Help! Cant decide on tank.

[Steamreefer]

 so i just got off the phone with waterbox and they gave an estimate of $5160 with shipping and the innovative marine is $5700 with shipping.

Waterbox said I could expect it sometime early may since it's backorderd.

Who would choose what and why?

 

[Steamreefer]

And it gets even better.

Aquarium depot here in canada just called an offered another 10% off the innovative marine tank for a total of 30% off. Brings me to the same price as the waterbox and he has it in stock.

 

[Danjoethepirate]

And it gets even better.

Aquarium depot he...

Hey, for what it's worth, you should check out the proclear v2 150 and see if you can get it in your area. It's the size you want and the price is fantastic. I've had one for 5 years and its been great. Just pull the baffles out if the overflow standpipes and you're good to go.

 

[Stevorino]

Planet Aquariums has many good reviews and a good reputation from what I have read. But their website is frustrating. The section entitled "Tideline Crystalline Specs" is blank. And no prices are shown. Are specs and prices to be found somewhere else? This makes it impossible to compare products and causes no end of frustration (at least for me). There is nothing found for Planet Aquariums 186. What is a Planet 186?

If you go to the 'Mega Matrix' part of the site you can 'customize' your tank and it does show a price for your configuration.

I'm not sure if you can get pricing though on all their various brands through the website. My understanding is they try to push sales through LFSs rather than through online.

 

[fishface NJ]

 so i just got off the phone with waterbox and they gave an estimate of $5160 with shipping and the innovative marine is $5700 with shipping.

Waterbox said I could expect it sometime early may since it's backorderd.

Who would choose what and why?

Waterbox only because I hate IM sumps. I had planned to purchase an IM tank when they sold it as tank and stand only. Once they went to tank/sump/stand I said no. It leaves on room under the stand.

 

[Steamreefer]

Waterbox only because I hate IM sumps. I had planned to purchase an IM tank when they sold it as tank and stand only. Once they went to tank/sump/stand I said no. It leaves on room under the stand.

I hear ya, I may try and sell this sump and purchase something else. That or try the klir roller mats as others have. I briefly read that I.m is producing a roller mat for these sumps.

I'm just waiting for my invoice for a white I.m 100 ext. The 15mm glass is a nice feature and it includes a mighty jet pump I can also sell. So the tank is getting even cheaper!

 

[Freenow54]

Very nice and clean hope you planned for the weight on the floor. Just went through this with someone else they got good advice

 

[Steamreefer]

Very nice and clean hope you planned for the weight on the floor. Just went through this with someone else they got good advice

Yes I've previously had a 125 gallon in the same spot

 

[X-37B]

Your set up is awesome but I gotta ask, why no height on your rock structure?

The height is left for the corals, lol. The Stags in the back will grow to the surface. Plus after 30+ I want to be able to pull a rock if needed and not have to destroy the rest of the Reef in the process. Makes changing things in the tank when it grows in easier.
Also I'm 67 so the system needs to be easy to service as we both age, lol.

 

[mjszos]

I have an INT-100, and while I wish I had more space inside of the cabinet I’m quite pleased with the RFS39 sump.

Feel free to ask any questions about the setup, I’d be happy to share.

 

[Steamreefer]

I have an INT-100, and while I wish I had more space inside of the cabinet I’m quite pleased with the RFS39 sump.

Feel free to ask any questions about the setup, I’d be happy to share.

Sure thanks. Did you leave the sump stock? Where did you mount your stuff? I saw this in a thread here and thought it looked decent enough.

 

[mboley]

The height is left for the corals, lol. The Stags in the back will grow to the surface. Plus after 30+ I want to be able to pull a rock if needed and not have to destroy the rest of the Reef in the process. Makes changing things in the tank when it grows in easier.
Also I'm 67 so the system needs to be easy to service as we both age, lol.

I'm 65 and had a 240 gallon sps tank way back in the late 90s. Fun fact, I bought most of my corals direct from Steve Tyree. I had some corals a foot high so I know what you're talking about. Have you considered that most corals grow more sideways than up? No offense intended, I've just always been big on the rock structure. Everything epoxied together to boot.

