Show tank with big budget

I'm not good with equipment (I would post in the DIY/equipment section) but if you want to look into a "self-sustaining" aquarium search for Diana Walstad. Not sure how well it works on a larger scale, but an interesting read none the less...

Yeah, if they're looking for low-maintenance, a Walstad tank is perfect. You could use the extra money you save by not fooling with CO2 and massive filtration by getting a bigger tank and some nice lights. Can't really make specific suggestions without knowing more about what you would like to stock. I am a big fan of local flora and fauna in a university tank, but that may not be feasible in your case.

I've set up display tanks before, and the key is to get the biggest tank you possibly can; a tank like a 100 that looks massive in your living room may look a bit puny in a public building lobby. Also get as much frontage as possible; go for length and height rather than width to make the display area of the tank large.

I agree, for 8 grand I would go bigger. Discus or angels with cardinals or rummys with rams and cories would be my vote. You could do like a freshwater stingray if you were going for the unusual aquarium

how much footage do you have for space where is the tank goin i have a few ideas for you just need to know some parameters of where its goin

100g will be way too small. I'd go with a 300 or so. You've got the budget so use it

:iagree: 8000 dollars is practically enough to do a VERY large Reef, but since you posted here, I assume you want Freshwater. I vote for loaches as a bottom dweller.

Agree'd, clown loaches would be great. Choose personable fish that will draw attention to the aquarium.

CO2 is never necessary, but be aware that you could have algae issues if you have bright lights and no CO2. I have a 300 gallon display tank set up; it is 30" high, no CO2, and the giant vals in it grow like gangbusters. So does the algae. Growing floating and floating-leaved plants can help with that issue- the tank will still be well-lit, but little photosynthetically active light will reach the algae on the substrate as it has been intercepted by the plants above. I'm going to start some Riccia, Azolla, and Limnobium in my tank to see if that will help.

Biotopes are cool. Don't overlook the possibility of a CA native FW tank. You guys have lots of cool cyprinids (including the world's largest minnow, the trout-eating Ptycocheilus lucius), suckers, and sculpins, the Sacramento perch, and lots of interesting marine species that venture into freshwater. Collection of most native species is restricted in CA, but it is quite possible that your fish and wildlife folks would issue you an exemption or even provide native fish for you.