Hello Everyone!
I currently have a Red Sea Reefer 250 and I'm looking to upgrade to a larger tank. Ideally I was looking for something around 100-120 gallons.
My local club has a couple of tanks up for grabs and both are within the range of what I was looking for, but they're totally different styles of tank. I'm looking for a little feedback on the pros and cons, and what your thoughts are on these two setups.
Setup #1 is a Clarity Plus Acrylic tank with a single corner overflow. Tank measures 48” x 36” x 18” which would give it a weight around 118 pounds empty, and a volume of just under 135 gallons. The tank is in excellent condition, but doesn't have any additional supplies, no stand, no sump, etc. I have everything I need to set up the tank except for the stand and bulkheads. I have a 15 gallon sump I could use, or I can pick up one from a club member. There are plenty available. The long pole in the tent will be tracking down a stand.
Setup #2 is a Marineland 125 with dual corner overflows. It's a rimmed tank (not my favorite) but it comes with everything. Complete sump, skimmer, pumps, gyres, stand, lights, etc. This tank measure 72x18x22 and is glass, which gives it a weight around 240 pounds. The stand is solid oak with a canopy. I have no idea what the stand weighs, but I imagine it's incredibly heavy.
My initial thoughts:
Setup #1 is far easier to move, it has a slightly smaller footprint, and is compatible with my current light setup. I have a 4 foot long hybrid LED/T5 setup that I really like. It's taller than my Reefer, which will make it challenging to reach the bottom of the tank, but that isn't too much of a hurdle. I know acrylic scratches, but I don't have anyone at home that I would worry about damaging the tank. The seller is asking $350 for the tank. Major downside is tracking down a stand and plumbing.
Setup #2 is a complete package. It even comes with the live rock and fish. The size is going to be a hassle. I'm not sure that I have an easy way to move it. I have space for it but getting it home is going to be a trial. If I keep the canopy I'm stuck with the built in lighting. I'm not sure exactly what it is, so it might not be as good as my setup. The seller is asking $600 for the total package. This is a great deal in my opinion, but I think the price is low because of the major effort it will take to get it home (plus I have to get it down a set of stairs).
What are your thoughts? What would you choose, and why? What factors am I not considering that should play into my decision?
Thanks!
I currently have a Red Sea Reefer 250 and I'm looking to upgrade to a larger tank. Ideally I was looking for something around 100-120 gallons.
My local club has a couple of tanks up for grabs and both are within the range of what I was looking for, but they're totally different styles of tank. I'm looking for a little feedback on the pros and cons, and what your thoughts are on these two setups.
Setup #1 is a Clarity Plus Acrylic tank with a single corner overflow. Tank measures 48” x 36” x 18” which would give it a weight around 118 pounds empty, and a volume of just under 135 gallons. The tank is in excellent condition, but doesn't have any additional supplies, no stand, no sump, etc. I have everything I need to set up the tank except for the stand and bulkheads. I have a 15 gallon sump I could use, or I can pick up one from a club member. There are plenty available. The long pole in the tent will be tracking down a stand.
Setup #2 is a Marineland 125 with dual corner overflows. It's a rimmed tank (not my favorite) but it comes with everything. Complete sump, skimmer, pumps, gyres, stand, lights, etc. This tank measure 72x18x22 and is glass, which gives it a weight around 240 pounds. The stand is solid oak with a canopy. I have no idea what the stand weighs, but I imagine it's incredibly heavy.
My initial thoughts:
Setup #1 is far easier to move, it has a slightly smaller footprint, and is compatible with my current light setup. I have a 4 foot long hybrid LED/T5 setup that I really like. It's taller than my Reefer, which will make it challenging to reach the bottom of the tank, but that isn't too much of a hurdle. I know acrylic scratches, but I don't have anyone at home that I would worry about damaging the tank. The seller is asking $350 for the tank. Major downside is tracking down a stand and plumbing.
Setup #2 is a complete package. It even comes with the live rock and fish. The size is going to be a hassle. I'm not sure that I have an easy way to move it. I have space for it but getting it home is going to be a trial. If I keep the canopy I'm stuck with the built in lighting. I'm not sure exactly what it is, so it might not be as good as my setup. The seller is asking $600 for the total package. This is a great deal in my opinion, but I think the price is low because of the major effort it will take to get it home (plus I have to get it down a set of stairs).
What are your thoughts? What would you choose, and why? What factors am I not considering that should play into my decision?
Thanks!