tank dilema - which tank to buy?

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12 Volt Man

12 Volt Man

Arapaima
MFK Member
May 24, 2007
6,673
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canada
hello all. okay, here is the deal. I am a first time new home owner, and will now have the space to ugrade from a 90 gallon to a 6 footer. Because cash is tight right now (big downpayment:eek:) I will be going for a brand new 150 gallon tank (as opposed to a 180/220). the extra width comes at quite a leap in price - and I am not interested in buying a used tank on something that big.

Now, here is the issue I am trying to decide (and I keep flipping back and forth lol).

I am trying to decide between two tanks, both called "150 gallons" but with a little bit different dimensions..

Tank 1:

72x18x27 tall
black silicone
$30 more expensive than tank #2
well made by a local tank manufacture with whom I have had good sucess with - I have some tanks that are over 16 years old from this manufacturer.


Tannk 2:

made by All-glass/Aqueon
72x18x29 tall - the extra height is noticable and looks nicer

but it is made with clear silicone.
- it is a little bit cheaper thant the local tank (difference is about the price of a heater that I need).


My issue is the silicone: I have tanks with clear silicone that are old and show a lot of algae on the silicone..

my black silicone tanks do not show this algae.

Which tank should I get?

go with the black silicone for a cleaner look but sacrifice the extra height/gallon capacity?

or go for maximum volume and go with the clear silicone. Really, the extra 2 inches adds about 10 gallons of water. its actually more like a 160 gallon tank.

here is a pic of the tank from the LFS with the black silicone tank on the right and the clear one on the left (actually, that one is an Aqueon/AG 210, but the length and height are identical to the 150 version, the tank is just wider): you don't get to see the whole 6 feet of the AG tank, but you can see the difference in viewing space

you can see that the black silicone tank does not have as nice of a viewing area, but it has black silicone so...:help2:

I am so confused...lol

IMG_2557_1.JPG
 
i'd honestly take the clear.
 
what are you going to stock?
 
I am going to go with probably larger active stuff:

I love barbs, and will probably have some larger barbs, maybe some bala sharks, perhaps a redtail Giant Gourami (have always wanted one and apprently they would not outgrow that size tank) etc.

right now, I am concentrating on getting the setup and starting a new fishroom. I have lots of tanks and fish, but I am selling much of it to the LFS to build up store credit (towards this big tank).

I figure it makes sense to start with as large of a tank as I can and I can add tanks again as time goes on.

I have 8 tanks ranging in size from 10 up to 90 but some of them have been running continuously since 91..

time for some new setups..lol
 
put those barbs you have in it for starters lol.

I'd go with the larger tank just for the largeness. If you want just paint the sides and back black and you won't notice any algea covered silicon.
 
i would also go with the one with clear silicone
 
Tank one with the black silicone.
Cleaner look without the algae. You'll beat yourself for not getting it in the future.

Man, this is tough!
Tank two is cheaper and you'll get a heater quicker.

Me & buddies think like this, if it helps any:
"you can't put a price on happiness"
So in a retarded dumb way, don't think about the price. Do what makes you happy.
And I guess this is why we're always broke.
 
algae on the silicon never bothers me thats why i would choose the clear.
 
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