Tank Dilema - which tank to buy?

12 Volt Man

12 Volt Man

AC Members
Feb 11, 2007
2,651
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36
Ontario Canada
Hello everyone. I am trying to decide between two different brands of 150 gallon tanks. Both basically the same price ($10 dollar difference thats it).

Tank #1:

-150 gallons
-72x18x27tall
- black silicone
-built by a local tank manufacturer that I have had good success with for a long time (I have a 90, 65 and some 30's that have been running non-stop since 1993/4).

Tank #2:
-150 gallons

BUT its 72x18x29 tall (so its really a little bigger -more like 160)
-clear (traditional) silicone
-made by All-glass (now Aqueon).

I am having trouble deciding which one to get.

On one hand, I prefer the black silicone (doesn't show up the inevitable algae over time) and I trust the local tank manufacturer based on the long term success I have had with their tanks.

One the other hand, the two extra inches of height really is quite noticable (certainly nicer looking proportions - not so 'elongated' looking) and the extra water volume is a bonus - esp. for basically the same price..
I know All-glass has a pretty good reputation. Are their tanks built to last 15+years trouble free?

I keeping flipping back and forth. one minute I am going with the black silicone and sacrificing a bit of size and volume by going with the local tank manufacturer based on the long term quality of my existing tank.

the next minute I am saying that I know that All-glass makes very good tanks, and that I should not have a problem even long term and that I should definitely go with the larger tank. after all bigger is almost always better.

Any opinions to help me decide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-12 Volt
 
I'd go with the taller one and the 15 year warrenty.

But that is just me.
 
actually, I think the warranty is not really an issue, since the local tank manufacturer only has a 90 day warranty, and the Aqueon tank has a lifetime warranty but only if I use one of their wooden stands held together by staples and glue :)

which I won't be :) I have seen threads on other forums about perfecto/aqueon pine stands begining to seperate under the weight of a 180 gallon tank and that scared me off from using the pre-made wooden stands..I still can't believe they only use wood staples not even wood screws...

so either way, the warranty is not really much of an issue for me.
 
you can build an amazing stand for a lot less than you can buy one. my bf built on out of 4x4s and 2x4s for his 75 gallon that youd have to bulldoze to knock it down
 
I am going with a metal stand that is made by a local manufacturer that all the LFS's in my area carry.

I have them on all my existing tanks right now.

they are not to expensive, sturdy and handle huge weights.

I have one now that has a 90 on top and a 65 on the bottom.

the stand will be like these ones that I now have, only longer and thicker: and they are half the price of the pine stands from the LFS:headbang2:

IMG_2376.JPG
 
-ps all those tanks except the 65 salt ( the blue one) are now empty..I am moving, and can now upgrade my tank size (but have to drastically cut down on the # of tanks).

When I bought my house I specifically looked for a finished basement with bathroom and space for my first 6 foot tank.. :)

I am keeping the 65 tall since I have only had that tank since 2005.

all other tank have been running since the early-mid 90's.

I will probably have the 65 tall saltwater, new 150 freshwater and a quarentine tank (probably the 30 gallon next to the saltwater tank) to start off with.

hopefully, I will add a 120 4x2x2 down the road to my new fishroom..
 
I would take the first one. A reliable tank means a lot, especially when it comes to a larger tank.
 
get both
 
I would go with the second one.
 
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