shadow1013
Well-Known Member
Has anyone had both a Red Sea Reefer and a Waterbox system ? If you had to choose between the two which would you go with and why?
Red Sea Reefer or Waterbox
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Manny Tavan
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I have both. Four years on the Red Sea and two years on the waterbox. Waterbox is better
Phil D.
Valuable Member
If you also note in your research, Red Sea has upgraded their silicone and stands to correct that issue, (which was only on some of the larger tanks).
Red Sea all the way. Incredible quality and craftsmanship.
DeniableArc
Well-Known Member
Just my opinion. I have a Red Sea tank myself! They new there was a problem and they denied it! It was clear and obvious and they denied it. They left customers without a replacement for months.
While I do not own either, I was considering one or the other initially.
I would go with the waterbox just for the stand. Red sea uses cheap chip board(MDF) where waterbox uses actual wood(not plywood or chipboard(MDF)) for their stands.
For me, that alone would be a deciding factor.
I would go with the waterbox just for the stand. Red sea uses cheap chip board(MDF) where waterbox uses actual wood(not plywood or chipboard(MDF)) for their stands.
For me, that alone would be a deciding factor.
According to there web site Water Box uses "wood composite material" In otherwords particle board.
Red sea "All the REEFER XXL models now feature a laminated, plywood marine-spec cabinet for greater water resistance. Marine plywood isn't cheap but is waterproof.
I just assembled a 3XL stand. Its very heavy. Trust me very high quality. Not "cheap"
There is a thread around here somewhere comparing the 2 with actual pictures of the 2 being sawed in half to show the "guts" of the wood.According to there web site Water Box uses "wood composite material" In otherwords particle board.
Red sea "All the REEFER XXL models now feature a laminated, plywood marine-spec cabinet for greater water resistance. Marine plywood isn't cheap but is waterproof.
I just assembled a 3XL stand. Its very heavy. Trust me very high quality. Not "cheap"
If the red sea stand is very heavy, its particle board, and we already know they are(MDF is way heavier then actual plywood or wood of the same dimensions). Unless on their larger tanks they changed the spec since that thread? I guess it's a possibility seeing as all the problems they had with their larger tanks and their stands bowing and cracking.
Waterbox used laminated plywood, not particle board.
Red Sea is all hype and they have an excellent marketing team. Waterbox is just plain good with out all the marketing hype.
Trey
Active Member
Particle board ehAccording to there web site Water Box uses "wood composite material" In otherwords particle board.
Red sea "All the REEFER XXL models now feature a laminated, plywood marine-spec cabinet for greater water resistance. Marine plywood isn't cheap but is waterproof.
I just assembled a 3XL stand. Its very heavy. Trust me very high quality. Not "cheap"
Oh ya, go Waterbox. I’m on the Red Sea FB page and see seam fails weekly if not daily.
Red Sea uses mdf btw...Maybe not on the newer iteration of the larger tanks ( which has to do with them attempting to correct the massive amount of failed seams on them), but they certainly do. The Waterbox stand is better, the glass is better, the sump is better, the plumbing is better, customer service is better.. I could on. Believe it or not, it took me some time to realize those things. I really wanted a Red Sea when I was looking for my current tank, lack of availability led me consider other options, which made me research, and I am SO glad I did. Take some time to research like I did and form your own opinion. What’s that they say, “you can lead a horse....”
DeniableArc
Well-Known Member
Well said.Particle board eh
Oh ya, go Waterbox. I’m on the Red Sea FB page and see seam fails weekly if not daily.
Red Sea uses mdf btw...Maybe not on the newer iteration of the larger tanks ( which has to do with them attempting to correct the massive amount of failed seams on them), but they certainly do. The Waterbox stand is better, the glass is better, the sump is better, the plumbing is better, customer service is better.. I could on. Believe it or not, it took me some time to realize those things. I really wanted a Red Sea when I was looking for my current tank, lack of availability led me consider other options, which made me research, and I am SO glad I did. Take some time to research like I did and form your own opinion. What’s that they say, “you can lead a horse....”
Particle board eh
Oh ya, go Waterbox. I’m on the Red Sea FB page and see seam fails weekly if not daily.
Red Sea uses mdf btw...Maybe not on the newer iteration of the larger tanks ( which has to do with them attempting to correct the massive amount of failed seams on them), but they certainly do. The Waterbox stand is better, the glass is better, the sump is better, the plumbing is better, customer service is better.. I could on. Believe it or not, it took me some time to realize those things. I really wanted a Red Sea when I was looking for my current tank, lack of availability led me consider other options, which made me research, and I am SO glad I did. Take some time to research like I did and form your own opinion. What’s that they say, “you can lead a horse....”
I just looked at the Waterbox website. Reefer series, the large tanks cabinets are WPC. Wood Plastic Composite.
I am on Red Sea FB page as well and don't see. I wonder if the have 2 FB s. lol
Red Sea XXL and 3XL are Marine Spec Plywood. Its there designs and Im sure both work. But disinformation has been served by some.
Take your time and get what you like best. I looked at both. Also Cade. The quality of materials, craftsmanship and design the Red Sea Reefer XL Series DT , cabinet and sump wins hands down. I did have to wait about a month but I am so glad I did and it was well worth it. "Good things come to those tha.........
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Onthefly
Community Member
On the "Red Sea FB page and see seam fails weekly if not daily". Lots of RS tanks out there....maybe this is a small number of the total tanks. Still, not a good look!
WB:
1) great customer service
2) quality
3) non-metric fittings (I know it seems trivial, but it's not)
4) I just preferred the look!
WB:
1) great customer service
2) quality
3) non-metric fittings (I know it seems trivial, but it's not)
4) I just preferred the look!
Onthefly
Community Member
Oh...you mean the wood covering the "powder coated aluminum frame" underneath?I just looked at the Waterbox website. Reefer series, the large tanks cabinets are WPC. Wood Plastic Composite.
I am on Red Sea FB page as well and don't see. I wonder if the have 2 FB s. lol
Red Sea XXL and 3XL are Marine Spec Plywood. Its there designs and Im sure both work. But disinformation has been served by some.
Take your time and get what you like best. I looked at both. Also Cade. The quality of materials, craftsmanship and design the Red Sea Reefer XL Series DT , cabinet and sump wins hands down. I did have to wait about a month but I am so glad I did and it was well worth it. "Good things come to those tha.........
Onthefly
Community Member
Yeah...but the Reef Series is made with UV coated Ply wood, not composite. I'm assuming, since the Reef LX has the Aluminum frame doing all the work, the wood panels (composite) are non-structural and just for aesthetics.
If I had enough room for a Waterbox Reef LX that would have been my preference.
Since I only have about 22" of depth available, I went with a RS 525XL.
Since I only have about 22" of depth available, I went with a RS 525XL.
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