The 5 Best 125 Gallon Aquariums For 2024 [Tested & Reviewed]

Are you looking for the best 125 gallon aquarium? Well, you are in luck today as I look at the various options that you can purchase at this size. An aquarium of this size is a large investment and requires more research and consideration than smaller tanks.

I’m hear today to help you on your aquarium journey. I’ll go through my criteria than walk you through the best 125 gallon aquariums available online. Online purchasing is a pressure free experience compared to going to the local fish store. By the end of this I hope you have a better understanding at what you want and where to go get it. Let’s dive in!

Our Criteria (How They Made The Cut)

Before I go through a list, I like to explain my criteria for selection first. Here is what I focused on when I made this list:

  • Features – Aquariums of this size usually are going to be more than just the aquarium. I like all in one systems as it eliminates a lot of guesswork
  • Build – I look for aquariums that have a good manufacturing process. If they are rimless, they should have a solid warranty and reputation. If they aren’t, they should have proper braces and quality reviews
  • Dimensions – A 125 gallon tank can be 4 or 6 feet. I prefer to include both on this list so you can make the decision to what fits you fit. Generally, the shorter format will have better dimensions for scaping and will be cheaper with equipment due to lighting and pump costs. The longer format will generally be better for fish.

The 125 Gallon Aquarium Candidates

In A Hurry? I recommend Red Sea Reefers for Saltwater and UNS Aquariums for Freshwater!

PictureNameTypeLink
Editor’s Choice!
Red Sea Reefer 425 XL
Red Sea Reefer 425 XL
  • Reef Ready
  • All In One
  • Saltwater
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Budget Option
SC Aquariums 120
SC Aquariums 120
  • Reef Ready
  • Euro Braced
  • Great Dimensions
Buy On Amazon
UNS 120U UNS 120U
  • Rimless
  • Best For Freshwater
Click For Best Price
Planet Aquariums 125 Planet Aquariums 125
  • Rimless
  • Made in the USA
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Top Fin 125 Ensemble Top Fin 125 Ensemble
  • Cheap
  • Best For Freshwater
Buy On PetSmart

Top 5 Picks (2023)

Let’s look at each aquarium and see why they made the cut!

1. Red Sea Reefer 425 XL

Editor's Choice
Red Sea Reefer 425 XL

The newest generation Red Sea Reefers offer a great all in one system for anyone looking for a saltwater aquarium

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The Red Sea Reefer 425XL is an excellent top of line rimless aquarium that comes with a sump and overflow. It is the aquarium that started up the ready to run craze in the saltwater tank hobby. It is designed to run as a reef tank. Red Sea really prides itself with their manufacturing process, which you can see below.

This 425 XL model is wider than the standard reefer models, giving you more space for scaping. The piping is already assembled for you and requires no gluing. The sump design is also very efficient.

Red-Sea-Reefer-Sump

What I like is they place the ATO reservoir at the top of the sump. This saves space and gives you ample room on the opposite side of the cabinet to mount your gear and store your equipment. Anyone who has owned a high level reef tank knows how gadget crazy we can get and how obsessed we can get about mounting equipment for that cool look.

Red Sea Reefers are expensive, but they look great and have everything you need to get started on the right foot.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Great Brand
  • ATO Container saves space
  • Easy to assemble
Cons
  • Price
  • Designed for reef tanks only

2. SC Aquariums 120

SC Aquariums 120

The SCA while not a 125 gallon is the perfect dimensions for a 4 foot long tank. 24 inches high and wide gives it plenty of space for scaping and fish

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SC Aquariums is well know in the reefing circles as a bang for the buck ready to run aquarium. They offer low iron aquariums, which are more clear than traditional braced tanks and they come with an overflow and plumbing kit to get you started. They are usually priced significantly cheaper than big brands like Red Sea and Waterbox.

This variant in the link is just the aquarium. You can also purchase the stand and sump as a package from SC. The sump is a rimless three stage sump and the cabinet is equivalent to Marineland’s Monterey Stands.

