Upgrading: What tank size?

[davocean]

I think that 120g you posted is a really good deal on what would be essentially a brand new tank, and I like Leemar.

I love my 120g, it's an SCA, also a good option, but that 120g you posted is a really good deal and all those extras really add up.

My favorite tank size is 180g, but for me maintenace, WC's, space needed makes that just a bit much.

My 120g is a fair compromise

What you plan to keep would be the deciding factor for me, my only limitation w/ my 120g is tang space, so I keep only one medium size, but I'm fine w/ that.

I prefer a nice open scape, so I would not be happy w/ a 18" deep 125g, though it might be better tang space kinda.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I think that 120g you posted is a really good deal on what would be essentially a brand new tank, and I like Leemar.

I love my 120g, it's an SCA, also a good option, but that 120g you posted is a really good deal and all those extras really add up.

My favorite tank size is 180g, but for me maintenace, WC's, space needed makes that just a bit much.

My 120g is a fair compromise

What you plan to keep would be the deciding factor for me, my only limitation w/ my 120g is tang space, so I keep only one medium size, but I'm fine w/ that.

I prefer a nice open scape, so I would not be happy w/ a 18" deep 125g, though it might be better tang space kinda.

Yeah, any tank will be a compromise. I could go bigger but a 120 seems manageable. The biggest reason for my upgrade is I want a reef ready system with a sump, instead of the AIO I have been running for the past 3 years.

There will be plenty of fish for any tanks size and I already have my favorite fish in my current tank (Flame Angel and Blue Star Leopard Wrasse) so the rest of the stocking will be filling out the tank.

I have decided against the longer tank and I am going to stick with a 120 likely. The cost for new lighting on a 5 foot tank makes it less cost effective than I originally thought. I am hoping to reuse my 6 bulb t5 from my 90g on the 120.

 

[davocean]

Yeah, any tank will be a compromise. I could go bigger but a 120 seems manageable. The biggest reason for my upgrade is I want a reef ready system with a sump, instead of the AIO I have been running for the past 3 years.

There will be plenty of fish for any tanks size and I already have my favorite fish in my current tank (Flame Angel and Blue Star Leopard Wrasse) so the rest of the stocking will be filling out the tank.

I have decided against the longer tank and I am going to stick with a 120 likely. The cost for new lighting on a 5 foot tank makes it less cost effective than I originally thought. I am hoping to reuse my 6 bulb t5 from my 90g on the 120.

I have a 4x T5 on my 120g, and I run 2x LED strips as well.
You could easily do the 6x alone, but maybe look into the reefbrite XHO down the road for shimmer added, as well as increase PAR value

 

[ReeferReefer]

I have a 4x T5 on my 120g, and I run 2x LED strips as well.
You could easily do the 6x alone, but maybe look into the reefbrite XHO down the road for shimmer added, as well as increase PAR value

I am using a sBar from SB Reef Lights to boost up the 6 bulb and give me that pop. I was planning on picking up a second one for better coverage when I go to the 120.

Both my Tek T5 fixture and the sBar are only 36 inches long but my coverage seems ok. I was planning on a more minimal aquascape so I wasnt planning any corals near the glass. Its going to be a softie dominant tank anyways.

 

[davocean]

Plenty of light

 

[dutch27]

Former owner of a standard 120g. It's a great tank, but I wouldn't want a 24" deep tank again, the 24"w x 24"h made reaching the back of the tank near impossible for me. My ideal tank dimensions would likely be 4 x 2 x 1.5. Benefits of the 120g footprint, shallower for ease of lighting and so I could reach everything.

I had a 6-bulb T5 on my old 120 that had no issue keeping SPS pretty much anywhere in the tank.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Former owner of a standard 120g. It's a great tank, but I wouldn't want a 24" deep tank again, the 24"w x 24"h made reaching the back of the tank near impossible for me. My ideal tank dimensions would likely be 4 x 2 x 1.5. Benefits of the 120g footprint, shallower for ease of lighting and so I could reach everything.

I had a 6-bulb T5 on my old 120 that had no issue keeping SPS pretty much anywhere in the tank.

Seems like a good size too. I am looking to go second hand in my local area so Ill keep an eye out.

 

[davocean]

I think most us end up getting used to using a step ladder.
I have a little aluminum 2 step ladder that folds up neatly beside tank.
With my stand tall enough to fit my gear, even if my tank was only 18" h I'd probably still need and use one.

I do see a lot of people going to 20" h, especially BB sps guys that don't lose height from sand bed, and wanting to throw a ton of light at depth, but I personally need height for my scapes and my particular anemone since it's a high perched rock dwellar.

So what you keep would be a factor.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I think most us end up getting used to using a step ladder.
I have a little aluminum 2 step ladder that folds up neatly beside tank.
With my stand tall enough to fit my gear, even if my tank was only 18" h I'd probably still need and use one.

I do see a lot of people going to 20" h, especially BB sps guys that don't lose height from sand bed, and wanting to throw a ton of light at depth, but I personally need height for my scapes and my particular anemone since it's a high perched rock dwellar.

So what you keep would be a factor.

My current tank is 24 inches tall. Without removing the canopy it can be difficult to reach the sand bed but thankfully I am a big guy. I am more concerned with light penetration than reach.

I think 24 inches will be fine for me.

I also use a step stool when needed.

 

[davocean]

Most lighting does fine at that depth.
I keep a mixed reef w/ softies in the lower area, sps is half way up to all the way up, and my particular anemone is always at highest point.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Most lighting does fine at that depth.
I keep a mixed reef w/ softies in the lower area, sps is half way up to all the way up, and my particular anemone is always at highest point.

Yeah, its the same height as my 90g and my btas are always at the top. They just can't get enough light it seems.

 

[Aquavaj]

Out of curiosity I checked my local CL last night and found 2 180g 3-sided low iron eurobraced tanks. Both were tank, stand and sump for under $1000. If I wasn't only 4 months in with my 120 I would have jumped on either one.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Out of curiosity I checked my local CL last night and found 2 180g 3-sided low iron eurobraced tanks. Both were tank, stand and sump for under $1000. If I wasn't only 4 months in with my 120 I would have jumped on either one.

Seems like a great size for larger fish. I just worry the upkeep would be harder than a 120. Not sure where the point of dimishing returns is.

 

[Matt Carden]

I have 5'x2'x2' which I think the depth and height of 2' is great, easy aquascaping. I do have access to my tank from both sides so reaching the bottom all the way around isn't difficult for me but would be if my tank was against a wall.

With 18" depth tank you will see that most of the time the aquascape is leaning/built on the back wall of the tank so really these tanks don't have access to the back buttom of the tank anyways. This means no water flow, detritus trap.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I have 5'x2'x2' which I think the depth and height of 2' is great, easy aquascaping. I do have access to my tank from both sides so reaching the bottom all the way around isn't difficult for me but would be if my tank was against a wall.

With 18" depth tank you will see that most of the time the aquascape is leaning/built on the back wall of the tank so really these tanks don't have access to the back buttom of the tank anyways. This means no water flow, detritus trap.

An open aqua scape is one of the reasons I want to. Go bigger. My 90 is just a "wall of rock".