Deciding on my next tank, 4ft or 6ft

[jmhart]

So it looks like my wife and I will be moving out of CA in the next 6 months or so, back to Georgia. The bad news is I hate moving, but the good news is the Dickson,Tenn is on our way, so I'll be stopping by Glass Cages to pick up a tank. Obvioiusly I'll be getting starfire glass on 3 sides, but I'm having difficultly choosing a tank.

This tank is going to be big, ~120gallon.


The tough question shoud I go with either a 4ft or 6ft tank. Basically, I'm considering either a 120g (48"x24"x25") or a 135g(72"x18"x25"). The 25" height is decided on. So far, I've never had even close to 18" depth to work with, so I'm excited about that....18" or 24" would be fine with me. The real question is do I get a 4ft or 6ft? This tank will remain a planted tank until someone pries it from my cold dead fingers. During the course of it's life, I will go NA and Dutch style, most likely focusing on a high tech Dutch scape first thing.

I'm looking for Pros and Cons for these tanks from people with experience. Here's a list of my potential pros and cons:

4 ft tank:

Pro:
So much easier to maintain.
Shorter, therefore more versatile
24" depth for awesome scaping
Easy lighting options

Con
Will schooling fish school as well as in a 6 ft tank?
Will I outgrow it quickly?


6 ft tank:

Pro:
Big, as big as they come, never gonna want bigger.


Con:
Big, as big as they come
Harder to maintain
Lighting options are more limited


As you can see, I have issues. And there are so many options. I could also do a 5ft tank....gar, so much to decide.

Anyway, people with big tanks, chime in and help me out.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I would say a 6ft tank is way easier to maintain. Get the 6ft tank you will be much happier all the way around!:thm:

 

[jmhart]

6 ft(longer) is easier to maintain that a 4 or 5 ft tank? That seems opposite to me. Please elaborate.

 

[dirtydawg10]

Get the 6ft tank. It won't be harder to maintain.

 

[duke33]

Go with the 6'. It's 2 more feet of beautiful plants! Lighting can be a bear...try 3' fixtures.

 

[jmhart]

After some more though, I was really leaning towards a 5' tank, but decent lighting options are few and far between for 5' tanks. So, back to either a 4' or 6' tank.

 

[gsparsan]

Lighting etc for 4ft are generally easier to find I think. The extra depth will be great if you want to do some serious aquascaping.

 

[Lupin]

The biggest obviously.

 

[faun]

IMO bigger is better it gives you so much more room if you get the smaller one you will just regret it. Yeah lights can be a pain but just go with 2x3' fittings or just get a 5' light with a bit of a gap at either end for your lower light plants.

 

[jmhart]

I think I'll go with 24" front to back. My wife really likes 24" height, so that settles that....so, looks like I'm down to either:

A)120g 4'x2'x2'
B)150g 5'x2'x2'
C)180g 6'x2'x2'


180.......that's big.