New Tank Cost

[AJ192]

If you feel comfortable in plumbing and maybe stand building idk how well you can modify the stand but the waterbox clear pro series is awesome. I got the old size 6025 and drilled it. But I highly recommend waterbox in general.

 

[Ascartes]

Not a fan of Red Sea except their new S model. The old model feels dated. Huge overflow, cheap ball valve, no steel or aluminum stand. Meh. I had one and sold it. Those aquariums have been out a long time and it shows.

I would look into innovative marine and prostar aquariums or the new Red Sea S.

The 650 is an S series and was one of my potential choices.
It's just a tad smaller than I wanted but for 6200 'with everything' it doesn't seem too bad

 

[Ascartes]

If you feel comfortable in plumbing and maybe stand building idk how well you can modify the stand but the waterbox clear pro series is awesome. I got the old size 6025 and drilled it. But I highly recommend waterbox in general.

I did look at the LX 230.5 / 270.6 from them. They are just 5-6k for the tank/stand and 10k if you want them to give you lights. That's quite a bit above my range because now we are talking 14k-15k

 

[Tamberav]

The 650 is an S series and was one of my potential choices.
It's just a tad smaller than I wanted but for 6200 'with everything' it doesn't seem too bad

Also have you looked into custom tank makers? I recently started looking and found it to be very reasonable, even cheaper and I could get exactly what I wanted. Including an attractive overflow

 

[Ascartes]

Also have you looked into custom tank makers? I recently started looking and found it to be very reasonable, even cheaper and I could get exactly what I wanted. Including an attractive overflow

The only one I could find around here is Fish Gallery and they are the definition of exorbitant. I've looked around online and haven't found anything much lower than what I'm seeing from Red Sea, ect.

 

[AJ192]

I did look at the LX 230.5 / 270.6 from them. They are just 5-6k for the tank/stand and 10k if you want them to give you lights. That's quite a bit above my range because now we are talking 14k-15k

Oh I thought you wanted a 175 gallon range cause the lx190 is 6k with lighting and the lx230 is 8 with lighting.

And I know you were thinking 8k or so but I’m thinking for a tank that size you will be closer to 10k. My 150 is about 7-8 at the moment without live stock and I have diyed a lot.

 

[Ascartes]

Oh I thought you wanted a 175 gallon range cause the lx190 is 6k with lighting and the lx230 is 8 with lighting.

And I know you were thinking 8k or so but I’m thinking for a tank that size you will be closer to 10k. My 150 is about 7-8 at the moment without live stock and I have diyed a lot.

I do, the 190 is only 136.8 gallons in the DT.

I estimate a skimmer to be around 500, lights around 2000, the return pump around 300.
Wavemakers could be upwards of 1000
That'd put the 230 pretty close to 9k. If I buy things new.
The red sea s650 is only 6200 with the skimmer, lights, ect included.

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

I have two red sea tanks and I believe they are worth the money. Very high quality and the stands are pretty impressive with some nice touches.

 

[Pico bam]

Here's an option that I'm just going to throw out there. Find a used one? I've got a little less then 2.5k into my sr120. If I sold it right now I'd even get that back! Just my 2cents good luck!

 

[Joe Glass Cages]

Check out Glasscages. Depending on what you want, the price point may be close to RedSea, but Glasscages will fully customize the tank, stand, and some other options to your liking. I don't have personal experience with them but I've seen lots of very positive feedback around.

Thanks so much for the mention. We are here to support if you like. Even if you select a different builder. Love this stuff! Thanks so much.

 

[Joe Glass Cages]

Hello everyone; I'm sure this has been asked and gone over a few hundred times but here I am anyways as I haven't quite had all my questions answered.

I was looking at something 'around' the 175G mark for the display tank.

The red sea 650max, or 900 3XL are kind of what I've been pointed to.

Basic questions, are Red Sea 'worth' the money they ask? (I know that's subjective but yes I am willing to do it myself as far as sump/plumbing but not entirely sure it actually saves much in this case)

I'm not comfortable buying glass and making the entire aquarium myself so I have not even looked at doing that, but I do know how to drill tanks if it made sense to do so.

