I am getting a 150 gallon tank today, what filter and heater would be the best to get for it?

Question

Also if you have any suggestions for fish to put in that would be great too. I want to get some angel fish and I have some serpae tetras I might move into it.

Answer 1

You should go with a canister filter of some sort. I'm partial to the Rena XP4. It's a good filter, quiet, and relatively inexpensive. Same goes with Fluval. If you want top of the line, go with an Eheim filter - but know that these are considerably more expensive.
Be sure to get a filter that is rated for more than your tank. The ratings on the box don't mean much.
You could also use a hang off the back filter (like an AquaClear 110) filled with filter floss to keep the water clear and oxygenated.

When you set up the tank, put a piece of shrimp of a handful of fish food into the water and let the tank run without any fish for a couple weeks. You can get a testing kit (if you haven't already got one), and when the nitrites and ammonia are at 0, you can transfer the fish. You can kick start the cycle by transfering the gravel or/and filted from another tank you have.

As for what fish, well, that's up to you :) If you go with angelfish, you could do an angelfish community with maybe 8 angelfish, and a school of 20 tetras like your serpaes - and then maybe a school of cory cats?

Answer 2

When you get a filter, do not get the filter that says on the box "150 gallons", they never actually filter enough water through. Usually the next size up will do. I like the biowheel filters.

Your Serpae tetras will be in heaven in a 150 gallon, but may be picked on by the angels.

I love angel fish they are my favorite and a good choice.

Chiclids or Gouramis might be nice too

Answer 3

You should get:
corydoras
guppies
swordtails
freshwater clams(they help cleaning the tank)
This website has a lot of fish that you can find almost anywhere:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=830
You should ask the people in the store you are getting the tank at so they can tell which kind of filter and other stuff you need to get for your 150 gallon tank. Good Luck!

Answer 4

With a 150gal tank I would suggest 2 canister filters and 2 heaters.Personally I have found that both fluval and filstar make good canister filters. Depending on your fish load you want 5-10 times volume turnover rate (750-1500gal. per hour) from your filters. As far as heaters go I use in-line heaters for my tanks. It's one less thing in the tank to distract from the fish and plants. You just connect it to the filter outflow. Good luck!

Answer 5

the basic rule is 5 watts per gal.
too small and the water won't come up to temp, and won't last long.
as for the filter- an outside power filter 2x the rating for it on the box, you might require more than one for a tank that size.
i run 3 whisper 3 filters on my tank that size.
feed sparingly.
keep all your fish about the same size- not only when you get them but remember the adult size-- and they will grow large in that tank.
good choice of tanks--congrats.

Answer 6

eheim filters are very good. dont get angels because they can sometimes be aggressive, definitely dont get cichlids because they are very aggressive. depending on where you live and what kind of fish you get you might not need a heater.
cardinal tetras have bright colors which are nice and diamond tetras are underated and are very sparkly. another nice fish besides tetras are rainbow fish, at a younger age they dont have much color but as they grow older can become very colorful. check out this website for pictures http://www.aquahobby.com/e_gallery.php

edit.
i put ecco filter at first, my mistake i meant eheim. eheim is the brand while ecco is the model name. i have the ecco filter for my planted tank. you should look one rated for your tank size.