10 replies to this topic

[Jett]

I'm shopping around for a larger tank for my greens. My lfs is having a sale going on and there's some pretty nice priced items. I was also talking to one of my bar buddies, who I didn't even know was a rep for custom tanks(!)......

Aaaanyway, I have 4 greens in a 75 gallon and they need an upgrade. I was thinking somewhere in the 120 gallon range, maybe 150. There's really nice packages that the rep showed me last night. She also said they can build it longer rather than taller.

I want to have the greens and some dither minnows that'll probably get eaten...but the main focus is going to be the greens.

Is the 120 gallon good? The greens are about 3 years old and oddly well behaved. No ripped fins, biting, and only mild chasing.

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[Matt DeLaVega]

I think a 125 footprint ( 72x18 ) is more desirable than a 120 (48x24 ). More surface area and more real estate. A standard 120 has the same footprint as a 75. 100 gallon aquariums have the same footprint as a 125 as well. Sunfish for sure would vote for more floor space vs. more depth.

[Doug_Dame]

I haven't owned a 72" tank, but I agree with Matt that from a PERCEPTION p-o-v, a 125g tank is much larger than a 120g. That's for people AND for fish. Although the footprint is only 13% more (9 sq ft vs , it is 50% longer. And for fish that need or want some physical separation, that makes a big difference.

 

(One small nit ... the "footprint" of a std 120 and 75 are not the same ... they're both 48" long, but the 75 is only 18" wide.) 

[Matt DeLaVega]

Right you are Doug.  

[Jett]

I copied the measurements from the tanks for sale. They're the basic aqueon ones. Money really isn't an issue since these are good prices. It's more of a space thing. But I totally could get rid of the couch and make a 6foot work O_O;.... Lol

Edit: Random note... I used to have a 120 48x24x24 and sold it because the center brace broke. I didn't know anyone who would fix it at the time @.@


Edit #2: I just realized I can switch my living room around. Maybe even make room for a 55g fathead tank..... It's a good thing I live alone @.@


Edit#3: A 125 is actually cheaper than a 120. Huh.

Edited by Jett, 06 July 2019 - 06:47 PM.

[mattknepley]

Agree with footprint over height.  I have kept darters, and am currently keeping madtoms, in those plastic cement mixing trays you can buy at big box stores.  Been very pleased with them.  True, not exactly display material, not suitable for jumping fish, and you have to enjoy watching them from above, so not a realistic avenue most of the time.  My point is that the upper level water is often wasted space for many fish keeping applications, and footprint is almost always the more important factor when compared to/contrasted with volume.

[Jett]

OK. So I thought I'd post related tank updates here instead of creating a new thread for the same new tank questions.

I went with the 125 gallon and have it set up. I have one wavemaker and one spray bar from an aquatop forza13 canister. I'm contemplating whether or not to get protein skimmer.

Normally the spray bar and one wavemaker were enough to agitate the surface. But with the bigger tank, there's a film that's forming.

Not sure what the best course of action would be since this is the first time I've ever had a tank this big. Any opinions? TIA

[littlen]

A protein skimmer isn't going to do anything in your application.  They are primarily for marine systems, not FW (not to say that some folks have gotten *some* productivity out of custom built skimmer).  But your problem seems to simply be surface agitation which is not difficult to remedy.  Aim your spray bar or powerhead higher as to disturb the surface more.  And/or, add an air stone at the opposite end of the tank where the film pools up.

Congrats on the new tank.  Could we twist your arm for a picture?

[Matt DeLaVega]

Agree with Nick.

 

I wonder if a group of topminnows would help break it up as well?

[Jett]

It's kinda boring right now. I gotta get a new light and sand (and plants) tomorrow. But I love this tank! My sunnies seem to like the space.

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Edited by Jett, 27 September 2019 - 06:03 PM.

[WheelsOC]

I copied the measurements from the tanks for sale. They're the basic aqueon ones. Money really isn't an issue since these are good prices. It's more of a space thing. But I totally could get rid of the couch and make a 6foot work O_O;.... Lol

Edit: Random note... I used to have a 120 48x24x24 and sold it because the center brace broke. I didn't know anyone who would fix it at the time @.@


Edit #2: I just realized I can switch my living room around. Maybe even make room for a 55g fathead tank..... It's a good thing I live alone @.@


Edit#3: A 125 is actually cheaper than a 120. Huh.

I remember filling out grids like this, and even making custom spreadsheets with formula for calculating total volume, weight, and surface area based on dimensions, as well as price per capacity when I could find that information.

I wonder if just about everyone seriously shopping for a tank has done so at some point.