SC Aquariums is a small business and the owner Steve takes customer service seriously. You will feel you are dealing with a person versus a company when purchasing from SC. They have a nice personal touch to their customer service. There is also a facebook community of owners you can connect with.

Overall, this is a great budget option if you are looking for a ready to run aquarium. Many reefers have used these tanks and have killer reef tanks. You can’t go wrong with them!

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Cheap for a reef safe tank
  • Good reputation in industry
  • Good customer service
Cons
  • Not rimless
  • Cabinet only available in black

3. UNS 120U

UNS 120U

The UNS 120 is a premium rimless aquarium that is designed for freshwater aquascapers

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If you are looking to create a large aquascape aquarium, look no further than UNS. UNS aquariums are some of the best pure rimless aquariums you can purchase today. They have a world class manufacturing process with 45 degree precision cut mitered edges for their glass that are put together with high-grade silicone. The glass is low iron with 91% Diamant glass. This glass is used in commercial applications like office buildings and restaurants.

This particular model is a 4 foot aquarium that is nearly 24 inches tall and wide. This is the perfect width and height for aquascaping and gives plenty of space for a large number of schooling fish or for larger fish like Angelfish to be part of the aquascape. The clear background also gives it better aesthetics for a planted tank over a reef ready system that will often come with a black background.

It’s not best to picture this tank if you are looking for a saltwater setup and the price can be up there. However, if you are looking for a large aquascape tank, this is the one to buy.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Get quality
  • Clear background
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Best for freshwater

4. Planet

Planet Aquariums 125 Premium Reef

Plant Aquarium stands are a prebuilt tanks that include a sump and overflow. Made in the USA!

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If you go to a local fish store, you may see these type of aquariums. These are manufactured by Planet Aquariums and they often work with local fish stores to provide high quality reef ready tanks. Recently, they have been selling online due to the pandemic. They are made in the USA and offer multiple color options on their cabinets.

This is a rimless tank with a slim overflow design that has a bean animal drain. The sump is one of the best offered in a reef ready package. The Tideline sump is a high end arcylic aquarium sump with a lot of cool factor designed in it. They are designed for 7″ filter socks and can adjust for water height and is a 3 stage sump.

Tideline Sump

The overall package that you get by going with a Planet Aquarium is a really great value. However, it’s still out of the range of many reefers given it’s a high end offering. It’s really nice you can order them online now though. It really gets the sales pressure off when you don’t have to walk into a local fish store to purchase one.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Lots of cabinet options
  • Slim overflow design
  • Made in the USA
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Slow shipping time

5. Top Fin

Top Fin 125 Ensemble

This 125 is PetSmart's value offering. It is one of the best deals you can get buying new at this size.

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If you are shopping for an entry level 125 gallon tank, this offering by Top Fin might be what you are looking for. This is one of the cheapest tank setups you can purchase at this size. It is a 6 foot long tank that offers plenty of space for larger fish.

The cabinet, when it is setup with the correct filter, is a good value with this package. I don’t like how there is a shelf in the middle because it limits space for larger canister filters or a sump. You usually want your storage inside the cabinet not outside. While it’s a nice aesthetic touch, it’s not a practical one for a fish tank.

The price can’t be beat and you can pick it up locally. The cabinet is not the best though. It is made of particle board, which is not a good long-term decision if you run a sump or have a saltwater tank. I’m not a fan of rimmed tanks for something this large as well. For the price and how easy it is to pick up locally, it’s a setup to consider if you are on a budget at this size.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Great price
  • 6 foot long tank
  • Easy to find locally
Cons
  • Rimmed Tank
  • Low cabinet quality
  • Limited space in cabinet

Buying Guide

What Do You Want?

Figuring out what type of fish you want in your 125 gallon tank will narrow down how much you will spend and what type of equipment you will need to run and maintain it. Let go through several options. Do you have a particular fish or setup that fancies you? A goldfish vs. a saltwater tang have totally different needs and requirements. The same with freshwater vs. a saltwater tank or planted vs non-planted tanks. Go to places like forums, visit an aquarium club, or check out Pinterest and for inspiration on what you are looking for an go from there. I’ll outline a few things below to help out as well.

