ProStar Rimless 90 vs 65G DIY

[pinocchio]

New to the forums here and hoping to learn a lot!

I’m going to be getting back into the hobby and have decided that a 65 gallon (36” width) tank will be perfect for my situation. I have been doing a ton of research and have been trying to decide between buying and AIO or going the DIY route and creating the perfect setup. I am looking to do a fish and coral tank, and definitely want to have a sump this time around.

The pro star seems like a really great deal and looks beautiful. My only concern is that a lot of people have said the ATO and sump aren’t great, and the plumbing is cheap. I’d hate to spend the money on this AIO only to change it all out.

So my alternative option is to buy a 65G and do the drilling and plumbing myself, which I’m more than capable doing, but the downside is I can’t find a rimless tank cheap enough that makes this option more cost effective, especially when you factor in the stand and overflows etc. Plus I really would like the rimless look.

For those of you familiar with the ProStart 90, do you think it was worth it? Or did you have to change out too much stuff.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jonreefer]

what 65g are you looking at? I am seeing alot of reports that the aqueon 65 seams blowout and dump the water

 

[pinocchio]

Well that was the one I was looking at! Is there a better brand 65G? Or is this another reason to go with the proStar?

 

[Jonreefer]

i am not sure who makes another but I have seen alot of articles and videos about the 65 blowing out

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Go ProStar! I love my 90, it's an excellent tank. Very high quality, easy plumbing, and cheap for a tank with the sump, stand, and plumbing included. I don't have experience with a regular 65, but the ProStar still has my vote!

Mine before filling.

 

[pinocchio]

Go ProStar! I love my 90, it's an excellent tank. Very high quality, easy plumbing, and cheap for a tank with the sump, stand, and plumbing included. I don't have experience with a regular 65, but the ProStar still has my vote!

Mine before filling.

Go ProStar! I love my 90, it's an excellent tank. Very high quality, easy plumbing, and cheap for a tank with the sump, stand, and plumbing included. I don't have experience with a regular 65, but the ProStar still has my vote!

Mine before filling.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I may have seen your build thread in my research. Did you end up changing out the sump or ATO?

 

[Tamberav]

New to the forums here and hoping to learn a lot!

I’m going to be getting back into the hobby and have decided that a 65 gallon (36” width) tank will be perfect for my situation. I have been doing a ton of research and have been trying to decide between buying and AIO or going the DIY route and creating the perfect setup. I am looking to do a fish and coral tank, and definitely want to have a sump this time around.

The pro star seems like a really great deal and looks beautiful. My only concern is that a lot of people have said the ATO and sump aren’t great, and the plumbing is cheap. I’d hate to spend the money on this AIO only to change it all out.

So my alternative option is to buy a 65G and do the drilling and plumbing myself, which I’m more than capable doing, but the downside is I can’t find a rimless tank cheap enough that makes this option more cost effective, especially when you factor in the stand and overflows etc. Plus I really would like the rimless look.

For those of you familiar with the ProStart 90, do you think it was worth it? Or did you have to change out too much stuff.

Thanks in advance!

Have you called around to your LFS's about Sephora tanks? Bottom has rim but top is rimless on certain models and they are generally more affordable. They have about a billion sizes but you need someone who can order from them.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I may have seen your build thread in my research. Did you end up changing out the sump or ATO?

I kept the sump, changed the ATO. Their ATO reservoir is only about 2 gallons, which won't last long. I just used a Tunze and a 5 gallon bucket. That lasts about a week or so when full.

 

[pinocchio]

I kept the sump, changed the ATO. Their ATO reservoir is only about 2 gallons, which won't last long. I just used a Tunze and a 5 gallon bucket. That lasts about a week or so when full.

@Anemone_Fanatic I pulled the trigger and orderer the pro star 90. I'll be starting a build thread soon, but will for sure be looking at the equipment you are using as a starting point. Do you happen to have a photo of how you have your sump set up with the swapped out ATO?

 

[Brymac1]

Don’t have the 90 but I love my 200. I kept the original ato and just refill it every other day.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

@Anemone_Fanatic I pulled the trigger and orderer the pro star 90. I'll be starting a build thread soon, but will for sure be looking at the equipment you are using as a starting point. Do you happen to have a photo of how you have your sump set up with the swapped out ATO?

Here you go. Don't be inspired by my cable management, though. Also, on the subject of cables, the plug-in board that comes with the stand will not be able to have everything going at once. It doesn't have space to plug in the skimmer and lights.

 

[Uncle99]

Love the Pro-Star tank.
Is well constructed and thick glass, aluminum stand is sturdy and fits seemless. It was half the price of others.
Don’t like the glass sump myself but would work just the same.
They provide ball valves which are hard to tune, swap those out with proper gate valves, this will make life much easier.
Mine came plumbed to the weir, but the two overflows and return were metric. I needed three metric to standard connectors to finish the connection. No big deal.
2 overflows just look like they are at the same height, but one is just a hair lower.
Mines a 230g. Have fun on your build.


And the sump