here and sand is $20/10lbs and gravel is $40/20lbs or so and plants/decorations are all $20-$60

Filtration/heating - I know 150g is a pretty large tank size, but what options do I have for heating or filtration? The only filters I have are for smaller tanks and I dont know if I could get away with numerous filters or if I need one special one. I looked around but I'm having problems finding a Fluval between 70-400 gallons

Thanks alot for any help you guys got

 

[emzy991]

hi
for 150 gallons the acrilyc will need to be at least 10 mm thick, if you are building the hood too then you will need a starter unit for the light. just attach the light tube to the hood. my partner made one for a wee tank we got that had no lid and looked just as good as any origional from a shop.

never done the fishless cycle tbh - all my tanks have been preowned so come cycled and with the filters too but yes old filter media can help cycle the tank quicker. decorations and gravel however do not really hold the bacteria so minimal if any benifit there.

I may be wrong but your shubunkin - is that not a cold water fish? should not be in with tropicals at all x.

for sand & gravel - I have used childrens play sand and its fine as long as its washed through - I just put some at a time in a bucket and use shower head to wash it out until there is no "scum" on the surface of the water, gravel I bought from local garden center - loads cheaper and just as good. well washed out with boiling water - also bought large pieces of stone there nicer and cheaper than pet store.

for the filter though I would look at external rather than numerous internal. yes lots more expensive unless you go preowned but quieter, less clutter in the tank and much more effective x

if you go with sand it is not too bad for cleaning with a gravel cleaner - some may go though but as long as its a big cleaner (and you'll need one with that size lol) then the sand will fall back down just like gravel will.

I have flake, algae wafers, cichlid pellets, frozen foods - bloodworm,daphnia,artimia, mosquito larve etc, - fresh veggies, brine shrimp eggs, micro food - all for my community tank lol. they obviousy dont get all of it in the same day but it gives plenty variety for them. my panchex LOVE the cichlid pellets - they are surface swimmers, I have angels and gourami mid tank and plecs and clown loaches at the bottom. also have a couple of rams and 2 tiny red tail sharks in the tank.
although between me and my partner we have about 40 yrs fish keeping I am still pretty basic on the fish I have kept - all "begginer fish" tbh lol so best for someone else to suggest a good stocking for you x