Ideas for setup & stocking of a 300l / 80g, anyone?
Posted: 02 Jul 2018, 19:38
hey all - I'm in search of some ideas here 
I've just picked up a secondhand 300l 150x50x40 (I'm in Germany, but that's 80g, 60x20x16" for the analogue folks
) and I've decided it's time for a catfish-centric tank. I've cleaned it up, and at the moment it's got a very thin gravel substrate, is filtered with a massive 1400l/370gph Cristalprofi external unit, and came with a 4500l / 1200gph powerhead so there's the opportunity to really crank the current up. It's lit with 2 x T8 tubes, but those could easily be changed. I'll put in an Inkbird controller and a inline heater to keep the in-tank hardware to a minimum.
First question is suggestions for layout. I'm not going to plant heavily, and I've got a free hand when it comes to setting up the hardscape. As it's down in the cellar (which is slowly turning into a fish room, but that's a story for another time...) it doesn't need to look superficially pretty - this one's all about the fish...
Second question is looking for suggestion for stocking interesting things with a view to seeing if they'll breed. Ideally nothing carnivorous, or overly delicate - I've got happy ancistrus and cories and L264s in other tanks, but I'm by no means an expert.
And finally given the size of the tank, any suggestions for middle/top species that would be happy living with a current?
I've just picked up a secondhand 300l 150x50x40 (I'm in Germany, but that's 80g, 60x20x16" for the analogue folks
) and I've decided it's time for a catfish-centric tank. I've cleaned it up, and at the moment it's got a very thin gravel substrate, is filtered with a massive 1400l/370gph Cristalprofi external unit, and came with a 4500l / 1200gph powerhead so there's the opportunity to really crank the current up. It's lit with 2 x T8 tubes, but those could easily be changed. I'll put in an Inkbird controller and a inline heater to keep the in-tank hardware to a minimum.First question is suggestions for layout. I'm not going to plant heavily, and I've got a free hand when it comes to setting up the hardscape. As it's down in the cellar (which is slowly turning into a fish room, but that's a story for another time...) it doesn't need to look superficially pretty - this one's all about the fish...
Second question is looking for suggestion for stocking interesting things with a view to seeing if they'll breed. Ideally nothing carnivorous, or overly delicate - I've got happy ancistrus and cories and L264s in other tanks, but I'm by no means an expert.
And finally given the size of the tank, any suggestions for middle/top species that would be happy living with a current?