Going From A 36 Gallon To A 180Gallon

[zoopkamol]

bought an 180gallon 6x2x2 tank fairly cheap.
so i swapped all my fish/decor/filters to the 180gallon
 
fish i had were a red-tail black shark and 6 tiger barbs.
filter is a fluval 206
200 watt heater
 
now for new fish i want to add
 
1-sailfin plec
5-6 clown loaches
8 panda corys
addition 4-6 tiger barbs
 
tank will look empty for awhile BUT should have enough space in tank  for them to fully grow
 
added a fx5 filter the other day (split media from 206) and added more media to both.
 
tank is drilled for an sump (currently i plugged bulkheads off)
wondering if i should do a sump filtration also or would that be too much filtration.
i have an 55gallon tank sitting empty atm to build sump.
 
so questions are
1. stocking levels/fish sound ok?
2. add 3rd filter option(sump)?
3. should i add another heater?
 
any comments be appreciated ..good or bad ...im in this for my fish not my feelings so dont hold back.

 

[snazy]

I'd go for more filtration and use the sump option. It can only help considering the tank is drilled for it and the clown loaches and pleco won't mind when they grow to adult size. There's never enough filtration.
I wouldn't put panda corys with these potentially big fish. They are too small to compete with the clown loaches for food, or any of the fish you intend to put for that matter, and I wouldn't put any corys with barbs because of potential nipping. I don't know how long you've had the red tail shark for, but the older they get, the meaner they become, might as well turn against even the tiger barbs. When you are getting the clown loaches, try to find  bigger size, healthy loaches and drip acclimate them to avoid any white spot/ich outbreaks.
And probably another heater would be an option considering you only have a 200W one. Maybe an external heater?

 

[Chad]

Congratulations on the upgrade! Having a large tank is nice and forgiving as well. I keep my stock levels below what my tank can handle so I don't have to worry as much. I agree with the above about the sump option. They are really useful and provide excellent filtration.

 

[zoopkamol]

thanks for advice ... redtail black shark around 4" atm and not as ageressive as he was in smaller tank ....he gives up chasing the barbs now and actually joins the shoal 80% of the time.
ok gotta build my sump and plumb it in. ill take my time though as filtration is good now, no need to rush.
heater ill add to main tank until sump done then ill move at least one to the sump

 

[Chad]

You should do a journal thread with lots of pictures so everyone can follow along the progress.

 

[snazy]

A Journal would be lovely, inclusive building the sump and such.
Good luck with the tank.