Moving Up to a 170 Gallon Tank

Question
Hello,

 I currently have a 75 Gallon freshwater Angelfish setup and am looking to move up in size. I have found a 170 gallon tank that includes nothing beyond the tank. It is about 6 feet long and two feet high.  

I would like to know how one would go about setting up a tank of this size. What type of filtration would you recommend? Would two high output heaters be enough? What additional considerations need to be taken for a tank of this size?

Thank you very much for your time!
  Holly

Answer
Hi Holly

I just purchased a 180 gallon tank from my local fish store that was just the tank, stand and canopy. I used a Fluval FX5 Canister Filter and a Penguin 350B hang on back power filter positioned on the center back wall of the tank. I used two 300w heaters, one on each side. My heaters are digital and are set to 80 degrees, and my thermometers are in the front 2 corners of the tank.

The most important thing to keep in mind about a tank of this size, is to make sure the stand you choose is capable of handling up to 2300 lbs. That is what your tank will weigh when filled with water, substrate, decorations and fish.

Other than that, setting up a 170 gallon tank works the same way as any other tank. You can use filter media and gravel from your 75 gallon tank to almost instantly cycle the 170 gallon. I ran sponge filters in a few of my tanks for a few weeks to instantly cycle the 180 gallon. New tank syndrome does not occur that often in larger tanks, it greatly depends on how many fish you are putting in it initially.

Hope this helps you, good luck!

Richard