1. It is good to budget out the cost of your aquarium. You should leave plenty of money to purchase quality filters, pumps, and heaters for your aquarium. Your big aquarium is going to do you no good if you do not have the proper equipment to keep it going.
2. After establishing your aquarium, pick fish that will add well to the current water conditions in your aquarium. Also be sure to check their temperament and other needs to be sure that they will make the transition in your aquarium smoothly.
3. When starting out a new aquarium, it is best to add hardier species at first. Once your aquarium ages a bit and gets settled, you can start to add more sensitive fish to the aquarium.