 

[mjszos]

Sure thanks. Did you leave the sump stock? Where did you mount your stuff? I saw this in a thread here and thought it looked decent enough.

I did yeah. My only real complaint with it is that I don't have a fleece roller anymore - but IM is working one that'll work for these sumps. I have my power strips mounted outside of the tank (just a general rule for me to not have them inside of a sump cabinet), here is the cabinet layout (needs some cleanup, but you get the idea).

Chamber 1: Overflow, Heaters, Filter Cups
Chamber 2: Skimmer + Rock
Chamber 3: Cryptic Fuge
Chamber 4: Carbon/GFO reactor + return pump

Controllers mounted to the doors:

Misc junk just laying on top of it. When I get my doser setup, I'll wall mount it behind the tank - on the left side there is space for 4x 1L bottles.

 

[Steamreefer]

I did yeah. My only real complaint with it is that I don't have a fleece roller anymore - but IM is working one that'll work for these sumps. I have my power strips mounted outside of the tank (just a general rule for me to not have them inside of a sump cabinet), here is the cabinet layout (needs some cleanup, but you get the idea).

Chamber 1: Overflow, Heaters, Filter Cups
Chamber 2: Skimmer + Rock
Chamber 3: Cryptic Fuge
Chamber 4: Carbon/GFO reactor + return pump

Controllers mounted to the doors:

Misc junk just laying on top of it. When I get my doser setup, I'll wall mount it behind the tank - on the left side there is space for 4x 1L bottles.

Looks nice, is that the red sea ato? If it is hows it going for you? Where do you keep the jug of ro? I saw red sea makes some super low profile jugs. I was thinking of keeping 1 behind the tank.

Do you happen to know the flow recommendation for the tank?

 

[mjszos]

Looks nice, is that the red sea ato? If it is hows it going for you? Where do you keep the jug of ro? I saw red sea makes some super low profile jugs. I was thinking of keeping 1 behind the tank.

Do you happen to know the flow recommendation for the tank?

It is the Red Sea ATO. It works great for me.

I keep a container of RO right outside of the stand. Even if it would fit I wouldn't keep it in the stand - much more convenient for me to refill without having to monkey in the sump area.

I think the Red Sea jugs are a little silly, they want like $70 for a plastic jug - it's ridiculous. If you want to go that route, go to Harbor Freight or an Offroading/4x4 store and you'll find similar molded jugs for $20.

 

[Steamreefer]

Good to know. Yeah ill probably look around but they're only a few inches wide, be tough to find anything else that will fit behind the stand.

But let's admit, everything in this hobby has ridiculous prices.

Never would I have thought I'd drop $5k on 5 pieces of glass and 2lbs molded aluminum but I'm pretty pumped!

 

[mjszos]

That's fair enough. I aim to make things as easy as possible for myself, so having to move my ATO to keep refilling it would get annoying. I had my ATO in my stand in my previous setup and it drove me crazy.

I've got one of these just off to the side. If you just put RODI water in it, it stays crystal clear and you almost don't even notice it (excluding the pump inside of the reservoir)

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/crystal-ato-5-gallon-trigger-systems.html

 

[Steamreefer]

Looks like a pretty good deal, I'll have under 10" of room beside my tank and up against a wall on the other side, so I can't even use the side doors which is a total bummer but I might be able to put a larger reservoir beside it. I really appreciate the feed back.

 

[mjszos]

Looks like a pretty good deal, I'll have under 10" of room beside my tank and up against a wall on the other side, so I can't even use the side doors which is a total bummer but I might be able to put a larger reservoir beside it. I really appreciate the feed back.

I swear, I'm not paid by Trigger Systems but that reservoir would be perfect. I think it's like 6" wide and like 12-16" deep. My wife hates seeing my equipment out of the stand, but this one doesn't bother her.

 

[MW319]

All I can say is I’m a big fan of Waterbox. 170/4.5 purchased 03/19 and never had any issues.