Go BIG or Go... small or maybe medium

[New&no clue]

The moral to this story is, I think you should go for the Waterbox 130 if you can comfortably afford it. I wish I would have just gotten the Red Sea tank back in 2014. So much money on upgrades and equipment that I don't need now.

I've thought this too, I know I am eventually going to buy a bigger tank so should I buy all sorts of equipment that I'm not going to use again or just bite the bullet and pay it now. Knowing me at 2:00am I'll just make some rash decision and either order a waterbox or order a sump setup.

@Kattkrazie was it easy to keep corals with only an HOB Filter? I feel like my tank is always a mess the sand is brown at all times no matter how much I vacuum it. The rocks are green and I scrub them with a brush but it just keeps coming back. My hermits and snails are going 24/7 and it don't feel like they put much of a dent in it. Because I this I thought that corals wouldn't do very well. I also just blamed to HOB for the mess but maybe I am just missing a step. Or maybe the corals would be fine and I'm just thinking too much about it.

 

[New&no clue]

Hi All, its rash decision time. So I started pricing out everything and I was on BRS looking at HOB overflow, sumps, skimmers, pumps, ect for my 55 and I was at $1,000. This did not included any piping/plumbing so I would assume another $50/$100 for all that.

Then I started to look at how much a new 120 would be with tank and stand and seeing that would probably be about $1500.

Then I went onto SC Aquariums and saw they have a 120, with stand, sump, skimmer, pump, plumbing, ect for $1900

120 GALLON STARFIRE PNP SYSTEM

www.scaquariums.com

I love buying a kit, makes my life a lot easier, but is this a good kit. Does SC Aquariums and Starfire have good reputation or would I be better to piece it all together myself?

 

[JoshH]

Hi All, its rash decision time. So I started pricing out everything and I was on BRS looking at HOB overflow, sumps, skimmers, pumps, ect for my 55 and I was at $1,000. This did not included any piping/plumbing so I would assume another $50/$100 for all that.

Then I started to look at how much a new 120 would be with tank and stand and seeing that would probably be about $1500.

Then I went onto SC Aquariums and saw they have a 120, with stand, sump, skimmer, pump, plumbing, ect for $1900

120 GALLON STARFIRE PNP SYSTEM

www.scaquariums.com

I love buying a kit, makes my life a lot easier, but is this a good kit. Does SC Aquariums and Starfire have good reputation or would I be better to piece it all together myself?

SCA is one of those companies that kind of falls on the split fence so to speak, some people swear by them and other have had absolutely horrible experiences with them. Starfire is a type of ultra low iron glass used in aquarium building among other things. For clarity in glass you can't beat it. Kits to me are a difficult one. Most people end up replacing things over time anyway aside from maybe the sump. I have no personal experience with SCA equipment and it might be a great start for you to step in the larger Aquariums. The 4' is a little limiting on livestock still but certainly better than what you have now.

 

[clm65]

So starting question what size sump would I need for a 120gallon?

If you get a stand big enough, you might be able to re-purpose your 55 gallon tank as a sump.

 

[DMG Reef]

I've thought this too, I know I am eventually going to buy a bigger tank so should I buy all sorts of equipment that I'm not going to use again or just bite the bullet and pay it now. Knowing me at 2:00am I'll just make some rash decision and either order a waterbox or order a sump setup.

@Kattkrazie was it easy to keep corals with only an HOB Filter? I feel like my tank is always a mess the sand is brown at all times no matter how much I vacuum it. The rocks are green and I scrub them with a brush but it just keeps coming back. My hermits and snails are going 24/7 and it don't feel like they put much of a dent in it. Because I this I thought that corals wouldn't do very well. I also just blamed to HOB for the mess but maybe I am just missing a step. Or maybe the corals would be fine and I'm just thinking too much about it.

On my system, I feel like the HOB filter was unnecessary. I had at least 100 pds. of live rock and good flow so I doubt that the HOB contributed anything. I started out with LPS corals, mushrooms, and an anemone. I used Carib-Sea black sand, so my diatom stage was mostly unnoticeable.

A reefer can definitely grow coral with a HOB filter, but once I added the sump, life got a lot easier. Increased water volume is one of the benefits, but dosing, doing water changes, etc, were all easier with a sump.

 

[krash7172]

With something like a reef tank and many other things in life, plan for the long term. Don't spend the money and effort to upgrade and then do it again.

