Redsea or waterbox

Jeffcb · Mar 21, 2021

I would never buy a LARGE tank with an aluminum stand, to flimsy. I would put a large tank on a steel stand but manufactures wouldn't build that because shipping is to much and it rusts if not maintained correctly .

I would never buy a any tank with a Plastic Plexiglas sump. Period.

What kind of salt do you like?

gregrobjones · Mar 22, 2021

jackalexander said:
I personally love waterbox. I have a 10g cube and it is very nice quality!

I agree Waterbox have a great design especially at 120g size where the Top up tank next to the sump is 10g and the piping is better standards and flow box is glass with 2 flow pipes at each sides not the front.

I have a Redsea for the last 2 months at 55g. Decided to change it end of this year to 120g 5ft or 6ft long.

Devaji · Mar 22, 2021

I own the red sea 650 Peninsula its a very beautiful tank . I have the 750 xl aswel but never filled it as we moved and had a perfecr spot for a peninsula tank.

IF i was looking today I prob. would go with the WB I believe there stands are all plywood the stand on the 650P to my surprise is not 100% plywood

one reason i went PnP was the clean look of the stands I wanted the sexy white stand.

another option is a custom tank from glasscages and either build your own stand or have a cabinet maker build one.

JohnnyBlowfish · Mar 22, 2021

I currently have a WB and have had an RS in the past. When our house is finished and I upgrade I plan to either go with WB again or a Cade.

jackalexander · Mar 23, 2021

gregrobjones said:
I agree Waterbox have a great design especially at 120g size where the Top up tank next to the sump is 10g and the piping is better standards and flow box is glass with 2 flow pipes at each sides not the front.

I have a Redsea for the last 2 months at 55g. Decided to change it end of this year to 120g 5ft or 6ft long.

I would go with 6ft, the best size! I’m planning a prostar 230 build for the end of this year. Choosing the prostar because of the cost, A LOT cheaper!

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 23, 2021

Miss my marineland 120g. I drilled it myself. 1 hole. Glass holes overflow box kit. Return simple up and over with a 45 on the end.

I will say. Glass is heavy duty. Resistant. Low iron glass can be very clear....seams.
You have seams.

Acrylic tanks and sumps have bonded seams. No silicone between. Can be polished to be more clear imo than any glasd tank can be.

If thick and high quality can be a tank too but easily scratched. Lol
D

Viking_Reefing · Mar 23, 2021

As a previous Red Sea owner I wouldn’t buy a tank from them again. The stands are really low quality compared to the premium that you pay.
If I was going for a turnkey system today I would give Cade a look. They aren’t represented in Europe but from afar they seem to be the best of the bunch.

gdw · Apr 16, 2021

this is a great thread! thanks everyone for sharing!
I will be getting the RS, even if the plumbing is a bit better in WB (and I do prefer metric), the larger sump and the aluminum supporting the weight is the clue for me

gregrobjones · Apr 16, 2021

jackalexander said:
I would go with 6ft, the best size! I’m planning a prostar 230 build for the end of this year. Choosing the prostar because of the cost, A LOT cheaper!

As anyone had D-D The Aquarium Solution Ltd aquarium before because I told there Weir is in the one corner of the tank and gives a better flow...

John734 · Apr 20, 2021

Do not buy a Waterbox. In my experience worst company I’ve ever had to deal with.
You’re better off going with glasscages and having a stand made!
Waterbox are crap Chinese aquariums

gideon2086 · Apr 20, 2021

John734 said:
Do not buy a Waterbox. In my experience worst company I’ve ever had to deal with.
You’re better off going with glasscages and having a stand made!
Waterbox are crap Chinese aquariums

What was your experience?

John734 · Apr 20, 2021

I know it sounds petty, but I bought a brand new waterbox still in the crate from a fellow reefer here on the forums. He did not have the plumbing kit for it. which are specific to this brand being 20mm and 25mm and in a very thin walled pvc. Ask the company if I could purchase one and they said no, not unless I was the original owner. Ask them for a replacement kit for the water box that I personally bought from them last year they also said no.
So if you ever happen to move or need to sell your aquarium, the resell value will be junk, because they will not stand by their product one bit after it’s sold.

John734 · Apr 20, 2021

And really, all waterbox is a retail store. They don’t make anything here for their tanks, everything comes from China.
I ordered a tank from them earlier this year only to cancel it later. They said it was in stock,then a week later I get an email saying it isn’t. Then they tried to switch me over to buying a bigger tank which was in stock. Very deceptive, Felt like a bait and switch tactic.

gregrobjones · Apr 20, 2021

John734 said:
And really, all waterbox is a retail store. They don’t make anything here for their tanks, everything comes from China.
I ordered a tank from them earlier this year only to cancel it later. They said it was in stock,then a week later I get an email saying it isn’t. Then they tried to switch me over to buying a bigger tank which was in stock. Very deceptive, Felt like a bait and switch tactic.

Have you heard of D&D solutions aquariums?

John734 · Apr 20, 2021

gregrobjones said:
Have you heard of D&D solutions aquariums?

Next tank will be a glass cages without a doubt , i’ve seen a couple now in person and they’re really nice quality, inexpensive and obviously customizable!!
By getting a big box store aquarium you really lack the ability to customize anything. You’re stuck with their aquarium ,their plumbing set up, their cabinet and the rest of their issues.
Mark my words, in a year or two everybody’s gonna be complaining about waterbox quality. They cannot keep up with demand so usually quality suffers, along with their customer support.

gideon2086 · Apr 20, 2021

John734 said:
Next tank will be a glass cages without a doubt , i’ve seen a couple now in person and they’re really nice quality, inexpensive and obviously customizable!!
By getting a big box store aquarium you really lack the ability to customize anything. You’re stuck with their aquarium ,their plumbing set up, their cabinet and the rest of their issues.
Mark my words, in a year or two everybody’s gonna be complaining about waterbox quality. They cannot keep up with demand so usually quality suffers, along with their customer support.

Me and my new 220.6 hope that you're wrong :|

John734 · Apr 20, 2021

This was a week or so after I ordered earlier this year (I canceled my order ) and this is their response to me asking if I could purchase the plumbing kit

gideon2086 · Apr 20, 2021

John734 said:
This was a week or so after I ordered earlier this year (I canceled my order ) and this is their response to me asking if I could purchase the plumbing kit

The first tank they sent me had a crack in it. They replaced it quickly, which was great. The manifold in their plumbing assembly has a leak.. I tried to repair but failed. I sent them an email asking for a price to buy a full assembly as I need a new manifold and figured it would be safe to have a backup for the rest of the plumbing as well. They responded in a relatively threatening manner by saying it was against their policy to send plumbing for the broken tank and that they were reporting me to their claims department. I even called last week about my plumbing issue and the rep told me to email them if I ended up needing the plumbing. I called them out on this via email and have not yet heard back. Was very satisfied with their CS team up until this point.