Budget Concerns

Budget is always a factor when it comes to keeping an aquarium. The budget differences in this size, however, are greater than 2 and 4 foot long tanks. Going from a fish only to a aquascape or reef tank adds a lot more investment to your setup and maintenance costs. Expect to spend about $45 per gallon for a reef tank and about $10 – $30 per gallon for a freshwater tank. You can go less if you buy a used tank or make your own stand (or even have one made for you by a carpenter or friend). Fish only systems will cost the least while planted tanks and reef tanks will cost the most.

Equipment Investment

When you get to aquariums over 100 gallons, you usually start looking at higher end filtration systems to run your tank regardless if your goal is fish only, a planted tank, or reef tank. This has to do with the amount of bioload these tanks will be handling.

For a freshwater tank, you will want to consider a canister filter. These filters will have a large amount of media capacity and will keep your tank more stable than other systems. You also won’t be placing large hang on back filters on the aquarium and adding ugly pieces of equipment, which become more noticeable at this size.

For a saltwater tank, you will want to consider an aquarium sump. The good thing with these aquariums is even if you get a standard rimmed tank, they are easy to drill. If you decide to drill the tank, you can purchase an overflow. You can also install a hang-on overflow, though a drilled overflow are generally more reliable.

Aquarium lighting will also become a factor. As a 6 foot format, you will likely need 3 light fixtures if you get a pendant style system or find a lighting system that has a 72″ option – which is usually hard to find. If you are looking for a 72″ option, Current USA offers a great option for both freshwater and saltwater tanks.

Best Value
Serene RGB Pro LED

Current USA's offering into aquascaping is an incredible value. Spectrum, spread, easy to program and great PAR output.

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Maintenance

A 125 gallon aquarium is going to be one of the more maintenance intensive aquariums you can purchase. The water changes are larger, the amount of glass you need to clean is more, and if you do a planted tank you will be pruning more. For saltwater tanks, you get into other investments like dosing pumps, which may be required to maintain LPS and SPS corals if that is the route you want to go.

Maintenance costs will also go up with a 125 gallon tank. If you run a saltwater tank, you will be using more salt and more RODI water to run it. A freshwater tank will be much cheaper in the long run and will generally take less time to maintenance. Keep this in mind when figuring out how much maintenance you can commit to.

Different Types

Rimless vs Rimmed

Rimmed Tank With Kids

Rimless vs rimmed tanks becomes a big consideration at this size. A 125 gallon tank is a sizable footprint. Not only do rimmed tanks have a plastic rim that can distract from the aesthetics of the aquarium, but the glass matters more at this size given the thickness.

Traditional rimmed tanks use a standard glass, which has a greenish hue to it. A rimless tank will usually be made of low iron glass, which will be more transparent and look cleaner as a display tank. Rimless tanks as a result, will be more expensive than traditionally braced tanks.

It is up to you to decide if you want to want to spend the extra for the clarity and look. At this size, I feel it’s worth the extra price. The hue is noticeable when you get to 4 and 6 foot long tanks.

Glass vs Acrylic

Acrylic Panels

Another consideration will be glass vs acrylic. There are pros and cons to both:

  • Glass is very difficult to scratch
  • Acrylic is much lighter
  • An acrylic tank will have the best clarity of any tank type
  • Glass are offered in rimless formats. Acrylic tanks have bracing
  • Glass can crack, acrylic is difficult to break
  • Acrylic is easier to drill than glass

You will notice on this list that I did not put an acrylic tank. The reason why is the ones available online are pretty standard tanks. Usually when it comes to acrylic, you will need to special order one from a local fish store or have one custom made to get one that is reef ready or of high quality. If you want acrylic, seeing a dealer would be my recommendation.

