Advice. New tank or Apex

corey.nolta · Dec 13, 2015

Looking for some feedback. Currently running an un-drilled 60 gallon tank withOUT a sump/fuge. It's going on a year old. I haven't had any major issues due to not running a sump. I also do not plan on keeping any expensive, hard to keep corals / fish that require absolute pristine water quality.
I'm tossing around two different options...

A. purchase a new drilled tank, and start a new setup to incorporate a sump/fuge.
B. purchase an apex system for my current un-drilled / no sump set up.
Which is going to have the bigger / better impact?
Thanks!!!

twilliard · Dec 13, 2015

Adding a sump and refugium will have the biggest impact

Ebone · Dec 13, 2015

tank/sump/fuge if you have done without so far, and are doing well i would do a new tank... can always get apex later

pugcrush · Dec 13, 2015

I'd do the Apex, unless you know what your ideas are for your dream tank (as close to & if it's feasible now). Just getting a drilled tank may not solve your wants at the moment. You might see something else down the road & want to upgrade again!

IronVulture · Dec 13, 2015

I vote A

you can save for the apex to add later

Fin · Dec 13, 2015

Or, C - Drain your tank. Drill it and install an overflow and sump (Petco Dollar a Gallon sale). Then get an APEX with the money you would save on the new tank.

KingTriton · Dec 13, 2015

Apex gets my vote

trio91 · Dec 13, 2015

I think a sump would be a better option. An apex is nice an convenient but not necessary. Like mentioned, you can always look into one of those down the line

Breadman03 · Dec 14, 2015

Fin said:
Or, C - Drain your tank. Drill it and install an overflow and sump (Petco Dollar a Gallon sale). Then get an APEX with the money you would save on the new tank.

I tend to agree with this. Drill it and get glass cut for a coast to coast overflow, set up a Bean drain system, and get the Apex.

True story: I was at work an hour from home when I started getting texts that my tank temperature was low. It turns out that the severe cold we were experiencing (along with a 100 year old house) meant that the 250 gallons of oil I had delivered just 9 days earlier was gone and my house temperature was plummeting. I called the oil company for a delivery in the morning to avoid the emergency delivery fee and grabbed 10 gallons of kerosene to get us through.

Dtackett · Dec 14, 2015

sump. controllers are nice but not really worth the cost to me. while each of our situations are different, I just cant justify an apex. maybe a reefkeeper but even that is pushing it.

chaoha · Dec 14, 2015

I would drill your existing tank and add the overflow and sump. then get the Apex. I wouldnt want all the probes heater or skimmer in my display tank

rayn · Dec 14, 2015

Or D. If you are going to do your dream tank, get a drilled tank and the apex.

Otherwise drill your current one and get the apex

Breakthecycle2 · Dec 14, 2015

Don't bother drilling, unless you have no "want" for a bigger tank later on. If not, drilling your current tank, as previously mentioned is a great idea.

KingTriton · Dec 14, 2015

I didn't realize the tank was sumpless. I would get a new tank and make sure you have a Rancho ETC for your heaters.

3dees · Dec 15, 2015

nothing wrong with a sumpless tank. I have severe back issues so a sump is not an option. yes, sumps are the best way to go, but my 120 gal. softie/lps reef is doing fine without one. no apex either. no sps' so no dosing and I don't even have a ato. this reef keeping is not as hard as some believe it is.

kendavjac · Dec 15, 2015

Why do either? If the setup is working for you, then don't fix something that ain't broke. If you may want to get into harder fish/coral in the future, then my vote is upgrade the tank. I'm currently running 2 tanks, 125g with a sump and 29 biocube without, and no apex. They are defiantly a nice to have, not a necessity. Can't justify the expense to myself.