Are there competitors in that size range that offer what red sea does? (waterbox/planet?) (stand ect)

This might sound like something I can search up myself, but few reviews and descriptions don't account for people's experience with them.

Anything is appreciated.

@Ascartes this is the fun part. you have a ton of options.

Below is a list of Aquarium manufactures. You have many options to explore. I am sure I may have missed a few. Totally not intentional.

1. Coast 2 Coast
2. Reef Savvy
3. Miracles Aquariums
4. Titan
5. Concept Aquariums
6. Crystal Dynamics
7. Planet Aquariums
8. Advanced Acrylics
9. Midwest Custom Aquarium
10. Fish Tanks Direct
11. Custom Aquariums
12. Acrylic Tank Manufacturing
13. Tank Me USA
14. Crystal Reef Aquatics
15. Aqueon
16. Glass Cages
17. SCA
18. Acrylic Glass Exhibits
19. GEO
20. Elos
21. Exotic Aquariums
22. Waterbox
23. Cade
24. Innovative Marine
25. Reef Octopus
26. Zero Edge
27. Redsea

The best choice is your choice. Enjoy the process!

 

[Ascartes]

Here's an option that I'm just going to throw out there. Find a used one? I've got a little less then 2.5k into my sr120. If I sold it right now I'd even get that back! Just my 2cents good luck!

If I could find one around here I wouldn't be against it. A lot went out after the freeze we had, but haven't seen anything over 60g since then. Always looking.

 

[jgirardnrg]

171g is about 175g

Fiji Cube 171 Gallon Rimless EXT Glass Aquarium Tank Package

Click the link below for the product description. https://www.fijicube.com/pages/ext-large-package-page

www.fijicube.com

I've been impressed with the quality of the acrylic stuff I've gotten from them, so much so that I've got a tank on the way in the next few weeks.

I have the 108 sitting in my trailer in the driveway. You're going to be impressed when you open the crate.

 

[Montiman]

I am a RedSea 750XXL owner and I am very happy. I worked for an LFS selling custom tanks for a long time and I really like them but I could not justify the cost. For my tank going custom would have been about a $2,000 premium over the RedSea Tank. Would it have been better? Yes. Would it have been $2000 better? Not to me.

 

[Ascartes]

@Ascartes this is the fun part. you have a ton of options.

Below is a list of Aquarium manufactures. You have many options to explore. I am sure I may have missed a few. Totally not intentional.

1. Coast 2 Coast
2. Reef Savvy
3. Miracles Aquariums
4. Titan
5. Concept Aquariums
6. Crystal Dynamics
7. Planet Aquariums
8. Advanced Acrylics
9. Midwest Custom Aquarium
10. Fish Tanks Direct
11. Custom Aquariums
12. Acrylic Tank Manufacturing
13. Tank Me USA
14. Crystal Reef Aquatics
15. Aqueon
16. Glass Cages
17. SCA
18. Acrylic Glass Exhibits
19. GEO
20. Elos
21. Exotic Aquariums
22. Waterbox
23. Cade
24. Innovative Marine
25. Reef Octopus
26. Zero Edge
27. Redsea

The best choice is your choice. Enjoy the process!

Joe, thanks for the list.

I went with a rimless 70x24x24 DT low-iron with external overflow (as available), and a 32" metal stand to baseline this on.