4 foot or 6 foot format

6 Foot Long Tank

A 125 gallon can be purchased in a 4 foot or 6 foot long format. The 4 foot format is typically going to be 120 gallons, but it is close enough in my mind to include this in the discussion. There are advantages to both sides that I will list below:

  • The 4 foot format will have 24 x 24 height and width, the ideal dimensions for aquascaping
  • A 4 foot tank will generally be cheaper to setup due to needing to purchase less lighting fixtures and substrate
  • There are more options to purchase reef ready and ready to run aquariums in a 4 foot format over a 6 foot long tank
  • The 6 foot format is longer, which gives you more options for fish and spreads out space for more territorial fish
  • You can place a larger sump in a 6 foot long tank as a 48 inch sump works great
  • You will have more room to store storage in a 6 foot long tank

If you are purchasing a 125 gallon tank primarily for fish, I would recommend that you purchase the 6 foot format. If your goals are a reef tank or a great looking freshwater aquascape, consider the 120 gallon 4 foot format.

Best Options

Let’s discuss what are the best setups for a 125 gallon aquarium. It’s a size that isn’t for everyone, but for those who are looking at this size, we can discuss what types of aquarium setups suit this size best.

Aquascape

An Aquascape Aquarium at 125 gallon is an incredible display tank. It is typically not seen at the 6 foot format as many aquascape will cap out around 4 feet in length. However, for those looking at this length, you can build a beautiful scape and your fish options really open up. Angelfish and Discus Fish are ideal for a tank of this size.

African Cichlid Tanks

African Cichlids are territorial and need space. The length of a 125 gallon lends well to curbing aggression. African Cichlid tanks do not need to be high, so the shorter height works well for this setup.

Predator Tanks

A freshwater predator with fish like Oscars can be housed in a 125 gallon tank. You don’t need a fancy setup with predators so going with a standard rimmed 125 works really well. Keep in mind the total size of the fish you get. You will not be able to keep many as they get large and are also territorial. These are also really good tanks if you have a very aggressive fish like a wolf cichlid that is best off housed alone and you can’t afford to provide it enough space to curb it’s aggression. Usually lack of space and territory enhances an already aggressive fish.

Reef Tank

A 125 gallon tank is an entry level aquarium at the 6 foot size for a reef tank. It really opens up the fish possibilities when you jump into a 6 foot long tank. Tangs and many angelfish become a possibility. You can be more liberal with more territorial fish given the size and the size of fish you can purchase. While not as deep and wide as a 180 gallon tank, you still have plenty of room to scape your tank and have plenty of corals at multiple levels. It’s usually better to go with a bit more height if you are planning more SPS Corals. The height for a 125 lends better to softy, LPS, and mixed reef tanks.

FAQs

How Big Is This Type of Tank?

A 125 gallon tank will usually have a 6 foot long length or a 4 foot format. When filled up, they can easily weigh over 1400 lbs. They should be placed in an area that can support its weight, preferably on the first floor or a basement. You should also have an outlet dedicated to it and a good breaker box with 15 or 20 amp circuit breaker. A 20 amp is preferable if you are going to run a high end reef tank.

What Are The Dimensions?

A standard 125 gallon aquarium will have the dimensions of 72″ x 18″ x 21″ (LWH). If you purchase a 125 gallon in a 4 foot format the dimensions will be 48″ x 24″ x 24″. If purchased in a cube format the dimensions will be 36″ x 24″ x 36″. This cube format is 134 gallons.

How Many Fish Can I Put In A Tank This Size?

The number of fish you can put in a 125 gallon will depend on your setup and what type of fish you want to keep. For freshwater tanks, I would recommend checking out aqadvisor and running through their calculator. I don’t feel their saltwater tool is that great though. For saltwater it does depend on the fish, but generally 1 inch for every 5 gallons is the rule of thumb for saltwater. This is about 25 inches of fish which will get you about 5-6 fish that average 5 inches in length.

You can go higher with saltwater, but it you usually run into aggression issues as saltwater fish as a whole are more territorial. Most saltwater fish keeper mix in corals to make up for the lack of fish population.

What Size Sump Is Necessary For This Size Tank?

