Waterbox vs Cade

[BlueGrass Reef]

Like the title states. I can’t decide between a waterbox box reef lx 330.7 or the Cade 2100 s2. I’m leaning more towards waterbox because I currently own a 175.6 frag. Just wanted someone input or opinions. I have time to decide not planning on ordering until end of summer. Started buying the equipment and rock already.

Waterbox 330.7 not too much cons from my exp other than I don’t like the stand doors. No dedicated electrical switch board or area just an open side in the cabinet and a panel. Cade has the nice electrical switches mounted and a dedicated portioned off space with a shelf. Cons I’ve come up with on the Cade system is you loose space in the display with how they do their overflow and ato reservoir placement.

 

[Waters]

They are of similar quality with Cade having better stands. I went with the Cade for the reason you listed as a con. I like the overflow outside of the display and the gravity fed ATO.

 

[BlueGrass Reef]

They are of similar quality with Cade having better stands. I went with the Cade for the reason you listed as a con. I like the overflow outside of the display and the gravity fed ATO.

I mean it’s not necessarily a bad thing with the ato and what not outside the tank like that but I like the 30” width of display in the 330.7. Never had a gravity fed ato…is the worry there the same with an ato pump runaway like if the float on the gravity fed doesn’t close it properly? I like the build quality of both. Love the stand for the Cade but like the waterbox tank.

 

[Waters]

I mean it’s not necessarily a bad thing with the ato and what not outside the tank like that but I like the 30” width of display in the 330.7. Never had a gravity fed ato…is the worry there the same with an ato pump runaway like if the float on the gravity fed doesn’t close it properly? I like the build quality of both. Love the stand for the Cade but like the waterbox tank.

I actually am happy losing that space in the back just to have the overflow outside of the tank. The gravity fed overflow has less risks than a traditional pump ATO. The pump is much more likely to fail than the float.....plus the gravity fed system feeds water at a much slower rate if anything was to fail. You really can't go wrong with either to be honest.

 

[BlueGrass Reef]

I actually am happy losing that space in the back just to have the overflow outside of the tank. The gravity fed overflow has less risks than a traditional pump ATO. The pump is much more likely to fail than the float.....plus the gravity fed system feeds water at a much slower rate if anything was to fail. You really can't go wrong with either to be honest.

Maybe all I really need is 24” width because I’m just doing bare bottom HNSA aquascaping. Because I do love the stand from Cade. Have you heard anything about bowing front glass on the 84” Cades where they aren’t braced? So that’s why I’m seeing more gravity fed systems with UNS and Cade

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I prefer my Waterbox aquarium over CADE but prefer the CADE stand over the Waterbox.

If I were to buy a new one I would go Waterbox.

 

[BlueGrass Reef]

I prefer my Waterbox aquarium over CADE but prefer the CADE stand over the Waterbox.

If I were to buy a new one I would go Waterbox.

I do love the stand on the Cade but where the Cade tank bows a little being a huge rimless kinda makes me nervous even though I haven’t heard anything bad about it. I love my current waterbox the stand is pretty meh and basic to me but overall no complaints really.

 

[Waters]

Maybe all I really need is 24” width because I’m just doing bare bottom HNSA aquascaping. Because I do love the stand from Cade. Have you heard anything about bowing front glass on the 84” Cades where they aren’t braced? So that’s why I’m seeing more gravity fed systems with UNS and Cade

No, I have not heard anything about the Cades bowing. I couldn't imagine it just due to thickness of the glass and joints. I have a Cade 1800 with no issues, so far anyways. If I had anything to complain about it would be their plumbing.....only because they use metric sizes. Makes it hard to modify without ordering parts online.

 

[Downfall]

May I suggest going with a custom tank? In this size and price range you're bumping up against just getting something made exactly how you want it.

Friendly reminder that water box doesn't manufacturer anything. They subcontract all manufacturing out to companies in China. WB is also know for their bad customer service, on par or worse than red Sea...

