200 gallon setup

HI all. I'm new around these parts.

I've been keeping freshwater community fish and cichlids off and on for 15-20 years. I've done a little 3 gallon desktop aquarium, have had a couple of 10 and 29 gallon tanks, and have had two 55s.

Now that my wife and I are in the process of buying our first house, I am planning on having a 200 gallon tank by the end of the summer.

Most of my prior tanks I've kind of half-assed as far as the maintenance and cleaning (fish still lived a long time though). But this time, if I'm going to be spending a small fortune on a tank this size, I really want to do it right.

I've been reading up a lot on the nitrogen cycle, water changing, and different types of filtration. But I would like some input from people who have been doing this longer and more seriously than me. How often would you do water changes in a tank that size and how much at a time? Going to regularly scrub the glass for algae and vacuum the substrate. Do you think once every two weeks is good?

What kind of filtration system would you run in a tank that size? I have read up on sumps but probably wouldn't go that route as I've never had one before and I've read there is a risk of flooding with them. What is easier to keep clean - sand or gravel?

I would probably go with cichlids again in a tank that size. I know that not over crowding the tank keeps the bioload down and the fish healthier. I was thinking of going with two Oscars (one black tiger, one albino), one pacu, one Dempsey, a back convict, a firemouth, and a pleco. Those were what I usually kept in my 55s, though not all at the same time. Do you think those would be too much? Was also toying with the idea of going all pacus or all Africans. What do you think would be a good amount of fish if I went either of those routes?

I've also never tried live plants before. I've read that can be tough to do with cichlids. Has anyone ever had success with it?

Its probably going to be about 6 months, give or take, before I actually get this tank. So I am going to really take advantage of the time and continue to read up on a lot of different things as far as maintenance goes and other ideas for the setup and what type of fish to go with. I would just love any and all input from people who are more experienced at this than me and what they wouldndo with a tank that size. Thank you.

 

Waterchanges should be done on a weekly or biweekly basis. Depending on stock. With plecos definitely weekly 20-25%. If you go biweekly id up the percentage. It also depends on parameters as well.
Filtration if it were mine id run a sump. I prefer sumps for several reasons. Maintence is much easier. Its cheaper than buying a cpl fx6s or any other can. And hobs you would have multiple which can be an eyesore. There are several ways to prevent flooding sump or tank. If the tank is already drilled id definitely use the holes. They offer many advantages such as hiding equipment and increasing water column.
As for substrate I prefer sand over gravel. Plants tend to do better in gravel from what ive heard but with roottabs and liquid ferts it can be done. Sand is much easier to clean. And looks better imo. Ive got play sand, aquarium sand and BDBS in my 150. Its a pain to rinse for initial install if your impatient, but its well worth it.
Stocking ill let someone else help on that. But if it were mine id go with endelecherrI bichirs or ornates. Maybe eel. I like more unusual fish though. Buta tank that size your options are almost limitless. Almost.

Congrats on new house and tank keep us posted and don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck.

 

I've been looking towards a 200ish sized tank. I have 2 toddlers, so I share your fear of sumps but for different reasons.

I'm seriously looking at the oddysea cfs 11I or 14I with a secondary, smaller can (sunsun 304 or oddysea cfs700 maybe) in case the primary crashes. You're out the door for less than the cost of a prebuilt sump, and the system is all safely enclosed.

Oddysea -

Sunsun 304 -

I have 2 sunsun filters on my 75gal and really like them.

 

Just for clarification I also have a toddler and my sump cost me under 100 bucks and it is enclosed and have several fail safes for overflow. Sump in stand and stand looks to a young eye like there's no doors just designs and many of us here have children and large tanks with sumps its all about preference though just thought id share.

 

Just for clarification I also have a toddler and my sump cost me under 100 bucks and it is enclosed and have several fail safes for overflow. Sump in stand and stand looks to a young eye like there's no doors just designs and many of us here have children and large tanks with sumps its all about preference though just thought id share.

How'd you get a whole sump setup for under $100? Did you find a good used one?

I can get the tank made under $100, but by the time I add a 1000gph+ pump, spray bars, float cutoffs, and the overflow plumbing I was coming in around $250.

 

Got the pump on sale for cheap 60 bucks 960gph. Tank dollar per gallon 30 bucks. Glass for baffles 25. Silicone I buy marineland expensive but my preference 11.00.And all my media ive had from previous filters. Okay a little more than a hundrede per the list but in reality I had the tank and pump. But small tanks are easily found for cheap on cl. I also have pvc laying around but id guess 15 to 20 there

 

The guides I was following said at least 5x tank volume for gph, and 20 gallon of sump per 100 gallon of main tank. Since OP and I are both looking at over 200 gallon tanks, that's an increase in cost over yours.

With just your numbers, were already at the cost of an Oddysea 14i, for only minimal benefit. That's not even counting the labor to build the sump.

 

The guides I was following said at least 5x tank volume for gph, and 20 gallon of sump per 100 gallon of main tank. Since OP and I are both looking at over 200 gallon tanks, that's an increase in cost over yours.

With just your numbers, were already at the cost of an Oddysea 14i, for only minimal benefit. That's not even counting the labor to build the sump.

Well, there's the beauty in DIY!
When you buy a pre-made sump, you're paying for materials AND labor.

 

I don't think you understood the conversation, JimTheFishGuy. Big Red and I were discussing DIY sump, but the OP has not indicated a willingness or desire to do a DIY, so the prebuilt option stays on the table.