Starting a Reef with a Reef Ready Tank

[tangywickles]

Hey all! My friend recommended this forum, I am doing research into starting my first saltwater reef tank, I’m a go big or go home guy so I’m gonna do a 125gal. I found this reef ready one at my local pet store, I’m looking for advice/how to on how to get it set up (not substrate/rock I’ve already got that sorted) but more like pumps, heaters, filters, skimmers. What to use and where to put them? Thank you all in advance!

 

[RocketEngineer]

Hey all! My friend recommended this forum, I am doing research into starting my first saltwater reef tank, I’m a go big or go home guy so I’m gonna do a 125gal. I found this reef ready one at my local pet store, I’m looking for advice/how to on how to get it set up (not substrate/rock I’ve already got that sorted) but more like pumps, heaters, filters, skimmers. What to use and where to put them? Thank you all in advance!

If you haven’t purchased this tank already, I suggest getting a different one.

Reasons:
1) Those overflow boxes take up a lot of space in a tank that’s already narrow. My 125g was a pain to aquascape and I had a very thin overflow.
2) The whole “reef ready” thing is a joke. Those overflows are a design from 20+ years ago and more modern designs are quieter, take up less space in the display, and offer redundancy in case of blockage.
3) If you want enough room in the stand for any kind of equipment, you are likely to need to build your own. The stock stands on those tanks are too short for most skimmers that are recommended for a system that big and the stand is too narrow for almost any standard size sump.

Please reconsider this tank. It is not what it is advertised as.

 

[tangywickles]

Tb

If you haven’t purchased this tank already, I suggest getting a different one.

Reasons:
1) Those overflow boxes take up a lot of space in a tank that’s already narrow. My 125g was a pain to aquascape and I had a very thin overflow.
2) The whole “reef ready” thing is a joke. Those overflows are a design from 20+ years ago and more modern designs are quieter, take up less space in the display, and offer redundancy in case of blockage.
3) If you want enough room in the stand for any kind of equipment, you are likely to need to build your own. The stock stands on those tanks are too short for most skimmers that are recommended for a system that big and the stand is too narrow for almost any standard size sump.

Please reconsider this tank. It is not what it is advertised as.

This is exactly what I was worried about thank you! What would you recommend for the tank/set up? And what measurements do you recommend for the stand? I am actually planning to build my own.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Tb

This is exactly what I was worried about thank you! What would you recommend for the tank/set up? And what measurements do you recommend for the stand? I am actually planning to build my own.

Honestly, my current favorite size is my 100g EXT from Innovative Marine. It’s 48” long and 24” front-to-back which gives me plenty of space to aquascape. At 19” tall, it’s easy enough for me to reach the bottom while my lighting needs aren’t as intense. The stand from IM has a decent amount of room for my sump and ATO container.

If such a system is outside your budget (and I can understand that), then consider getting a regular tank and drilling it for an overflow. As long as the panels aren’t tempered, drilling isn’t hard, just takes nerve and time. I drilled my 75g without any issue. That plus my DIY stand still rank as my best builds in the hobby for me.

TL : DR a 75g drilled for a DIY overflow and a DIY stand.