Looking for opinions on new tank!!

[DVCasey0311]

Hello all,

Been a lurker here for a little bit, and I haven't really posted much but I'm seeking some opinions.
My current setup is a IM 25 Lagoon and it has been an awesome little tank and served me well, but I'm ready to go bigger.
I have set my self a budget of $5K for a new tank setup and have some choices in mind but wanted to see y'alls opinions on each and which y'all might prefer.
My options are as follows.

1.) UNS R120 $4900 shipping and taxes included, 4ft tank, 15mm glass, super nice sump and electronics setup and included gravity ato, 45 degree corners on the glass. I absolutely love this tank setup and all the features it gives.

2.) IM 170 EXT $4600 shipped, no taxes. 5ft tank instead of 4 and its 30 inches deep which is sweet, 19mm glass and eurobraced, nice sump but big and takes a lot of space. Not as much space in the stand for ATO and Electronics, will have to get creative. IM reputation.

3.) Waterbox Infinia reef 190.5 almost $4900 shipped. 15mm glass, 5ft tank, I like the sump setup and included ato is nice. Seems pricey vs the IM for a 5ft tank though thats only 15mm thick and 25 inches deep. Waterbox has a controller cabinet so thats a cool addon and would be interested in that.

4.) Eshopps Mariner M130 This one is interesting. 19mm glass and bottom braced so i like that. only 22 inches deep. My LFS has one in the store but the sump is only a 3 chamber and from the pictures iv seen online i thought it was supposed to have a 4 chamber with the 4th on the right side of the return chamber. So not sure about that. I like that it has a seperate section in the stand for electronics, ato reservoir and just whatever else. I dont like the stand being wood vs the other 3 are aluminum. My LFS has this one for 3500. So its very tempting.

Please share yalls thoughts, I'm torn on all 4. I really like the UNS with all its features and QoL stuff they incorporated but its only a 4ft tank vs the other 3 being 5ft.

 

[jhadaway]

I'm a big Waterbox fan. I have my forth now, 25gal pen, 100.3, a 20 cube and now a custom external 235. Catch one on sale. You won't be sorry.

 

[X-37B]

IM reefer here. Ext 170, ext 112, and ext 50.
The 170 has enough room a 6" wide ato. This is mine with a 6g kalk container.
I built a 12" 8020 cage behind all 3 ext's to keep electrical, ato, and co2 cylinder.
If you want more room in the sump area go with the ext 150 48×36.
170

112with an 8" wide ato. The 150 will give you an additional foot under the system.

 

[MichaelReefer]

My Red Sea 525XL went down, got a new UNS R150 a few weeks ago- LOVE IT so far. Amazing quality, love the all aluminum stand, amazing customer service. Love the magnetic doors.

 

[BryanM]

1.) UNS R120 $4900 shipping and taxes included, 4ft tank, 15mm glass, super nice sump and electronics setup and included gravity ato, 45 degree corners on the glass. I absolutely love this tank setup and all the features it gives.

2.) IM 170 EXT $4600 shipped, no taxes. 5ft tank instead of 4 and its 30 inches deep which is sweet, 19mm glass and eurobraced, nice sump but big and takes a lot of space. Not as much space in the stand for ATO and Electronics, will have to get creative. IM reputation.

3.) Waterbox Infinia reef 190.5 almost $4900 shipped. 15mm glass, 5ft tank, I like the sump setup and included ato is nice. Seems pricey vs the IM for a 5ft tank though thats only 15mm thick and 25 inches deep. Waterbox has a controller cabinet so thats a cool addon and would be interested in that.

4.) Eshopps Mariner M130 This one is interesting. 19mm glass and bottom braced so i like that. only 22 inches deep. My LFS has one in the store but the sump is only a 3 chamber and from the pictures iv seen online i thought it was supposed to have a 4 chamber with the 4th on the right side of the return chamber. So not sure about that. I like that it has a seperate section in the stand for electronics, ato reservoir and just whatever else. I dont like the stand being wood vs the other 3 are aluminum. My LFS has this one for 3500. So its very tempting.

2) 30" deep, 21" tall, if you have space for a tank this deep I think it is a no brainer.

I don't think anything else compares. So much more swim room and rock placement optoins.

 

[wrasse man]

It would be nice if you could order "a la carte” without a sump and just order an acrylic 3rd party sump of your liking.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Hello all,

Been a lurker here for a little bit, and I haven't really posted much but I'm seeking some opinions.
My current setup is a IM 25 Lagoon and it has been an awesome little tank and served me well, but I'm ready to go bigger.
I have set my self a budget of $5K for a new tank setup and have some choices in mind but wanted to see y'alls opinions on each and which y'all might prefer.
My options are as follows.

1.) UNS R120 $4900 shipping and taxes included, 4ft tank, 15mm glass, super nice sump and electronics setup and included gravity ato, 45 degree corners on the glass. I absolutely love this tank setup and all the features it gives.

2.) IM 170 EXT $4600 shipped, no taxes. 5ft tank instead of 4 and its 30 inches deep which is sweet, 19mm glass and eurobraced, nice sump but big and takes a lot of space. Not as much space in the stand for ATO and Electronics, will have to get creative. IM reputation.