1. Coast 2 Coast - 'contact us for quote'
2. Reef Savvy - $5,295 ($4,300 72x24x24 dual ghost overflows) (no stand, 995 for that too)
3. Miracles Aquariums - $1,990 (995 eurobraced 180g, don't think its low iron,2016 pricing) (stand 995)
4. Titan - 'contact us for quote'
5. Concept Aquariums - 'contact us for quote'
6. Crystal Dynamics - $3,700 (72x24x24 with stand)
7. Planet Aquariums - $3,130 ($2135 72.5x24.5x25) (995 stand)
8. Advanced Acrylics - $3,545 ($2,550 225gal 72x24x30) (995 stand)
9. Midwest Custom Aquarium - 'contact us for quote'
10. Fish Tanks Direct - $3,515 (1829.99 acrylic aquarium 72x24x24, 1685 stand)
11. Custom Aquariums - $5453.89 (2,387.24 for tank, 3,066.65 stand/sump package)
12. Acrylic Tank Manufacturing - 'contact us for quote'
13. Tank Me USA - $3,443 (2,448 for tank, 995 for stand)
14. Crystal Reef Aquatics - Don't exist anymore.
15. Aqueon - $2,100 (1105.95 180g, no stand, not low iron, internal overflows, custom stand to fit is 995) 2100 total
16. Glass Cages - $4824.39 (2,779 aquarium, 2045.39 stand)
17. SCA - $1,994 (150g, internal overflow, no stand, custom stand 995) smaller than I want
18. Acrylic Glass Exhibits - 'contact us for quote'
19. GEO - They don't seem to have aquariums anymore that are above frag tank size
20. Elos - $6,029 (my lord, 3200 more if you want metal stand
21. Exotic Aquariums - This website hurts my eyes, but doesn't seem to have what I'm looking for.
22. Waterbox - $4,999 (LX230.5)
23. Cade - $4,425 (Pro Reef 1500)
24. Innovative Marine -$3,519.99 (170g with APS stand)
25. Reef Octopus - Only up to 90G it seems.
26. Zero Edge - Only up to 100g which was 3,500
27. Redsea - $3,999 Reefer XXL 750
28. Fijicube - $3,199.99 (3,599 with sump/plumbing)

Here is your superlist compared as fairly as I could. A few have sumps, that isn't entirely a factor for me but I've included links so anyone else to find this can use it as well. If anyone thinks I've done a comparison wrong here, feel free to correct me.

 

[Joe Glass Cages]

Joe, thanks for the list.

I went with a rimless 70x24x24 DT low-iron with external overflow (as available), and a 32" metal stand to baseline this on.


1. Coast 2 Coast - 'contact us for quote'
2. Reef Savvy - $5,295 ($4,300 72x24x24 dual ghost overflows) (no stand, 995 for that too)
3. Miracles Aquariums - $1,990 (995 eurobraced 180g, don't think its low iron,2016 pricing) (stand 995)
4. Titan - 'contact us for quote'
5. Concept Aquariums - 'contact us for quote'
6. Crystal Dynamics - $3,700 (72x24x24 with stand)
7. Planet Aquariums - $3,130 ($2135 72.5x24.5x25) (995 stand)
8. Advanced Acrylics - $3,545 ($2,550 225gal 72x24x30) (995 stand)
9. Midwest Custom Aquarium - 'contact us for quote'
10. Fish Tanks Direct - $3,515 (1829.99 acrylic aquarium 72x24x24, 1685 stand)
11. Custom Aquariums - $5453.89 (2,387.24 for tank, 3,066.65 stand/sump package)
12. Acrylic Tank Manufacturing - 'contact us for quote'
13. Tank Me USA - $3,443 (2,448 for tank, 995 for stand)
14. Crystal Reef Aquatics - Don't exist anymore.
15. Aqueon - $2,100 (1105.95 180g, no stand, not low iron, internal overflows, custom stand to fit is 995) 2100 total
16. Glass Cages - $4824.39 (2,779 aquarium, 2045.39 stand)
17. SCA - $1,994 (150g, internal overflow, no stand, custom stand 995) smaller than I want
18. Acrylic Glass Exhibits - 'contact us for quote'
19. GEO - They don't seem to have aquariums anymore that are above frag tank size
20. Elos - $6,029 (my lord, 3200 more if you want metal stand
21. Exotic Aquariums - This website hurts my eyes, but doesn't seem to have what I'm looking for.
22. Waterbox - $4,999 (LX230.5)
23. Cade - $4,425 (Pro Reef 1500)
24. Innovative Marine -$3,519.99 (170g with APS stand)
25. Reef Octopus - Only up to 90G it seems.
26. Zero Edge - Only up to 100g which was 3,500
27. Redsea - $3,999 Reefer XXL 750
28. Fijicube - $3,199.99 (3,599 with sump/plumbing)

Here is your superlist compared as fairly as I could. A few have sumps, that isn't entirely a factor for me but I've included links so anyone else to find this can use it as well. If anyone thinks I've done a comparison wrong here, feel free to correct me.

