Been a while, starting new

[DrewonVanIsle]

Hello! I had a couple of simple setups when I was younger, it has been over a decade since I kept any fish now though. Looking to get something started up and I'm weighing a few options, hoping to get some insight from folks with experience! I'm considering a few different things, please feel free to offer any thoughts.

1. Red Sea Max 250 - this is a used system someone is selling. A bit dated but a very good price. Seems to be complete but I haven't checked it out in person yet. Was thinking I'd order 5 new T5's if I went this route. LED retrofit is $$$ and not sure I love the thought of chopping up the lid. Thinking I'd keep the humidity down and keep a top on it. Was looking at ATI bulbs, 2 Coral Plus, 1 Blue Plus, 1 Actinic, 1 Aquablue? Would love feedback on the bulb combo.

2. Fluval Evo Flex 32.5 gallon - considered buying this AIO new but there's someone local selling the tank/stand without the lid, light or pump ($300 CAD). This would be a more expensive option but I'd put a Kraken lid on it with a pair of AI Prime LEDs and a new Sicce (?) pump. Looking at those upgraded media baskets too, have seen the inTank and also some on Etsy that seem as good but less $. I like the look of these tanks and like the idea of going LED. Local fish store guy said the curved glass on the Flex is annoying to clean - is it that bad? Someone locally is selling 2 AI Prime lights with the arms, for $600 CAD - seems like a decent price. Which brings me to #3...

3. 66 gallon with a sump - same person selling the AI Prime lights has a 66 gallon available with a sump and stand. She was looking for $1050 CAD for the tank, lights, plus an auto top off and RODI setup. This traditional setup is tempting, never had a sump before. Whatever I get needs to meet my lady's interior decorating standards though so I'd probably have to replace the stand on this which is a pain. If I went with #1 or 2 I would likely try and pick up this ATO and RODI still ($100 and $85 CAD respectively).

If you read this far, thank you and I'm sorry, tried to keep it brief. Is the Fluval Flex really that tough to keep clean? Is the RSM 250 old technology? Why am I bad at decisions sometimes?

 

[blaxsun]

(Some) of the older Red Sea tanks have had issues with seams, so I'd look at new G2 or G2+ model if you want a Red Sea. Definitely check the seams thoroughly if you pursue the used option.

Any tank with an external sump will yield superior results over an AIO, mainly due to the flexibility you have with equipment, etc.

When it comes to tanks, there's something to be said about *warranty*.

 

[DrewonVanIsle]

I ended up getting a great deal on a pile of gear over in Vancouver. Need to get my hands on all of it still but I'll have equipment to spare. Going with a 65 gallon, not all-in-one though. The tank only had a pair of fish in it (puffer and a trigger) so they both went to the (amazing) local fish store on a trade in so they will hopefully find a new home in a much bigger tank where they can grow. Planning to do more of a reef myself but need to get my hands on everything first. Pretty excited!

 

[hbubley]

Excited to follow along with your progress!! Sounds like a great setup

 

[twentyleagues]

Welcome! I was going to add my .02 but it's not needed. Seriously I think you made a good decision. The curved glass on any tank imo is terrible to look at, it distorts the view. Cleaning is not that bad if you keep up on it. You do need to get your hand wet to do it though. To some people that's not ok for many reasons.

I'm just getting back to salt myself. I'm trying to find deals, used equipment to help soften the blow so to speak. So it's taking longer then just bitting the bullet. Ive always had a tank of some sort, except for 5 years after I sold all my last salt water stuff. I'm down sizing my current freshwater stuff to make room for salt. I have 3 tanks available for salt just need to get that darn elusive equipment. I won't use used lights those will be new another decision lol.
Good luck and hope to "see" you around.

 

[DrewonVanIsle]

One slight edit - I guess it's a 60 gallon. Don't have the dimensions just yet but this is the only photo in the original ad. Ended up with 13 more photos of all the gear he was including! Spare skimmer, RO/DI setup, extra rock, several heaters and pumps and food and books etc. Quite a haul.

Does that look like a cannister filter at the bottom left of this photo? Haven't seen that particular one before, wasn't planning on using one...

 

[hbubley]

Definitely looks like a canister filter to me, but I’m still new so I’ll let someone with more experience confirm. 60 gallon will be so fun! I’m running a 75 and am already day dreaming about my next upgrade hehe

 

[twentyleagues]

One slight edit - I guess it's a 60 gallon. Don't have the dimensions just yet but this is the only photo in the original ad. Ended up with 13 more photos of all the gear he was including! Spare skimmer, RO/DI setup, extra rock, several heaters and pumps and food and books etc. Quite a haul.