3.) Waterbox Infinia reef 190.5 almost $4900 shipped. 15mm glass, 5ft tank, I like the sump setup and included ato is nice. Seems pricey vs the IM for a 5ft tank though thats only 15mm thick and 25 inches deep. Waterbox has a controller cabinet so thats a cool addon and would be interested in that.

4.) Eshopps Mariner M130 This one is interesting. 19mm glass and bottom braced so i like that. only 22 inches deep. My LFS has one in the store but the sump is only a 3 chamber and from the pictures iv seen online i thought it was supposed to have a 4 chamber with the 4th on the right side of the return chamber. So not sure about that. I like that it has a seperate section in the stand for electronics, ato reservoir and just whatever else. I dont like the stand being wood vs the other 3 are aluminum. My LFS has this one for 3500. So its very tempting.

Please share yalls thoughts, I'm torn on all 4. I really like the UNS with all its features and QoL stuff they incorporated but its only a 4ft tank vs the other 3 being 5ft.

Mariner 130. Thick glass and well built. Buy with confidence.

For a 130, i’d be less concerned about the stand because the pieces are very sturdy and well built. Marine coated.

The thing feels overbuilt to me

 

[X-37B]

Mariner 130. Thick glass and well built. Buy with confidence

Ext 170 has 19mm glass, euro bracing, and 22mm bottom glass.
Very nice full sysyems for the money.
Been in this hobby since the 80's and for a full system they are well built and the main reason I own 3
All the others mentioned are nice
systems.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Ext 170 has 19mm glass, euro bracing, and 22mm bottom glass.
Very nice full sysyems for the money.
Been in this hobby since the 80's and for a full system they are well built and the main reason I own 3
All the others mentioned are nice
systems.

i like the dimensions of the 130 - the IM’s are wider than I need. EB is a very nice addition though.

 

[X-37B]

i like the dimensions of the 130 - the IM’s are wider than I need. EB is a very nice addition though.

Funny, after going 30" I dont want anything less. My 112 or the 150 with 36" depth gives you alot of options over 24".
My old 120 was a nice standard 24" depth system.
The ext 170 just takes longer to fill in, lol.
120 at 2 years

Ext 170 today at 2 years

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Funny, after going 30" I dont want anything less. My 112 or the 150 with 36" depth gives you alot of options over 24".
My old 120 was a nice standard 24" depth system.
The ext 170 just takes longer to fill in, lol.
120 at 2 years

Ext 170 today at 2 years

looks great

 

[areefer01]

Those range between 120 and 195 gallons, right? Why not go semi custom. Glass or acrylic. With that budget you can get a nice display. Display and stand. Or in some cases display, stand, and sump. Shipping may or may not be included but one thing to consider is that you are shipping the display so the stand and sump does not add to the shipping cost.

Skimmer allocation 400 - 700 USD.

Honestly, I would not go pre-fab unless you want everything they come with for ease of installation. Just know you are locked into that ecosystem and may not need some of what they include.

Also worth noting, and I understand this is a personal preference, but rimless tanks are not something I personally would recommend on large systems. But I admit this is a personal opinion.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

rimless with euro bracing still looks rimless to me.

 

[DVCasey0311]

Thanks for all the input everyone. What's yalls thoughts about the UNS tanks not being eurobraced? Does the 45 degree seams add extra strength?

 

[Subsea]

OP
Because I often rearrange aquascape and when cleaning glass, a 30” deep tank was a hassle for me. I like 24” deep.

That’s what it is when you are short.

 

[DVCasey0311]

OP
Because I often rearrange aquascape and when cleaning glass, a 30” deep tank was a hassle for me. I like 24” deep.

That’s what it is when you are short.

I can appreciate that thought process as I too am short.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Thanks for all the input everyone. What's yalls thoughts about the UNS tanks not being eurobraced? Does the 45 degree seams add extra strength?

I dont have any info on that, however from the bit of research I did, there is no record of any UNS tanks failing. Even used some AI's to search online. Their reefer line is pretty new but I will say the build quality is top notch on the stand.

 

[DVCasey0311]

Well I pulled the trigger on a UNS R120 in grey. I couldn't pass up the QoL features that it gives and really my heart was set on a UNS. Can't wait for it to get here.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Well I pulled the trigger on a UNS R120 in grey. I couldn't pass up the QoL features that it gives and really my heart was set on a UNS. Can't wait for it to get here.

Great choice, again I love my R150 so far. Its so clean looking and the Aluminum frame is very robust. I wont lie, when I had my Red Sea my first though was "This stand is supposed to hold that much weight?!?!?!" The removable doors are handy too, love being able to just get them out of the way.

Customer service is amazing as well, the guys and gals over there are very responsible and you can get any questions you may have answered.

 

[DVCasey0311]

Well I pulled the trigger on a UNS R120 in grey. I couldn't pass up the QoL features that it gives and really my heart was set on a UNS. Can't wait for it to get here.

Great choice, again I love my R150 so far. Its so clean looking and the Aluminum frame is very robust. I wont lie, when I had my Red Sea my first though was "This stand is supposed to hold that much weight?!?!?!" The removable doors are handy too, love being able to just get them out of the way.

Customer service is amazing as well, the guys and gals over there are very responsible and you can get any questions you may have answered.

There is a part of me that wishes I would have waited another few weeks and got a 150 instead. But the 4ft tank will fit the space better overall. I'm excited to get it. Can't get here soon enough.