New tank, new to native fishes

Hello! I currently own three tanks, one ten gallon (empty- had guppies few years in it) One 29 gallon (just 2 danios and some snails, waiting for a "dream fish") and one 90 gallon with Malawi mbuna.
We are purchasing a new tank. It will be 180 gallons. Hubby wants to set it up as a North American Native Fish Tank. He wanted to put Bass and catfish in it. After doing some research, I've learned bass might not be good in this tank long term, and most catfish I've seen get too big for 180 gallons. BUT, since I'm new, I'll keep researching.
This new 180 gallon tank will be an All Glass Aquarium with built in dual overflows. I will have the LARGEST wet/dry that will fit under my tank, because I like the large sump space. ALSO, I will have an Eheim 2260 on this tank, I'm planning on hiding the tubing for it in one of the built in overflows.
I haven't purchased anything else for this tank yet, as I need to pick fish first and design the tank around the fish. I'm thinking sand bottom, resin driftwood and silk plants. I've never had a green thumb and the real driftwood I have in one of my tanks makes my water look like tea, and I have to do (a total of) a 50% water change just a week to see the fish (danios) in that tank.
Because I don't think the bass/catfish combo would work out, I was looking at Pumkinseed fish (Lepomis gibbosus) and the Redfin Pickeral (Esox americanus) as the two main species in my tank.
I was hoping to also have some Bluespotted Sunfish in there, I guess I would have to add them first to let them grow so the others wouldn't eat them, and I've heard they are shy so I thought introducing them first to the tank would be good.
I can use two of my smaller tanks for feeder fish if necessary.
How does this plan sound so far?
Will the sunfish pick on the pickeral, or vice versa?
Is there a small catfish that would do well in this tank?
Any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.
I want to LEARN as I go, so when folks look at my tank I can tell them--
"That is a so and so, native to blah blah blah."
I also want to make sure I pick fish that like the same water conditions.
This may be a stupid question as well, but do you all run heaters on your tanks?
From what I'm reading most of these fish like it kind of cool...
Any information or advice is greatly appreciated!!! Thank you.

Welcome! You sure have picked the right place to gain information on native fish. I guess I will add my two cents before the experts start chiming in.

Bullhead catfish are small enough, as are madtoms.
Bass are too large for that size tank.
Generally sunfish are fairly aggressive, with the exception of enneacanthus and one amazing midwestern strain of longear sunfish.
Redfin pickerel and grass pickerel are great as long as they are relatively similar in size.
No heater necessary!

Hope some of this helps and good luck with the tank!

He wanted to put Bass and catfish in it.

AAGGGghhhhhhhhh! NNNOOOooooooo.....!

Silversides! Sell him on brook silversides!

AAGGGghhhhhhhhh! NNNOOOooooooo.....!

Silversides! Sell him on brook silversides!

Bad Irate Bad

Duh. I can't believe I wasted time looking up Brook Silversides... Dude, I thought you were serious, for a moment. Irate didn't read my post obviously, we have already said no to bass.
I'd like some real suggestions. Please.

You are going to be limited on the species you can keep with redfin pickerel. Currently I'm keeping mine separate but plan on moving it in with my warmouth and yellow perch.

The problem with Enneacanthus spp is that they will probably end up as food for a full grown redfin pickerel.

A stonecat madtom will be perfect for a 180G but don't expect to see it much. A bullhead will be more visible and there are some smaller species.

Pickeral and the pumpkinseeds may do very well or may not. Pumpkinseeds seem to have individual tolorances and some are a bit nippy while others are not.

I would not put the Blue-spotted in with a pickeral because it will likely become lunch. Blue-spotted are fairly small fish.

For a catfish I would suggest madtoms over Bullhead, just don't expect to see them swimming around often.

* and Drew beat me to most of those while I was writing

I think a big community of pickerel (maybe up to 5) and some sunfish would be awsome. Just have to be VERY careful because either they are too small and the pickerel will eat the other fish or they are too big and mean and the pickerel will get killed. It is VERY VERY tricky. I might try warmouth with mine next year. But maybe some big peaceful sunfish-like fish would do really good. BTW I think every big tank deserves a pickerel

Chad

chubsuckers