You have plenty of options with a 125 fish tank regarding a sump. Most aquarium sumps you can buy will be at 36 inches and should fit in your cabinet. 48 inch sumps are hard to come across, however, if you make a DIY sump a 55 gallon aquarium is a perfect sump in a 125 gallon tank. It is 4 feet long and holds plenty of water. It’s my usual go to when it comes to this size.

What Size Heater Is Necessary?

Based on the info I provided in my best aquarium heater article, 375 watts is what you will need. It is best to run two heaters for this size and to pair it will a quality heater controller or aquarium controller to prevent failure.

Closing Thoughts

You’ve done your homework and you know what you want, but the sheer size of a 125 gallon aquarium can be intimidating. I hope I helped steer you in the right direction on planning for this investment by providing some helpful tips. Leave a comment below to share how I have been able to assist with your fish tank setup as well as any questions or concerns that arise during your research process! Thanks for reading!

10 COMMENTS

  1. What a great article. I’m about to buy a 125 6 footer. I know almost nothing about it but am really trying to learn. I have 3 largmouth bass in a 55gal. and I can surely see a need for the larger tank. My largesr bass doesn’t like the other two eating ( her) food…lol. I’m still not sure what to use to filter the tank with

    Reply
  2. I have been researching and have found 125 gallon tanks that are now 60 x 18 x 24. I realize I will have to give up my stand unfortunately, however, a five foot length would also be more fitting for the space I have than a 6 foot. I am so nervous about buying a tank. I have read numerous bad reviews about Top Fin tanks. Also I am torn between glass and acrylic, due to the scratching of the acrylic. I prefer the easiest maintenance filter and will pay for a higher output over and above 125 gallons. I am 66 and have had freshwater aquariums all my life, but always have had hang on the back filters. I did read all your info on your page about filtration and am inclined to buy your 1st pick. I promise I won’t keep bombarding you with questions, lol, just wondering your thoughts. I have a big oscar and bought 6 clown loaches because I figured he would eat some, ha ha but he never did, so as they grow I will end up giving some of them away. Also 6 silver dollars, and two old big ones. I just bought two parrot fish. My oscar is not happy with the additions.

    Reply
    • Hi Sandy,

      I would go with the largest filter you can afford as you have fish that are heavy on the bioload. A good canister filter like a Biomaster, Fluval loads with BioHome for upgraded biological filtration should do the trick.

      The easiest to maintain will probably be a hang-on back for your, but your filtration capacity will be limited. With the OASE though, you won’t have to take about the canister every time as the mechanical filtration piece comes out separately.

      I would agree that a top fin may not be the best choice given the size of your fish. I would look for a Marineland or Aqueon if you want a braced tank. I thought they were still making 72 inch long tanks. That’s a shame.

      Don’t worry about commenting or emailing me. I like hearing and interacting with my readers :).

      Reply
      • No Mark I think they are still making 72 inch tanks, I just found that I could get a 60 inch, with the same gallons. The wall I need it on would better suit the 60 inch. Thank you so much. Quite honestly I just got on here today to re-read your info. Most of the time on these sites, if you ask a question, it takes forever to hear back. Thanks so much! This is a big investment and I want to make sure I do it right. I am not very tech savvy so will look for your email as well. Thanks again!

      • No problem Sandy. You can always email me at [email protected]. Many of the website you come across are run by marketing agencies or investor groups these days. It’s just little ‘ole me here. I’ll even get on the phone and video calls with folks if the times synch up. I’m a real person :).

  3. Is it possible to get a 125 gallon tank 18 wide and 48 long? I have a beautiful hand made stand that I currently have my 75 gallon tank on. I really want to use this stand. I noticed in your info, I can get length but not width. Is there anywhere you would recommend? Thank you, you article was very informative.

    Reply
    • Hi Sandy. That’s closer to the dimensions of a 75 gallon tank. It’s possible to get a tank like that. It will be taller, and you will likely need to be get a custom build. It’s something you would need to go to a local fish store to get a quote on. It’s something that can be difficult to find online.

      Reply

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