theKoolAidMan
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2018
- Messages
- 266
- Reaction score
- 430
- What state or country do you live in
- New York
I currently have a Red Sea Reefer 450 in the living room and have gotten permission (and encouragement!) from my wife to add a small tank to my home office. After looking around and mapping things out, a 20 gallon cube seemed the best bet. I was originally looking at the Waterbox 20 cube, which seemed like a good price at $200. However when you add in the $300 stand, an ATO system, skimmer, and lighting (AI Prime), it was pretty similar in cost to the Red Sea Max 20.
Looking into it more, I also saw that the Reefer Nano goes for about $100 less (though of course you need to provide your own skimmer, lighting, and return pump.
I've worked it out and overall the Reefer would be about $300 more than the Max when accounting for the skimmer, light, and pump.
My question is, for those that have had either or both, what are your recommendations/caveats/experiences, etc.
This tank will be softies only with maybe a few LPS. I do not want to get into dosing, so no SPS and not many LPS. I want all nutrient top offs to be handled by the salt mix from water changes.
I see the pros of the Max pretty much just being lower cost. The Reefer is a 21 gallon display and 7 gallon sump for a total system volume of 28 gallons vs. the Max's 20 gallon system volume with only a 16.5 gallon display.
Having a larger Reefer now, I know that the ATO system kind of sucks and the disphram valve for regulating the overflow is tempermental, but I like the larger display volume and overall system volume.
I will add that I do have nano experience, as my first two tanks were a 10G and 30G reef.
What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of the two setups? Is the skimmer that comes with the Max even any good? How tiny is that ATO? Etc.
Looking into it more, I also saw that the Reefer Nano goes for about $100 less (though of course you need to provide your own skimmer, lighting, and return pump.
I've worked it out and overall the Reefer would be about $300 more than the Max when accounting for the skimmer, light, and pump.
My question is, for those that have had either or both, what are your recommendations/caveats/experiences, etc.
This tank will be softies only with maybe a few LPS. I do not want to get into dosing, so no SPS and not many LPS. I want all nutrient top offs to be handled by the salt mix from water changes.
I see the pros of the Max pretty much just being lower cost. The Reefer is a 21 gallon display and 7 gallon sump for a total system volume of 28 gallons vs. the Max's 20 gallon system volume with only a 16.5 gallon display.
Having a larger Reefer now, I know that the ATO system kind of sucks and the disphram valve for regulating the overflow is tempermental, but I like the larger display volume and overall system volume.
I will add that I do have nano experience, as my first two tanks were a 10G and 30G reef.
What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of the two setups? Is the skimmer that comes with the Max even any good? How tiny is that ATO? Etc.