Good luck with your decision

 

[BlueGrass Reef]

No, I have not heard anything about the Cades bowing. I couldn't imagine it just due to thickness of the glass and joints. I have a Cade 1800 with no issues, so far anyways. If I had anything to complain about it would be their plumbing.....only because they use metric sizes. Makes it hard to modify without ordering parts online.

There’s a thread on here with someone who setup a cade 2100 and the front bows 3/8” and the custom acrylic lid barely stays on in the middle section because they didn’t account for the 3/8” bow in the center from water pressure. I have seen that the plumbing is metric I don’t really mess with plumbing unless I’m doing something completely custom but I’ll keep that in mind

 

[BlueGrass Reef]

May I suggest going with a custom tank? In this size and price range you're bumping up against just getting something made exactly how you want it.

Friendly reminder that water box doesn't manufacturer anything. They subcontract all manufacturing out to companies in China. WB is also know for their bad customer service, on par or worse than red Sea...

Good luck with your decision

I’m exploring all options but leading is waterbox since I have a large one already and second is Cade. I don’t mind a nice custom tank but the thing for me is I just don’t like to do everything much anymore these days like building a stand, figuring out plumbing, making or getting a pre built sump that’s custom to the setup. Sometimes I feel like prices end up relatively close in the long run. But I have checked out some custom tank options

 

[Waters]

There’s a thread on here with someone who setup a cade 2100 and the front bows 3/8” and the custom acrylic lid barely stays on in the middle section because they didn’t account for the 3/8” bow in the center from water pressure. I have seen that the plumbing is metric I don’t really mess with plumbing unless I’m doing something completely custom but I’ll keep that in mind

Yeah I would be shocked if that is something that is happening consistently. No tank should be bowing like that. I know mine hasn't moved.....and that is with a wavebox lol.

 

[BryanM]

I went with waterbox

 

[lubeck]

I love my Cade 1800 peninsula . I don’t have experience with a WB. The 30” width is awesome, leaves plenty of room for grow out . Wouldn’t ever go shorter now.

 

[apista]

Neither in my opinion are worth your money, I have a Cade, it is a nice tank but the stand is very poorly designed, the state I received it in was disgusting. It came scuffed up, was filthy dirty, and they look very cheap thrown together rubbish.

I have never owned a Waterbox and they but the same, nice tanks but an even worse stand, I would not trust their stands in my house, especially the newer stands with 2020 box sections.

No thanks!!

 

[feelingfishy]

The CADE 2100 does bow a bit, but I trust the overall build quality. If you can find a leak on a CADE DT please DM me.
I have searched diligently for such a post before and after my 2100 purchase and have yet to find one.

 

[Cool tangs]

I'll also back the quality of the cade, the stand, the sump, the glass and the silicone is thick! But it's also neat and ties in really well. Yes you lose space in a cade and it does challenge your thinking to make it all work, so plan ahead. But overall the systems are well thought out and I'm quite happy with my cade. But yes some days I do wish there was a little more cabinet space. Having the power bars is nice as well

 

[Jungle Blue]

When I filled up the 1500, my dad was very anxious about the weight and stand. He kept on hovering with the wrong kind of energy for days, so I kinda snapped and hung full body weight on the front Panel to show him that "I've done a lot of research and this is the strongest within the available tank companies". The stand didn't budge or creak at all. It's firm and sturdy. He stopped worrying after that :)

Plus, it started raining way more than expected during tank delivery. Gf and I had to abandon the lift midway into the yard. Put a garbage bag over the powerstrips and waited out. As the rain was coming down on the stand, all I could think was "good thing it's waterproof." After the rain cleared, moved it in and wiped it down. No swelling nothing. A stand with any wooden components would've been destroyed before I even put glass on top.

That was already a big-check moment for me and could not be more satisfied with my purchase. It's a well thought out product and very modular for different needs.

 

[Liquid361]

I have a Cade 2100 S2. I love the tank! I have owned a large water box Peninsula that I also loved. The Cade tanks are next level as far as build quality goes. Mine has 3/4in glass and crazy seams. Not a chance it’ll ever bow. The sump is genius. The stand is amazing and will last forever. But there’s no wrong choice here.