120 or 125 what is better for a reef tank?

[darklcd]

Hey all

My wife herd that the 125 gal tank was 6 feet long and got upset and wants a shorter tank like a 4 foot 120 gal. I am trying to see what will be better.

Can anyone help me out here

 

[tyson256031]

Most 120g are 4'x2'x2', this is a great footprint for a reef! If im correct a 125 is 72"x18"x24", But this may be off. You will be really happy with the 120 4x2x2 though!

 

[chickenofthesea]

In my experience, the wife will never be happy with the tank and really nothing you can do will make it better (if she is against it) lol. My advice is get what you want now!

 

[baker89]

Both will work just fine as a reef tank, but some thoughts to consider. The 125g is 6' long so this is a much more appropriate home for tangs and active swimmers. But the 120g gives you a lot of depth and really opens up your options as far as aqua scaping and coral placement. Both are great tanks but there are pros and cons to both. One thing I did was I used some blue tape and outlined their footprints on the floor to give me a better idea. I really couldnt tell you what I would do but I asked a very similar question when I was setting up and now that I have a 110g (5'x18"x24") I can say that I hate not having more depth for aqua scaping, but I dont really know if 6" would have helped that much... Maybe try posting your livestock "Wishlist" and base your decision off that? Or if the Wife says no 6' tanks thats fine you can still have a great tank with a 120g no problem.

Dennis

 

[returnofsid]

24" front to back will be a lot nicer than 18" front to back, but is it enough to decide to go 48" over 72"?

Another consideration, lighting.

With a 48"X24" tank, lighting will be much less expensive. You can light it with 2X250MH or 8X54watt T5HO.
A 72" tank will require 3XMH bulbs and either if you decide to go with T5HO, you'll need to probably go with 16X39 watt (3') or staggered 80 watt (5').

If you go with a fixture, a 6' fixture will be MUCH more expensive than a 4' fixture. 4' fixtures fit a wide variety of tanks, so more are made and they're considerably less expensive. If you go retrofit, you'll cut down a lot on the large difference in pricing, between 4' and 6'.

Also, take into consideration how much room you have, in your home, which I'm sure you've already thought about.

I think my main deciding factor would be the cost difference, in lighting. Personally, I'd rather have the 24" front to back, than the 6' length.

If it were completely up to me, and budget wasn't a factor, I'd go with the 300 Deep Dimension, 6'X3'X27" tall! My 200DD was HUGE when I set it up. It is already too small...lol

 

[Aquanaut]

Make her happy and get a 125g TALL. That is what I had for many years. And the footprint is still 48Lx24Wx25H. 18" is too narrow for reef since corals like to grow WIDER and TALLER than a standard 120. Or check out the Marineland Deep Dimension 150 for about the same $$$ 48x36x27

 

[BigAl07]

I think your best bet is to at least give her thoughts heavy consideration but factor where it's being placed, what you want to stock and equipment (all have been said already).

With all that being said go somewhere and look at the tanks up close. IMHO the 120 (4x2x2) is a well proportioned footprint and very eye pleasing. The only tank I like better than the (4x2x2) is the 240 (4x4x2). These tanks just have their "proportions" right for my eyes and mind-set.

 

[darklcd]

Well thanks all for the info but I just found out that my LFS only has access to wither a 130 or a 108 and the 120 is not something he can get and with the cost of shipping its not worth it for me to custom order one.

Thanks for all the help but I think the best I am going to get is a 108 (60 x 18 x 24) so I am back to the 18" depth to work with but the 24" height might work ok

Any thoughts because I am lost lol

 

[returnofsid]

I stay as far away from a 5' tank as I could. Light fixtures will be difficult to find. Stand, canopy, light fixtures, will NOT work, in any future upgrade, as very few tanks are 5' long.

With a 4' or 6' tank, stand, canopy, light fixtures, are all useable, if you upgrade to a larger tank, of the same length. 4' and 6' tanks are MUCH more common than a 5' tank.

 

[darklcd]

I am building the stand and canopy myself as my wife was something that will match the living room. I am just concerned about the 19" depth of it rather then 24". The hight 24" might work well but I don't know

 

[Peppie]

If the wife is happy, you will be happy.

 

[TheKraken]

I stay as far away from a 5' tank as I could. Light fixtures will be difficult to find. Stand, canopy, light fixtures, will NOT work, in any future upgrade, as very few tanks are 5' long.

I am grooving on the 58", 80W T5 lamps.

 

[Frankie]

If the wife is happy, you will be happy.

amen!

I hada lot of fun for many years running a 120. You will not be sorry going that route.

 

[T1tan360]

i sent you a pm

 

[darklcd]

I would love a 120 but I can't get access to one. For those that don't know I live in ontario canada and can not get anything from anyone on here and that sucks lol

 

[skinz78]

I love my 120g, but if you want to go longer I would highly recommend a 180.