120 Gallon vs 180 Gallon

[reefinginBD]

The best thing I would say is to get the biggest tank your budget and space allows.

 

[ThatPhillyReefer]

Personally i would go with the 180. Definitely more $ and time will be invested but it’s always better to go with the biggest you can go. In the future you may change your mind and want fish that do require a larger tank like that.

Good Luck

 

[Bj’s Reef]

Sounds like your interests are similar to mine. I didn't want something as big as a 180 (or the fish that go with it), but I felt I might want more than a 120. I ended up with a 133 gallon. It's roughly five feet long.

May I ask what are the dimensions on your 133 gallon tank?

 

[Aardvark1134]

good 120 is 4x2x2 and good 180 is 6x2x2...is there a reason you aren't considering a 150 ie 5x2x2 ?
But really what do you want in it?

 

[Bj’s Reef]

good 120 is 4x2x2 and good 180 is 6x2x2...is there a reason you aren't considering a 150 ie 5x2x2 ?
But really what do you want in it?

I hate to barge into this conversation with a question. However can I ask you who or where can I find a 150 gallon tank that’s 5x2x2? That’s a dimension I have never see in my lfs. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Aardvark1134]

there are lots and lots of brands that do 150 gallon

 

[Bj’s Reef]

Thanks.

 

[Scott Ulrich]

If it's a difference between 4' and 5', I'd choose the 5'.

180g = 6' (72x24x25) and 120g = 4' (48x24x24)

I feel like some people like the 24" depth, but I have a 125g (72x18x21) and unless you are looking for a large amount of rockwork, I like the 6' length.

Just remember a 6' tank typically requires extra lighting vs a 4' tank. Just depends what you want to do.

 

[Scott Ulrich]

I'm generally interested in the smaller fish, ocellaris clownfish, banggai cardinal, blue damsel, orchid dottyback, gobies, etc., etc., etc.

The only big fish I might consider getting for a reef tank is a yellow tang, but I also like macroalgaes and I know yellow tangs eat those.

Just be aware that yellow tang prices at my lfs are $500 each now if you can even find one for sale at all.

You can always put macroalgae in the sump or even do a display refugium for macro.