Tank brand feedback? 100-150 gallon

[reefing noob]

I am ready to upgrade to something in the 100-150 gallon range but whats every one recommend, I feel like i have ptsd by proxy from reddit posts about red sea failures so i feel like I should avoid them, is water box any better? I want something nice thats going to last.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I have heard good things about Glass cages! I don't have any personal experience, but If I were to go for a bigger one, I believe I would reach out to them.

 

[Biokabe]

Before you lock in on one brand, it's worth deciding if you want a glass or acrylic tank. Once you get above 100g, the argument for acrylic starts looking pretty compelling.

For glass tanks - in that size, I've heard good things about Glass Cages, Innovative Marine, CADE, Eshopps, Waterbox and Ultum Nature. I will fully admit to my bias here, but I wouldn't touch a Red Sea tank with a 10' pole. If I were in the market for a glass tank in that size, I'd probably go either Glass Cages or Ultum.

 

[NanoSteam]

Custom: GlassCages
Ready to go: Innovative Marine
Avoid: Red Sea

 

[TX_REEF]

you are correct to avoid Red Sea until they fix their tanks and customer care, brands I would consider if I was buying now are:

• Waterbox https://waterboxaquariums.com/collections/saltwater?filter.p.m.my_fields.volume=101+-+200+Gal
• Glasscages https://build.glasscages.com/salt-bundle
• Eshopps https://www.eshopps.com/mariner-series/
• Innovative Marine https://www.innovative-marine.com/a...BwE&gbraid=0AAAAABoMFKNwrBaEhB5gBMrEt6RPwxvxu

 

[reefing noob]

Before you lock in on one brand, it's worth deciding if you want a glass or acrylic tank. Once you get above 100g, the argument for acrylic starts looking pretty compelling.

For glass tanks - in that size, I've heard good things about Glass Cages, Innovative Marine, CADE, Eshopps, Waterbox and Ultum Nature. I will fully admit to my bias here, but I wouldn't touch a Red Sea tank with a 10' pole. If I were in the market for a glass tank in that size, I'd probably go either Glass Cages or Ultum.

I feel like acrylic would be out of the price range but I also had not even considered acrylic. I have a long fresh water back ground so UNS R120/R150 are on the radar just have not seen a ton of feedback from them out in the wild yet. Glass Cages looks interesting and wouldn't have to be shipped across the country. Red Sea I do think is off the list unless someone just has amazing feedback on their newest tanks but yeah too many horror stories with pics.

 

[TX_REEF]

edit double post glitch

 

[reefing noob]

you are correct to avoid Red Sea until they fix their tanks and customer care, brands I would consider if I was buying now are:

• Waterbox https://waterboxaquariums.com/collections/saltwater?filter.p.m.my_fields.volume=101+-+200+Gal
• Glasscages https://build.glasscages.com/salt-bundle
• Eshopps https://www.eshopps.com/mariner-series/
• Innovative Marine https://www.innovative-marine.com/a...BwE&gbraid=0AAAAABoMFKNwrBaEhB5gBMrEt6RPwxvxu

the infinia 150.4 I am a big fan of but I have seen a few mumblings of similar failures like red sea are becoming known for, however nowhere near as wide spread that's kind of what made me start this thread. I really like the UNS R150 but for the price the bundle with waterbox is a much better deal and before UNS came onto the reef scene redsea or waterbox was the dream tank until all of the redsea failures started being posted.

 

[Jonathanw1234]

I like Fiji Cube, their tanks look good, and they have great customer service IME.

And I've heard good things about the other brands that have been mentioned as well. JM2C :)

Just not Red Sea.

 

[reefing noob]

I like Fiji Cube, their tanks look good, and they have great customer service IME.

And I've heard good things about the other brands that have been mentioned as well. JM2C :)

Just not Red Sea.

Did you do the package from Fiji? If so how do you like their sump?

 

[Rob A]

I feel like acrylic would be out of the price range but I also had not even considered acrylic. I have a long fresh water back ground so UNS R120/R150 are on the radar just have not seen a ton of feedback from them out in the wild yet. Glass Cages looks interesting and wouldn't have to be shipped across the country. Red Sea I do think is off the list unless someone just has amazing feedback on their newest tanks but yeah too many horror stories with pics.

You might want to look into a used acrylic I buy them all the time a buff them out to like new. Novus and a few hours will often make a tank look almost like new depending on the scratches. Another plus side of acrylic is the seams are welded and are just as strong as the rest of the tank and they a relatively light.

 

[BeanAnimal]

@Joe Glass Cages does both custom glass and acrylic tanks. Privately owned business with exception reputation and customer service. I would not look elsewhere.

 

[Jonathanw1234]

Did you do the package from Fiji? If so how do you like their sump?

I did get the full package, and the stand was actually aluminum and not the plywood stand that's advertised. I do like their sump, I wish it were a little bigger, but it would then be competing for space in the cabinet, so overall I'm happy with it.

 

[Biokabe]

I feel like acrylic would be out of the price range but I also had not even considered acrylic. I have a long fresh water back ground so UNS R120/R150 are on the radar just have not seen a ton of feedback from them out in the wild yet. Glass Cages looks interesting and wouldn't have to be shipped across the country. Red Sea I do think is off the list unless someone just has amazing feedback on their newest tanks but yeah too many horror stories with pics.

Acrylic is more expensive than the cheaper glass options, but if you're pricing out a complete system it's not a huge difference at the 150g size. I think a basic tank + stand + sump from an acrylic maker would be more expensive than, say, an IM 150 or a Waterbox 150, but cheaper than an Ultum or Eshopps system.

The major difference is that you can find some glass tanks that approach mass-manufacturing, but an acrylic tank is pretty much always going to be a custom build. Manufacturers don't just have acrylic tanks sitting around waiting to sell, and that impacts both price and turnaround.

If I didn't want to pay the acrylic premium, I probably would go with Glass Cages - I think they hit a very attractive price to performance ratio, and ever since Joe took over I've heard nothing but good things from them.

 

[reefing noob]

Acrylic is more expensive than the cheaper glass options, but if you're pricing out a complete system it's not a huge difference at the 150g size. I think a basic tank + stand + sump from an acrylic maker would be more expensive than, say, an IM 150 or a Waterbox 150, but cheaper than an Ultum or Eshopps system.

The major difference is that you can find some glass tanks that approach mass-manufacturing, but an acrylic tank is pretty much always going to be a custom build. Manufacturers don't just have acrylic tanks sitting around waiting to sell, and that impacts both price and turnaround.

If I didn't want to pay the acrylic premium, I probably would go with Glass Cages - I think they hit a very attractive price to performance ratio, and ever since Joe took over I've heard nothing but good things from them.

I will have to search for some Glass Cages build threads on here

 

[Kazumi]

For an off the shelf/semi-custom tank, Planet Aquariums seem to be pretty good.

 

[rtparty]

Besides avoiding Red Sea, I would also avoid any rimless setup. Get a Eurobrace and be much happier with your life.

If custom is an option and in the budget, Glasscages is the go to.

If not custom, the Innovative Marine 150 EXT is a great system. Their stand can be tricky since it is aluminum with no compartments. So adding all the gear is harder IMO. If you are decent with tools, you can build a little cabinet inside the stand to house electronics. Or even better is an electronics cabinet outside the stand.

 

[mattroth54]

I’m on my 2nd Planet Aquarium, the 60x20. Had the 47aio. Both great tanks.