kartrsu
Well-Known Member
When I started this hobby in Jan 2019, I told myself I would keep a tank no larger than 20 gallons, get an AIO aquarium to make life easier, and keep only LPS and softies. We all know where this is going. At the time I was limited by my apartment space so it made sense. Now I live in a house and I have been working from home for the past couple of months. Every time I see my tank, there is this nagging voice in my head telling me to upgrade and go bigger. So ... as any married man would ... I consulted the wife on her happiest of days 
. It's time for an upgrade! Here is where I am at now. Blue tape marks a 20'' x 36'' area. The wall is 35 inches (36 with the base board), I think a 60ish gallon tank would be great!
I've done some research and I'm debating between the WB 50.3 and the Reefer 250. Originally I was sold on the Reefer 250, but it is more expensive (extra $100 for white stand? ;Rage) and I hear the stand on the WB is better. I've never had a tank with a sump before, so leaks are a worry for me. Also, I picked up two new AI Prime 16HDs, which I'm not sure is enough for a Reefer 250 to grow some SPS at the top of the rocks given the par output, spread, and the fact that it is 3 inches higher vs the WB 50.3. However, the clean display look with central internal overflow looks pretty sexy. With the AIO, you lose some display space to the back chambers.
The WB 50.3 is an AIO, which is something I'm familiar with, and probably less prone to major spills. However, equipment selection is limited and WB doesn't have its own line of aftermarket upgrades. I imagine cleaning the back chambers is more work than with a sump. Also, if I do refugium in a WB, I need to make some adjustments to the back chambers to block the light bleed since the back glass is smoked vs acrylic. It is a cheaper system overall, but like I mentioned above, you also lose display space from an aesthetic perspective.
On water volume, not sure how much evaporation & water change will be different on a 50 gallons vs a 65. I make RODI in 5 gallon jugs and I have two, so maybe not a big deal.
All in all, just wondering if people have debated between the two and why they ended up choosing what they got. And also, from a feasibility perspective, is a decked out sump really necessary to keep some easier SPS happy with LPS and zoas.
Thanks so much!
. It's time for an upgrade! Here is where I am at now. Blue tape marks a 20'' x 36'' area. The wall is 35 inches (36 with the base board), I think a 60ish gallon tank would be great!I've done some research and I'm debating between the WB 50.3 and the Reefer 250. Originally I was sold on the Reefer 250, but it is more expensive (extra $100 for white stand? ;Rage) and I hear the stand on the WB is better. I've never had a tank with a sump before, so leaks are a worry for me. Also, I picked up two new AI Prime 16HDs, which I'm not sure is enough for a Reefer 250 to grow some SPS at the top of the rocks given the par output, spread, and the fact that it is 3 inches higher vs the WB 50.3. However, the clean display look with central internal overflow looks pretty sexy. With the AIO, you lose some display space to the back chambers.
The WB 50.3 is an AIO, which is something I'm familiar with, and probably less prone to major spills. However, equipment selection is limited and WB doesn't have its own line of aftermarket upgrades. I imagine cleaning the back chambers is more work than with a sump. Also, if I do refugium in a WB, I need to make some adjustments to the back chambers to block the light bleed since the back glass is smoked vs acrylic. It is a cheaper system overall, but like I mentioned above, you also lose display space from an aesthetic perspective.
On water volume, not sure how much evaporation & water change will be different on a 50 gallons vs a 65. I make RODI in 5 gallon jugs and I have two, so maybe not a big deal.
All in all, just wondering if people have debated between the two and why they ended up choosing what they got. And also, from a feasibility perspective, is a decked out sump really necessary to keep some easier SPS happy with LPS and zoas.
Thanks so much!