@Ascartes, thats radical. Great work there. All are slightly different so it is hard to get an exact comparison, but this is fantastic!

Did you get any insight on turn around times or customer service.

One thing I see quickly is our metal stands. We are priced up there. Just launched our metal stand and I would be the first to say, they are build tough. over built for sure. That is for sure reflected in the price. We are working on a more economical solution for the near future.

Thanks so much for doing this for everyone. I believe this is very helpful as everyone does their research. Great work.

 

[Ascartes]

@Ascartes, thats radical. Great work there. All are slightly different so it is hard to get an exact comparison, but this is fantastic!

Did you get any insight on turn around times or customer service.

One thing I see quickly is our metal stands. We are priced up there. Just launched our metal stand and I would be the first to say, they are build tough. over built for sure. That is for sure reflected in the price. We are working on a more economical solution for the near future.

Thanks so much for doing this for everyone. I believe this is very helpful as everyone does their research. Great work.

The general seems to be about a month/2 for the build/delivery. Customer service was not a factor in my search though it definitely will be in my decision. I tried to keep things decently consistent, but a lot of things vary from 70-72 inches but 'close enough' is what this list is trying to be.
I'm a fan of ordering the stand with the tank, so that any inherent issues there are not my fault.
My FW tanks are the Marineland 75g sets, and one of the tanks is actually an Aqueon and the stand is too thin for the bottom frame so I spent a few hours with a dremel to get it to fit. I don't feel like doing that again.

So far I'm between:
Glasscages (though I would certainly order on the phone)
Redsea (XXL 750 or the SMax 650(price is ok with the offerings)
Fijicube (its a package but I'm trying to find the 'catch' with the cost being what it is.

 

[JumboShrimp]

It was a great day when my two Glass Cages 150s and stands arrived!

 

[Ascartes]

It was a great day when my two Glass Cages 150s and stands arrived!

missed opportunity to have CAGES in the red as well lol

 

[jgirardnrg]

The general seems to be about a month/2 for the build/delivery. Customer service was not a factor in my search though it definitely will be in my decision. I tried to keep things decently consistent, but a lot of things vary from 70-72 inches but 'close enough' is what this list is trying to be.
I'm a fan of ordering the stand with the tank, so that any inherent issues there are not my fault.
My FW tanks are the Marineland 75g sets, and one of the tanks is actually an Aqueon and the stand is too thin for the bottom frame so I spent a few hours with a dremel to get it to fit. I don't feel like doing that again.

So far I'm between:
Glasscages (though I would certainly order on the phone)
Redsea (XXL 750 or the SMax 650(price is ok with the offerings)
Fijicube (its a package but I'm trying to find the 'catch' with the cost being what it is.

I don't see a catch with the Fijicube. Like I said, I have one sitting in my trailer waiting to come inside. I opened the crate and examined the tank... stunning. 15mm low iron glass on 3 sides, 15mm black glass on the back. Seams on mine look perfect.

I have not unboxed the cabinet and assembled it yet but the consensus I've read and heard is that they're quality.

I love Fijicube sumps. They are very well made and they've thought of everything. Holders for dosing tubes, probes, thermometers, etc. Adjustable baffles between the skimmer and refugium as well as between the refugium and return pump sections. All sections have covers as well to cut down on salt creep inside the stand. Can either use socks or the media basket... two screws to swap between them. There's a screw on plate where the bulkheads are for the drain lines. Mine came with two plates for 3/4 or 1 inch bulkheads. Again, take out a couple of thumb screws to swap the plates.

Have some buddies lined up if you decide on the Fijicube package. I got the 4 footer (108) and the crate weighs 550lbs.