135 gallon vs 120 gallon

[Dresden]

I have an option to buy either

135g 72"x18"x24" comes with full cabinet /w 2 doors. Nothing else

or..

120g 60"x24"x18" comes /w 200-400$ live rock no cabinet or stand

roughly the same price. anyone have any size opinions? Live rock doesn't sway me though.

Currently running 55 gallon 36"x12"x22"
Niger Trigger, Lunar wrasse, yellow tailed damsel

[Delphinus]

Go with the 120. The 24" front-to-back dimension will pay you so many divedends you can't imagine. The larger your tank breadth, the exponentially more aquascaping possibilities. Very often with 18" or less you tend to get a brick wall of live rock piled up against the back pane. At 24" you can start getting more into a 3d reef, plus have an open area in the back. You could probably get into creating larger grottos and lagoonal subareas. Anyways there are my $0.02 worth...

[wayner]

Agree with Tony, If this is gonna be a full blown reef, the 24" width will make for some nice aquascaping.

[Dresden]

interesting thanks very much so far. Luv to hear all opinions

[Dresden]

how might the sizes affect the fish type? I hear triggers like a far distance to swim.

[Delphinus]

Wayne brings up a good point that I forget to temper my comments with. If your interest is a bigger swim area for your fish, then the 135g may be the way to go. A 72"x18" footprint would make an awesome FOWLR tank. It's just that if your interest is "reef" then the 120g is the way to go, for the reasons stated.

[Dresden]

doh i appologize the 120 tank demensions are 42"x24"x30"

i had the wrong paper in front of me. Changes things i assume

[Aquattro]

Depends on your intentions. If your going reef, wider front to back is important. Fish only would probably enjoy the longer tank.

[Delphinus]

Nope, the change of dimension doesn't change my opinions. 8) The 120 is still the way to go if you want "reef" (the front-to-back dimension is golden .... ), but the 135 is the way to go if you want "big swimming area for fish."

[StirCrazy]

is 1 foot realy going to matter or are we just pushing the length for a tang even bigger now? I think the 120 will be way better than the 135 from the front to back alone.. I have the 24" fron to back in my tank and I don't know what I would have doen in a 18" tank..

Steve