New Tank Size...

[Akysten]

I'm going to purchase a new tank for my African Cichlids.

I was going to go 125, but was also considering 150 and 180. Unfortunately, the only place we can put it is the dining room, and the room is 14x13, so we need space for the table and other 'dining room' things. I'm afraid that the 24" depth may be a little much with the 180, but I feel the 150 may be a little 'high' for a canopy.

I'll be using a AGA Mission stand that's 32" high... and a canopy.

My question is whether I should try to make the 180 work, and if it won't(I think it will be too big for the location), should I do a 125 or 150?

Tank residents will be(all male and all single specied unless otherwise noted):

Peacocks: Benga Sunshine, Rubescent, Fluvescent, Lwanda, Ngara,

Haps: Taiwan Reef, Azureus, Intermedius, Electra, o. Lithobates(Zimbabwe)

Victorians: Pundamilia nyererei (Python Is.), Rock Krib

Tanganykan: Black Calvus, White Calvus

other: 8x Syndonus Petricola

Filtration: 2x eheim 2217 and 2 powerheads for circulation. Do you think I need another filter?

Looks like a 180 would be preferable, but I don't want to 'overdo' the room. The 150 would give a little more height but gain little in swimming room... the 180 would onviously give a little more depth.

[Nolapete]

Is it going on the 14' or 13' wall?

What's the dimensions of the 180 and 150 you are considering? There's a lot of different versions, so just want to be sure we're on the same page.

[Akysten]

They're standard AGA sizes...

72x18x22 for 125
72x18x28 for 150
72x24x24 for 180

Stand base is 34.5" tall, but it has a 2.125" drop in for the tank, making it really about 32.5" tall. Canopy is about 9" above the top of the tank and opens/folds 'up'. (AGA Classic Mission series)

I'm not sure which wall is 13'... but it's the width side of the dining room table, so it should have more room. This will be in a dining room, so this room will also need a table(though not that large) a china cabinet, and a Piano(can do both, but I'd hate to lose this piano that has been in the family for 50 years, but then again, no one in the house can really play it and we're talking an awesome fish setup here!)

[Akysten]

In general, I usually so go larger.. is it work $140 for an extra 5" of height? It's probably more for astetics, but going larger is probably never a bad idea.

[jm1212]

if you cant get the 180 for the space, then get the 125. the cichlids are more about surface area than height, so you can save some money and get some awesome rockwork for them :D

[scott-kim]

This seems like a big decision. What I would do is stake out were you are putting the 180, you could attach rope to the ceiling and floor were the corners of the tank would be, then arrange the room to see how every thing fits.

[wataugachicken]

make a fake tank out of cardboard. that way you can move it around easily but also you can really see how the size will look.

or just get rid of your silly dining room idea (how quaint!) and make it a fish room. yeah. you could buy barstools and a tablecloth for the piano, and eat on that. . . .

[tonytheboss1]

:cool: It's not really that great a difference (4 to 6in.) one way or the other. I guess the biggest concern would be how cramped will the family be at the table?? Cause we gotta have this '180' :clap: :clap: :clap: Good luck "T"