Edit: also the 24" deep standard size is nice so you can reach the bottom with your hand if needed. Mine is 24"

 

[tony'stank]

The water box 130 is a nice compromise between your current tank and a bigger option. It is large enough to house 1 or 2 tangs if you choose wisely and get them when they are small and young. Yet the maintainence would not be much more onerous than that of your 55G. Of course the cost must be taken into consideration. Five years ago I faced a similar choice. I too was worried about the weight, increased maintainence time and effort and cost of a large system (180G or >). I ended up with with RSR450 that I am very happy with. I have a mixed reef with softies, SPS, and 8 fish including a Blue Hepatic and a yellow Tang.
A word of caution. Do not attribute your difficulty in keeping some animals to the size of your tank or your filtration system. Any tank requires one to two years to mature and stabilize.

 

[ThunderGoose]

IF you have the patience to wait out the 1 - 2 years of "ugly" that many reefers start with then go as big as you can afford. I went as big as I had space for and I'm wishing I'd just rearranged the living room furniture to give myself more wall space even though the layout of the room would be awkward.

One thing to consider - in your photos it looks like the tank is/ will be just about over your heating system. If that's the case invest in a quality overflow/ flood alarm. Not that this happened to me (cough, cough) but a bad overflow that spills salt water onto your boiler can be an expensive mistake. And water does not always follow a straight line!

 

[BantyRooster97]

Something no one has seemed to mention... Where do you live? Check local forums, facebook market place, craigslist etc and buy used. I know here around Houston you can pick up screaming deals on tanks people are getting rid for all kinds of reasons... best being they are moving.

Buy a 100g - 120g tank reef ready, buy 40 breeder from Petco for a sump if they seller doesn't have one, buy a good return pump (new) and good pumps (mp40) off this forum used if it doesn't come with one. Buy your heaters new - never trust used. Then as time goes on buy an ATO - used on this forum is a good start.

I've slowly bought & sold all kinds of equiment here & locally, upgrading my (used) tank until it is where it is now..... well now I have 4 tanks

If you need help, reach out to your local forum if there is one... people are always willing to help!

 

[New&no clue]

So I think I’ve decided to get a new bigger tank. I’m looking at waterbox and Red Sea reefer, does anyone know if they ever have sales, like Black Friday? If they do I’d hold off until then, if not I’ll just do some research and pick something.

 

[JoshH]

So I think I’ve decided to get a new bigger tank. I’m looking at waterbox and Red Sea reefer, does anyone know if they ever have sales, like Black Friday? If they do I’d hold off until then, if not I’ll just do some research and pick something.

They usually always do, and it's the typical 10% but that's 10% more in your pocket

 

[Aardvark1134]

You can also check the innovative marine line. Several sizes and comes setup for full bean.

Nuvo INT 150 Aquarium with Black APS Stand

Innovative Marine Nuvo kits are drop ship items only. Due to their size, we are unable to have them on hand in our warehouse. All drop ship orders will be placed with BulkReefSupply.com will be submitted to the manufacturer within 2 business days of receiving the order and will be shipped to you...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[New&no clue]

I have a questions about sand. With my current tank the sand I bought was thicker, kind of chucky. It has small rocks and parts of shells in it. I liked it initially because it reminded me of how sand looks on a beach, with rocks and shells, and other stuff in it. Once I had my tank set up I had a list of fish I wanted, but then I went to my LFS to pick up something and I saw a diamond back goby. I thought he was so cute but I was worried about getting him in my tank because my sand is so coarse. I was reading online that when you have sand like that it can damage their gills. So that is why I wanted to change sand and getting a new tank would allow me to do that. My question in what is good sand, I see that they have very fine sand "OOLight" that is good for sand sifters, but it says its not good for high flow tanks. I don't know if my tank will be high flow, but is the next size up "Fiji Pink" said it fine for high flow but is it okay for sand sifters or is it too big?

 

[BantyRooster97]

Thumbs up for the reefer series, I just picked up a Reefer 170 (build thread to come soon) used, full set up with radion XR15 G4, mp10Q, Nyos skimmer, etc for less than 1/2 what it would cost new from a guy being transferred for work (1.5 years old). Great tank & Red Sea has great customer service if you need anything (I broke a couple of items... LOL)

Careful going too fine on your sand, I had a 105g with all fiji pink & my MP40s blew it all around. Now I have a mix of fiji pink, crushed coral & sand from TBS (along with new rock) and though the mp40s blow it around some it is better. I have a pink spot goby who digs in the sand just fine.