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wooz29 · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:22 am Post subject: Help me choose a tank

As I have said before I will be getting a large tank pretty soon (at least a 120 gallon) for my Africans. I was wondering which is better for the fish. The dimensions for the 120 are 48x24x24 & the dimensions for the 125 are 72x18x22. I would guess longer is better but what about the width, 2 ft vs 1 1/2 feet. I want to stock this tank pretty heavily. Opinions please
Thank you Smile

clunkster · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:51 am Post subject:

i think a lot would depend on where you are going to site the tank, but if that is not a problem then i would personally go for the bigger tank as the more water you have then the less water quality problem can arise, but then on the other hand you also have to look at the surface area as well, personaly as there is not a lot of differance in the volume of the two tanks then i think it would be down to your own personal choice, you need to look at what you are thinking, as a fish stocking list and also how you will go about aqua scapping the tank also think about which will be the easiest tank to maintain as you will want to have think about accessing the tank for cleaning, hope my little input helps Very Happy

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i dont keep fish i keep water that fish can live in what do you do ?

mbovinet · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:24 pm Post subject:

I've had both setups myself. I'd go with the 125 gallon. You'll like the 6' footpring much better. More viewing area and if you have Africans it's more room to rlace caves and things like that to hide. It just looks 10 times better. The 120 I had 4X2X2 looks more like a viewing window not a show tank. Any other questions please let us know

Thanks

Mike

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Frontosa Anyone????????????

wooz29 · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:28 pm Post subject:

mbovinet wrote:

I've had both setups myself. I'd go with the 125 gallon. You'll like the 6' footpring much better. More viewing area and if you have Africans it's more room to rlace caves and things like that to hide. It just looks 10 times better. The 120 I had 4X2X2 looks more like a viewing window not a show tank. Any other questions please let us know

Thanks

Mike

Would you happen to have pics of both? It's hard to judge by looking at a sketch on all-glass.com

mbovinet · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:04 pm Post subject:

wooz29 wrote:

mbovinet wrote:

I've had both setups myself. I'd go with the 125 gallon. You'll like the 6' footpring much better. More viewing area and if you have Africans it's more room to rlace caves and things like that to hide. It just looks 10 times better. The 120 I had 4X2X2 looks more like a viewing window not a show tank. Any other questions please let us know

Thanks

Mike

Would you happen to have pics of both? It's hard to judge by looking at a sketch on all-glass.com

I no longer have the 4X2X2 setup. I do have the 6 footer in my bedroom now. Your welcome to stop over and take a look at it. I think you'll like it. If not I think I have a pic in the tank pictures sections

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Frontosa Anyone????????????

wooz29 · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:46 pm Post subject:

I did see the pic of the 125. It looks great! So you dont think the .5 foot width difference is a big deal to the fish?

mpp · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject:

I think it really is a matter of preference. If you have the space, a six foot tank can be very nice, but I also like tanks that have a little more width (depth of view when looking in from the front). That's the primary reason I like the 75 vice the 55 although I have both types. I've seen some extra wide deep tanks that just rock. I think bigger is better when it comes to show tanks and bhoy gives good advice on the bigger tanks being a little easier as far as maintaining water qualities and parameters.
If you could swing it, a nice 180, or 240 wide is very visually striking. I'd like to get a 240 wide myself. Of course that'd mean I'd have to haul the 180 downstairs into the basement.
regards
mike

mbovinet · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject:

Mine don't seem to mind only having 18 inches from front to back. I love my 240 long 8X2X2. Its not too much more to go up to a 180 or the 240. What is your budget?

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Frontosa Anyone????????????

wooz29 · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject:

Budget? What's a budget Laughing

I dont really have a figure in mind. At one time I had a figure of around 1500.00 for the large cichlid tank along with a 95 gal drilled mega flow tank.

mbovinet · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:45 pm Post subject:

I got my 240 long, drilled for 2 overflows stand, canopy glass lids delivered for not much more than that. If you're willing to spend that much I save a little more I love my 240 and it makes my 125 look like a guppy tank

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Frontosa Anyone????????????

ABangtson · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:46 pm Post subject:

wooz29 wrote:

Budget? What's a budget Laughing

I dont really have a figure in mind. At one time I had a figure of around 1500.00 for the large cichlid tank along with a 95 gal drilled mega flow tank.

The key to a cichlid tank is always going to be footprint. The more width and length, the better.

For 1500.00 you can get a 125 gallon whole running set up as follows:

Tank/stand, light and tops - 900.00 (seen at this price recently @ Paradise Cove)

Sand to a 1" depth on the bottom - 16.00 (Pool filter sand, Superior Spa)

Rocks for decor - 25.00 (250 lbs. of rock from The Rock Place)

Canister filters(2) - $180.00

HOB filter - 90.00

Paint for background - 12.00

2 200W stealth heaters - 60.00

Digital thermometer - 6.00

TOTAL - $1289.00 and you are up and running. You can stock almost any African without difficulties. I, personally, would only go for a larger tank if I was keeping frontosa.

HTH

mbovinet · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:24 pm Post subject:

If you want to stick with the 6' footprint. I'd go with a 150 gallon. Same stand as the 125, the tank is just a bit taller.

I have bred my Burundi Frontosa in my 125, well now Andrew has it. But they should breed in the other 125 that they are in now.

Andrew pretty nice list. I'd say Paradise Cove is a bit high on that tank price. It wouldn't be to ba if it were a drilled tank. 1 Heater should be fine on that 125. I run a single 250 watt for my 240 and the 30 gallon sump and no problems.

Anything else please let us know

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Frontosa Anyone????????????

wooz29 · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject:

The 1500 appx was for 2 tanks ( a 120 & a 95 that was drilled, sump etc)

DragonGT83 · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:35 pm Post subject:

wooz29 wrote:

The 1500 appx was for 2 tanks ( a 120 & a 95 that was drilled, sump etc)

look into filling them size tanks with malawi haps and/or peacocks. will make for an awesome looking tank.

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mbovinet · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:36 pm Post subject:

wooz29 wrote:

The 1500 appx was for 2 tanks ( a 120 & a 95 that was drilled, sump etc)

I see. Are you talking both complete setups? WOW, not that's a good deal if you can get both complete setups new

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Frontosa Anyone????????????