All in one tank Selection

leon1972 · Mar 19, 2014

So me and my wife came to a comprimise. I get to spend thousands of dollars on a tank so long as it does not have all the cords, pipes, and everything else hanging off of it that the tank we had when we met did. It also has to be aestitically pleasing to the eye. This has lead me to the conclusion that the easiest route will be an all in one for me. So far the only one I have really seen is the Red Sea Series all in ones. I will not be purchasing until around October and want the biggest tank I can afford. I will have at least 2000 up to possibly 4000 available for spending on the setup alone. I also want something that is reef read, which is what the Red Sea claims it is capable of.
Here is a direct link to the tank (Red Sea MAX S-Series Fully featured, reef spec, coral reef aquariums) but here are the stats off of the page as well. Is this tank really reef ready?
[TABLE="width: 740"]

[TR]
[TD]System water volume[/TD]
[TD]Combined aquarium and sump[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]400 L
(110 gal)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Aquarium volume[/TD]
[TD]Display tank with rear circulation pump chamber[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]350 L
(97 gal)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Filtration sump volume[/TD]
[TD]Glass sump with preparation for auxiliary reactors or refugium[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]50 L
(13 gal)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Aquarium glass thickness[/TD]
[TD]Ultra clear front and side panels[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]12 mm
(1/2â€)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Surface skimmer[/TD]
[TD]Built in suface skimmer on full width of aquarium[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Lighting system[/TD]
[TD]3 individually operated units on a slide & swivel chassis for easy reefscaping[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lighting â€“ standard configuration[/TD]
[TD]T5 REEF-SPEC fluorescent 5 X 15,000K / 3 X Actinic (22,000K) / 2 X Pink + LED moonlights[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]390W[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Lighting control[/TD]
[TD]2 x timers for staggered on/off[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Total circulation l/h (gph)[/TD]
[TD]Sump return + hidden individual 2,150 l/h (570 gph) circulation pumps[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7800
(2000)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Main system pump l/h (gph)[/TD]
[TD]Sump return + feed to skimmer / chiller / reactors[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]7000
(1850)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Protein skimmer â€“ C-Skim 1800[/TD]
[TD]800 l/h (210 gph) air flow â€“ 1800 l/h (480 gph) water flow (PSK aspirator)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Integrated power center[/TD]
[TD]10 individually switched sockets for pumps and accessories[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Integrated water top up system[/TD]
[TD]Easy-access storage tank with in-sump float valve[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]22 L
(6 gal)[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Mechanical filtration[/TD]
[TD]Low density sponge filer media [/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chemical filtration[/TD]
[TD]600g (20 oz.) high grade phosphate-free activated carbon[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Cabinet frame[/TD]
[TD]Marine spec anodized aluminum profile[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Yes[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cabinet external[/TD]
[TD]Weatherproof Polyurethene painted MDF doors & panels [/TD]
[TD]Yes[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]Cabinet Internal[/TD]
[TD]Waterproof sump compartment, dedicated chiller compartment[/TD]
[TD]Yes[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]External dimensions (cm)[/TD]
[TD]Height: 168, Width: 70, Length (according to model):[/TD]
[TD]105 cm[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #EBEBEB"]
[TD]External dimensions (inch)[/TD]
[TD]Height: 66â€, Width: 28â€, Length (according to model):[/TD]
[TD]42â€[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]

[/TABLE]

RedSeaKev · Mar 20, 2014

Hi Leon,
I was fortunate enough to run for 2 years one of the very first S series aquariums, they are for sure suitable as a full Reef Aquarium, the only thing you may need to address is the addition of a chiller and a heater and your good to go.

I ran mine of the Red Sea Reef Care Program and had fantastic results using the rapid growth program check it out on our website.

Fishyj · Mar 20, 2014

You could try a coralife bc29 or Innovative Marine You also could if you wanted bigger buy a 75 and put in a back wall to make it all in one.

leon1972 · Mar 20, 2014

Fishyj said:
You could try a coralife bc29 or Innovative Marine You also could if you wanted bigger buy a 75 and put in a back wall to make it all in one.

Thanks for the options but I want to upgrade tank size. Lol

McAllyn · Mar 20, 2014

Not that the RSM tanks aren't nice, but with that kind of budget, you could do a spectacular standard RR tank with sump in the stand using all top tier equipment for quite a bit less, and you'd end up with a system every bit as attractive as the RSM. The only reason I mention this is that for myself, I'm a tinkerer by nature, the RSM doesn't lend well to customization or easy parts replacement since everything inside is specific built.

But, if you're a "buy it, set it up, enjoy it" type person, then the RSM's are definitely the way to go, and incredibly attractive.

Mac

mrcoffee2 · Mar 20, 2014

I would go SR-120 from innovative marine! It looks awesome

SloppyJ · Mar 20, 2014

Why not just build one yourself?

leon1972 · Mar 20, 2014

SloppyJ said:
Why not just build one yourself?

Im not a very handy guy and dont really like DIY. Some DIY is ok but if I can I prefer to avoid it. lol

Fishyj · Mar 20, 2014

I would go with the sr120 from Innovative Marine. Were you looking for a tank with a sump.

leon1972 · Mar 20, 2014

im looking for everything to go underneath. My wife can be very picky and she probably wont even want the top of the equipment poking out the back of the tank. Why do you say the sr120? is it because its better for reef cuz its shallow? I was thinking I may like to go that route actually. My wife, like all wives, wants the Blue Tang. So i may be able to swing the SR 120 since the Red Sea isnt long enough length wise. Though eventually i would DEFINATLEY want the sump

leon1972 · Mar 20, 2014

leon1972 said:
im looking for everything to go underneath. My wife can be very picky and she probably wont even want the top of the equipment poking out the back of the tank. Why do you say the sr120? is it because its better for reef cuz its shallow? I was thinking I may like to go that route actually. My wife, like all wives, wants the Blue Tang. So i may be able to swing the SR 120 since the Red Sea isnt long enough length wise. Though eventually i would DEFINATLEY want the sump

Though I suppose I could have a custom canopy made and that would take care of the top of it showing.

Fishyj · Mar 20, 2014

The only reason I said sr120, its the only large all in one tank. It doesn't require a sump to run. My wife was also picky on the all in one setup. She didn't want the lights showing or anything, that's why I got the bc29 to start. If I ever go back to a large tank it would be the sr-120 with a custom made stand and canopy. I know in my case the stand and canopy would cost more than the tank but like they say "happy wife, happy life"

McAllyn · Mar 21, 2014

Deep Sea Aquatics 225 with matching stand and canopy. It would look like furniture, fit any fish you could pick, hide everything in the sump in the stand, and at 72x27x27, give about as many aesthetically pleasing aquascape options as are available.

Mac

Bad Company · Mar 21, 2014

I built this rimless, no equipment showing other than the lights. My picky wife grudgingly accepted it:

mcarroll · Mar 22, 2014

Any regular tank can have the same aesthetics of an "all in one" if you consider adding a Tunze Comline kit. They have sizes for nanos, on up to about as big a tank as you'd want to think of as "all in one".

Instead of installing a black wall in the tank like most all in ones, you get a couple of non-descript black boxes. One is a skimmer (given away by the skimmer cup on top) and the other is for water flow, mechanical/bio/chemical filter AND housing for your heater and ATO. It actually takes up less tank space than a false wall and probably gives you better performance and A LOT more flexibility in setup and future options. And still a minimum of cords exiting the tank, and all near each other for easy cable-management and good aesthetics.

Food for thought!

-Matt