Where to look for a new tank?

[Jakepen]

Hey guys, I'm thinking in a year I'll hopefully upgrade to a new tank. Thinking around 180 gallon, preferably rimless, pre drilled. Where do I look, is that something I need to order online, does it have to be a custom order? Any good brands or manufacturers I should be looking at?

 

[lion king]

Shipping cost online is an arm and a leg. I found going to your lfs and having them order it for you is the best way. Search online for the tank and find the one you'd like. If you have more than one lfs around, go to all of them and get a quote. Some tank manufactures have sales at different times and some lfs will pass on the savings, some won't. I have 3 large lfs here, 2 of them have competitive prices, one will always try and rip me off. One will let me know when sales are coming up so I can take advantage and save money. I have 3 aqueon tanks, I like them; visio is better quality but I don't like the wide glass braces across the top. I'm not sure who makes a 180 rimless, but it will probably at least have a eurobrace at that size, and it will probably be pretty pricey.

 

[Mallard]

Check out SCA aquariums. Shipping is built into the price and very fair. They do custom and standard tanks.

 

[Jakepen]

So when I go that big, is bracing usually common? I think bracing is quite unattractive, also don't care for a canopy. Should I worry about finding a tank pre drilled, or consider having that done afterwards?

 

[lion king]

The eurobrace is kinda a new design, the glass is on the edges of the tank on the inside, not going across the top. If you look at the sca aquariums, you see the glass braces on the inside of the tank, that's a eurobrace. You are going to have to order the tank anyway, so I would think it's best to just have it drilled. I don't like canopies either that's why I went with an aqueon tank. I know they aren't top of the line but I would have paid double for a eurobrace tank. I have a 210,125, and 90; the aqueon have the thick plastic brace that goes across the top instead of the wide glass like marineland and visio. That glass sections gets so dirty with salt creep and such.

EDIT: Just make sure you have the tank drilled like you want it for the system you are going to be using, some manufacturers have a standard drilling size and configuration.

 

[Mallard]

SCA is revamping their lineup to remove the center overflow and opting to predrill the tanks for the Synergy Overflow from what I've read in one of their threads. I believe the new 150 will be rimless, but shoot an email to Steve and he'll give you a quote. My tank was an easy $700 less than other custom manufacturers. Since your looking for something that is a bit more standard in specs, it may be cheaper. At least I'd shoot an email and see what he can do. You can always look local for used tanks. With a year of time, you'll likely find one or two that meets your needs.

 

[GoVols]

Elos are nice
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=elos

The red sea reefers are nice too but I don't think they get up to 180 gallon.
http://www.redseafish.com/aquarium-systems/reefer/

 

[Mallard]

Other brands would be Planet Aquariums, Reef Savvy, Miracles, AGE, and a few others I'm likely forgetting. If you're planning this far out, contact them all for a quote and do your research.

 

[JOKER]

If you want a really nice tank I would go reefsavvy for sure. They make a really nice looking tank. If you want to go lower price could also look into glass cages. There are so many out there to choose from though it is hard.

 

[GoVols]

If you want a really nice tank I would go reefsavvy for sure. They make a really nice looking tank. If you want to go lower price could also look into glass cages. There are so many out there to choose from though it is hard.

+1
Felix is the man :)
His time frames + crating & shipping cost hurt :(

 

[JOKER]

+1
Felix is the man :)
His time frames + crating & shipping cost hurt :(

Yes they are a little slow on turnaround, but IMO it is worth the wait for what you get. They do an excellent job on the tanks and will make sure you are happy.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I always checked the forums, craigslist and ebay for someone getting out. You never know when you'll hit the jackpot. After that you're looking for a mass produced aquarium or a custom one. Which do you prefer?

 

[JOKER]

I always checked the forums, craigslist and ebay for someone getting out. You never know when you'll hit the jackpot. After that you're looking for a mass produced aquarium or a custom one. Which do you prefer?

Very good INFO!!

 

[Rob Lion]

fancy a custom aquarium that no one else has?
want it cheaper than you can buy from a manufacturer?
get EXACTLY what you want?
with cheaper shipping costs?

Build one yourself! ;)
its just a 5 sided box...
pre drill the holes, as many return holes and overflows you desire.... get a small junk piece of same thickness glass to practice on...
paint / wrap the back wall...
order the glass (get thickness from what tank manufacturers use) get low iron (opti) glass for all view-able sides i.e. Front, left, right. get them pre cut to size with edges beveled and polished...
buy some straps to hold it together, buy decent silicon adhesive, tape off the edges to get neat lines...
watch countless youtube vids and get advise from those that have built decent tanks themselves here at R2R....
make your own sump first, as a test to give you confidence...
sit back and admire your own work :cool:
accidentally damage it a few years later? you can repair it with confidence too....

 

[GoVols]

Yes they are a little slow on turnaround, but IMO it is worth the wait for what you get. They do an excellent job on the tanks and will make sure you are happy.

I agree if I had one custom built it would be Reef Savvy all they way.
Felix is worth the wait. :)

To save $ I'd drive to Florida, pack it and haul it back myself.

 

[Jakepen]

Thank you all, great info. Rev as far as custom or manufactured, whichever I can get for the best price, and meets my needs. So if I get it brand new I assume it will be manufactured. If I can find a used one that is close to the size I'm looking for, it doesn't matter to me. Someone above commented that sca was changing their design and getting rid of the center overflow box, which makes me interested in them. Need to save money where I can, as it's not overly abundant. I'll need to get two more kessil 360s, probably two mp40s. Annnd if my girlfriend will get on board with my plan, at least one will need to be wireless. Not to mention oversized skimmer, I mean I don't need to tell you guys. Just know I'll be upgrading from a 30 gallon ha.

 

[tpack17]

SCA is revamping their lineup to remove the center overflow and opting to predrill the tanks for the Synergy Overflow from what I've read in one of their threads. I believe the new 150 will be rimless, but shoot an email to Steve and he'll give you a quote. My tank was an easy $700 less than other custom manufacturers. Since your looking for something that is a bit more standard in specs, it may be cheaper. At least I'd shoot an email and see what he can do. You can always look local for used tanks. With a year of time, you'll likely find one or two that meets your needs.

Where did you see this/ That is exactly what I want is their 120 with the ghost overflow.

 

[Mallard]

Over on the SCA thread on RC. Shoot Steve an email for v2 as I think they were calling it.

 

[tpack17]

Over on the SCA thread on RC. Shoot Steve an email for v2 as I think they were calling it.

Thank you!

 

[jeffrey holloway]

Check out "Glass Cages.com". Their tanks are well built. They will customize to your needs and lowest prices I could find with reasonable shipping rates. I bought a customized 150g & a 65g with starfire glass from them and I am very pleased with both tanks.