Which tank would be better?

[tigé21v]

A 120 (48×24×24) or a 150DD (36×36×27)
For a SPS tank?
I really like the extra width of the 150, but not sure if losing the extra foot in length is worth the trade off
Lighting will most likely be MH/T5

TIA

 

[jda]

36x36 is no joke to light. You can handle this with a single 400w MH bulb on a large reflector, so the MH is a good choice for this. If you can handle this, then it will work.

Those are both good choices with a good amount of depth to let acros grow.

 

[TX_Punisher]

Extra depth for aquascaping is nice but for me it’s a matter of room/location in your home.

What MH will you be running? A 48” long tank will require 2 fixtures whereas a 36” could get away with a single 400w or less.

 

[tigé21v]

36x36 is no joke to light. You can handle this with a single 400w MH bulb on a large reflector, so the MH is a good choice for this. If you can handle this, then it will work.

Those are both good choices with a good amount of depth to let acros grow.

I have some old school 20x20 MH reflectors, I forget the brand, I can throw one of them above it with some 24" T5s if I want

 

[tigé21v]

Extra depth for aquascaping is nice but for me it’s a matter of room/location in your home.

What MH will you be running? A 48” long tank will require 2 fixtures whereas a 36” could get away with a single 400w or less.

Room is not an issue, they will both be in the basement (I have both tanks)
The one not set up as the sps will probably be used for a carpet anemone/clown pair.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I have had both DD and normal depth tanks.

A couple things...

If you are GOOD at aquascaping then the 36" depth is really nice. It is however a challange to deal with the whole water changes your depth/height perception. ergo... your long gradually rising ridge will still look like short steep ridge.

The 36" depth creates a lot of opportunities for arches that face the sides of the tank and really good "layering" of rock features front to back.

Lighting is tough but if you are going halide.. which I have, you get FANTASTIC spread. The light is soo even you will wonder how anyone wanted to go LED. I have a geismann spectra so its halide, 4 T5s, and in an effort to retire utterly poor, I put two reefbrite XHO blue strips on it. To say it is the pimpest SPS light setup is a dramatic understatement.

If you like the back panel to stay black... beware that cleaning the back panel is a CHORE. 48" long scraper? .if you find one let me know.

Hope that helps.