Want to build a 150-250g tank for Muskie, want help

[jonaddis84]

Hi all, first post here, have been doing some research but kind of hard to find info on exactly what I want to do.

I am thinking about building a large (150-250gal) tank to raise one or two Tiger Muskie to as large as I can.

I have the skills to build the tank, just need to work out the design. Ive got a 72x24x30" in mind which puts it at around 225gal.

Will build a very stout wood frame and use 1/4" plexi for the walls, may need thicker for the front without a center support?

Where Im stuck is the filtration setup. Im going for budget here, so it sounds like a UGF would be the best?

Just spitball here if you have the time, im open to any and all ideas. Do you think 225gal is oversizing it? Would I be able to grow the fish quite large in a smaller tank?

Thanks

[Crispy]

UGF is no good for that size of a tank. I have a heavy-stocked 190g (72x24x25) and I use 2 AC110 HOBs and a 55g wet/dry. Look into a DIY wet/dry system with that size tank. If you're building the tank I suggest drilling out one or even two spots for bulkheads to run some kind of sump or wet/dry. Gonna need some heavy filtration for muskie. What size are they going to be when you get them??

[smaug]

Musky reach 4-5 ft at maturity.I dont know how fast they grow but considering there predatory nature and retiring nature in the wild I would say what you want to do borders on cruelty to the fish.You cannot possible provide an environment for a musky that would be conducive to anything but constant stress for the fish.Please dont do it at all,a musky doesnt belong in any size tank.

[Northernguy]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!:22:

You will need at least 8ftx4ftx4ft with minimum 1" lexan for the front.
it will akso need some seriously heavy filtration.You will be lucky to keep a fish like that alive in a tank that size.

[sunfishman]

i am assumeing that by muskie you mean muskelunge? they get massive! if i were you i would have a very big tank for one. maybe when i get my giant pred tank up and running (yeah right...) i may keep one. if you have less than a 200 tank go with grass pikerel. they look similar but get about 1/6 of the size(a good thing)thumbs2:

[VoidParadigm]

If you're dead set on that species of fish your best bet is to build it a huge pond, otherwise the fish could become seriously stunted and not live as long.

[Tetris]

This idea of yours simply isn't going to work.

It's like saying you want to keep an indoor lion... Sure they're cats... But they're not house cats...