Does that look like a cannister filter at the bottom left of this photo? Haven't seen that particular one before, wasn't planning on using one...

Yeah it's a canister. I don't know which brand for sure. With the color scheme I'd guess oase. I dislike cans just a nitrate producer if you aren't constantly cleaning it. They are a pain to clean too.

 

[DrewonVanIsle]

Just did some googling and found this - https://www.ebay.ca/itm/164350200808

Looks to be SunSun brand and have a UV sterilizer in it.

 

[Spicy Reef]

I'll take that canister if you don't want it
Nice looking tank. U should start a build page.

 

[DrewonVanIsle]

I'll take that canister if you don't want it
Nice looking tank. U should start a build page.

Haha I think I'll be offloading a few things once I get going, also think I have to cancel my Seattle trip but that's not until October

Look at all this extra stuff! Pretty generous of the seller, he's moving out of the country.

 

[hbubley]

WOW. You’ll have your hands full for sure!! So generous of him to give you all of that. It looks like it comes with some sump tanks? Or maybe tanks that could be converted into a sump. Not sure if you’re going sump or not. I’m currently sumpless but when I find a smaller one that will fit in the tank cabinet I’ll add.

 

[DrewonVanIsle]

Yeah no sump setup but a pair of quarantine tanks I guess. Not planning to drill anything so maybe something that hangs on the back. Would be nice to have somewhere to hide the heater etc. but I'll have to see what's what once my friend delivers the goods from the mainland.

I remember hearing horror stories when I was younger about overflows getting blocked, and thinking if you were doing a sump, drilled was the way to go - is that still accurate? Is it easy to setup a spare tank as a sump? What kind of plumbing would you use?

 

[hbubley]

I’m doing all HOB right now (filter and skimmer) and it’s going great. So I think you’ll have good success with your hob plan

 

[twentyleagues]

I've had hob overflows fail to often to ever use or suggest using one again. Everytime it was a loss of syphon issue. I've made diy ones and used eshopps drilled is the only way to go for me if I want a standard sump. Currently I'm running two overhead sumps on my 2 125g fresh tanks. I made a weir inside the tank and placed a pump inside. The tanks are undrillable.

 

[twentyleagues]

Welp I guess those don't show exactly what I thought....lol. close enough. I wouldn't try this on a salt tank though.

 

[DrewonVanIsle]

I've had hob overflows fail to often to ever use or suggest using one again. Everytime it was a loss of syphon issue. I've made diy ones and used eshopps drilled is the only way to go for me if I want a standard sump. Currently I'm running two overhead sumps on my 2 125g fresh tanks. I made a weir inside the tank and placed a pump inside. The tanks are undrillable.

Yeah that's what I'd heard was that the siphon stops suddenly and then your tank is just flowing over. Even with someone at home all the time and a moisture sensor, not sure that's something I want to have to deal with.

 

[Spicy Reef]

Yeah that's what I'd heard was that the siphon stops suddenly and then your tank is just flowing over. Even with someone at home all the time and a moisture sensor, not sure that's something I want to have to deal with.

another good reason for a canister filter.
u can also put an inline heater so tank doesn't need one.
u can make a nice large overflow box and add some prefilters so less maintenance on the canister... heck you can add a 100 micron whole house water filter to the intake and have zero maintenance on the canister, just use it for bio-media.

 

[DrewonVanIsle]

another good reason for a canister filter.
u can also put an inline heater so tank doesn't need one.
u can make a nice large overflow box and add some prefilters so less maintenance on the canister... heck you can add a 100 micron whole house water filter to the intake and have zero maintenance on the canister, just use it for bio-media.

Interesting option! So you'd empty all the standard media out of the canister and put what in there? Live rock? It wouldn't add much water volume, what are the main advantages? This would be in place of (and much simpler than) setting up a sump?

Really appreciate your perspective.

 

[Spicy Reef]

personally I would put something like these:


This would negate the need for sand in the aquarium and you could do minimal rockwork or as much as you like. I have a hidden internal canister in my aquarium. I have so much live rock, I don't think I need it, but I have no sump either and lately I've been removing rock to make room for coral... so maybe I do need it????
I don't think the link worked... "ALEGI 10 lbs Aquarium Ceramic Bio Filter Media Sphere"