Best Aquarium Manufacturers?

[MeatCake]

The wife has blessed the purchase of a new aquarium!!

I’m looking for something that will last me 20+ years. Is there one manufacturer that stands above the rest for build quality? I’m looking for something around 100 gallons.

 

[mfinn]

Glass Cages has really stepped up in the last few years.
Excellent customer service and great options for custom tank sizes.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We have an Eshopps Mariner 180g. They are built like tanks!

 

[BuffaloLake]

We went with Planet Aquariums for our 310.

 

[UABsleeper]

We have an Eshopps Mariner 180g. They are built like tanks!

2nd this if they have a size your looking for o got the m130 and with 3/4” glass for 130” tank it’s a beast

 

[MeatCake]

I recall NUVO being a good name (innovative marine). Is that still true?

 

[Reefer Matt]

While not an official endorsement by Reefer Matt, the Eshopps M130 has good build quality with extra thick glass panels and bottom bracing. The stand is epoxy based enamel paint over marine grade plywood and has leveling feet to keep it off of the floor.

There are a few quirks with the sump, but we received an original model that they don’t make anymore, so can’t speak to the new one that is out now. Just issues with filters floating when the tank is turned off, and a pipe was cut to the wrong size. (The plumbing is included).

Though ball valves are used with the plumbing, it is fairly quiet (not silent) when running. The return nozzles could be longer to prevent air siphoning, but are adequate to provide distributed, random flow.

Overall, as compared to the expense and availability of similarly built tanks, Eshopps stands out on price and availability. These are premade and ready to go, and often cost less. There is a 100 gallon size that is available as well, the M100. The specs for that tank is on the @ESHOPPS.INC website. Good luck and Happy Reefing!

 

[vittpsu21]

I recall NUVO being a good name (innovative marine). Is that still true?

I have been happy with my 200EXT thus far

 

[kevgib67]

Love my Waterbox that I got at the beginning of the year.

 

[jhadaway]

Waterbox. I have a custom 235 and it's a tank. My 4th waterbox.

 

[MichaelReefer]

UNS. All Aluminum stand. Got mine a few months ago. No particle board stands here.

 

[UABsleeper]

While not an official endorsement by Reefer Matt, the Eshopps M130 has good build quality with extra thick glass panels and bottom bracing. The stand is epoxy based enamel paint over marine grade plywood and has leveling feet to keep it off of the floor.

There are a few quirks with the sump, but we received an original model that they don’t make anymore, so can’t speak to the new one that is out now. Just issues with filters floating when the tank is turned off, and a pipe was cut to the wrong size. (The plumbing is included).

Though ball valves are used with the plumbing, it is fairly quiet (not silent) when running. The return nozzles could be longer to prevent air siphoning, but are adequate to provide distributed, random flow.

Overall, as compared to the expense and availability of similarly built tanks, Eshopps stands out on price and availability. These are premade and ready to go, and often cost less. There is a 100 gallon size that is available as well, the M100. The specs for that tank is on the @ESHOPPS.INC website. Good luck and Happy Reefing!

New sump is a step above the other!! but overflow box and pipes could use some help i absolutely despise how the bottom pipes thread onto the overflow pipes haha but once you get them tight they are ok l

I changed up my drains after getting the new sump and it works much better and imo better than what they send with the tank

This what came with your sump and my tank

When I got the new sump in this image

They still had the labeling wrong even in this because they had emergency drain going to refugium which did not make sense

Anyway I used the main siphon drain from the old sump moved secondary siphon to the 4th hole that goes to refugium and cut off the dorso drain so it’s 2” above main siphon and ideally handles about 10% of my flow and emergency drain I relocated to hole 1 and it’s about 2” higher than secondary(refugium) drain and it’s completly silent

The problem with how they have the pipe setup for the new drains both primary and secondary siphon are same length and both only about 2” below emergency drain which imo would be extremely difficult to make quiet without shortening main siphon tube

 

[KrisReef]

Lots of good choices, but for your protection Don’t Buy Red Sea tanks.

Lots of stores sell them and they have lots of seam failures.

The others mentioned use a different silicone that isn’t prone to failure.

 

[Krux]

I would not personally consider a glass aquarium if you truly expect it to last 20 years... that is beyond the lifespan of a lot of silicone.

 

[NC2WA]

If you are considering an acrylic tank, then I highly recommend my builder, Jason Gregory. He built me a custom acrylic 390 gallon tank in 2007. Nineteen years later it is running like it was delivered in 2007. No crazing, no split seams, just flawless workmanship. If you are interested, PM me and I can give you his contact info. I believe he ships to other states but unsure about IN.

 

[X-37B]

I like IM systems, I have 3, 170, 112 and 50.
Look at the ext 112 or ext 100.
This is my 112 36×36×20.

 

[Damage12]

If you want the best of the best, Reef Savvy, but it’s gonna cost you.

 

[Biff0rz]

If you want the best of the best, Reef Savvy, but it’s gonna cost you.

This. And about 3x whatever you expect will be the cost. They are NOT cheap.

 

[MeatCake]

Lots of good choices, but for your protection Don’t Buy Red Sea tanks.

Lots of stores sell them and they have lots of seam failures.

The others mentioned use a different silicone that isn’t prone to failure.

I have PTSD to some of the videos of a seam failure.

 

[MeatCake]

UNS. All Aluminum stand. Got mine a few months ago. No particle board stands here.

Holy smokes those are nice thank you for the suggestion.