Tank Setups • 120 Gallon vs 180 Gallon

[MarkyMark75]

Hello,
I am new to the hobby and have not purchased my tank yet.
I want to keep Africans.
I was thinking of 120 Gallons (60"x18"x24"), but am thinking of going all out and obtaining a
180 Gallon (72"x24"x24").

I have kept read-eared sliders before, but never fish.
For a novice, do you think that is way too big for a first aquarium?

Tks.

[JimA]

If I had to do it over again I would have started with the biggest tank I could get and figured it out. Going from 120 to 180 really is not that much different except you will want a bit more filtration. If you have the space I would go for it. Ofcourse if money is an issue you might find a 120 or 125 on C,list for a deal, you may get lucky and find a 180 also. What are you wanting to keep for fish?

[MarkyMark75]

tks -- I want to keep the conventional African Cichlids....ones that grow to about 4-6 inches.
I don't mind "mixing the lakes", I just want to add the fish that I like and hopefully are compatible with each other.

I agree about the filtration -- I was thinking the Fluval FX5 for the 120, and if I get the 180, I would get the FX5 + maybe and Eheim Classic 2217, or Rena XP3?

[zimmy]

If you have the space for a 6 foot tank but want to economize a little bit, a 125G is a better choice than the 5 foot 120G you're considering. With most cichlids the length of the footprint is more important than the height of the tank. 125G are also easier to find.

[MarkyMark75]

Yes, I know what you mean about the 6', 125 gallon.
6' is pushing it for space, but I may be able to do it.

[Jayse]

Go big or go home is what I prefer to say...

That is if you can afford it and you can place a big tank where you live

[cantrell00]

Go big or go home is what I prefer to say...

That is if you can afford it and you can place a big tank where you live

+1. It is much more cost effective...

[MarkyMark75]

Cantrelloo: Do you mean the 125 gallon is much more cost effective?

[cantrell00]

Cantrelloo: Do you mean the 125 gallon is much more cost effective?

I mean it is much more cost effective to buy the 6' to begin with a opposed to going from a 4' to ultimately a 6' tank.

I bought a 4' 120 onlt realize 4 months later that it wasn't big enough & ended up with a 6' 180.

[MarkyMark75]

I was thinking of the 5' 120 Gallon, or 6' 125 Gallon.
But yeah, I see what you mean....you can do so much more with a 180.

Do you have any pics?

[JimA]

I was thinking of the 5' 120 Gallon, or 6' 125 Gallon.
But yeah, I see what you mean....you can do so much more with a 180.

Do you have any pics?

If you buy the 120 you will want the 125, if you buy the 125 you will want the 180. If you have the 6 feet without intruding into your space get the 180 be warned the 180 gets a whole lot bigger when it's in your living room

[cantrell00]

I was thinking of the 5' 120 Gallon, or 6' 125 Gallon.
But yeah, I see what you mean....you can do so much more with a 180.

Do you have any pics?

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=240979

[MarkyMark75]

Beautiful!

[cantrell00]

Thanks..

[sandandrocks]

IMO get a 125. You'll be happier than a 120. A 180 is a real pain in the butt in terms of weight and it's really not that necessary for the stock you've chosen.

If at all possible stay away from anything 4 ft or less. If you find a great deal on a 5 ft tank it would work, but you WILL want a 6 footer sooner or later. Which leads me back to a 125. I think most people are comfortable with just a 125 and than will move on to a 7 footer (200+ gallon) and skip a 180.