Reef Ready systems

[Brandohl]

Hi
I will be moving soon and considering upgrading my current 55g reef tank to a 75-100 reef ready system ...
Would love to hear reviews /opinions /input/experiences on different systems any may care to share...

Additionally ... any tips on a reef tank move will be welcome as well...

Look forward to any responses ...

Thanks,
Brandohl

 

[sbash]

I have had two reef ready systems, I would have bought a 120 reef ready, but the overflows were not in the corners. I currently have a 90 gallon corner flow, it is a nice tank. The discretion of having the pluming go through the bottom instead of our the back or side is great!

My 65 gallon corner flow came with a Durso standpipe, this was my first tank, so I didn't know a whole lot about the options. It was loud, and here are plenty of threads on here about Durso overflows being loud.

So if you get a reef ready with only two holes, use them both as overflows and run your return up the side. If you go larger than a 90, they usually have two overflows, which gives you four holes so you can do either three overflow holes and one return or two overflow with two returns.

 

[DaveNJ]

I have always had a 40b with no sump. So if one buys a RR tank, does it have two return holes for plumbing or do you have to ask the store to do that before you pickup? I am working on my extra 40b for a sump. Planning on purchasing 75-90g soon

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!! Great advise from @sbash. I will go for the biggest you can fit and afford.

 

[sbash]

I have always had a 40b with no sump. So if one buys a RR tank, does it have two return holes for plumbing or do you have to ask the store to do that before you pickup? I am working on my extra 40b for a sump. Planning on purchasing 75-90g soon

Part of the 'Reef Ready' concept is to have the tank pre-drilled (on the bottom) and an overflow weir installed. They don't have options for layout though. As I mentioned with the 120 I wanted, they only came with the weirs installed on the back, I would have bought it if it was in the back corners, but ideally would have wanted it with the wiers in the corners on one end. But these are mass produced, if you want something specific you wither have to DIY or order custom...

It should also come with a bulkhead and standpipe for each hole. In my 65 and 90, they assumed one hole was for a Durso standpipe and the other hole was for the return pump. (I am recommending against this configuration and to use a Herbie standpipe configuration instead).

 

[Pntbll687]

I prefer systems with the holes drilled through the bottom, simply because you can get the tank closer to the wall.

I have a DSA 190 right now, it has one single large overflow in the center, it has three drains and two returns.

Most reef ready systems you see in stores are aqueon or marineland/perfecto. Aqueon usually has overflows that are flat against the back glass, while marineland have corner overflows. Each overflow section is designed to have a durso standpipe and a return in each overflow.

If this is your first reef ready system, you might want to consider running it stock and not modify the overflow until you're comfortable doing so.

 

[cvrle1]

I am personally not a fan of RR tanks. I have a standard 120 (4X2X2) that had megaflow system. I decided to gut it out, as I felt 2 overflow boxes were taking up too much space. It also allows me to pick overlow box that I want and drill for returns. I can pick bulkhead sizes that I want, and not ones that someone decided I should use. Finally, I can use Beananimal system, which is a lot easier to setup than megaflow one.

 

[Brandohl]

Thanks for the replies so far!
My current 55g is a standard glass tank - non drilled, external filter, skimmer etc -no sump
Minus some learning curves along the way it has been running successfully for about 3 years
LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

If I go the RR UPGRADE
it will be new to me so I don’t see myself altering anything - Atleast not at first ...
I would love to automate water changes and top offs etc
Any thoughts on that ?

Any particular brands of RR SYSTEMS better than others .. any standouts ?

 

[Brandohl]

Thanks for the replies so far!
My current 55g is a standard glass tank - non drilled, external filter, skimmer etc -no sump
Minus some learning curves along the way it has been running successfully for about 3 years
LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

If I go the RR UPGRADE
it will be new to me so I don’t see myself altering anything - Atleast not at first ...
I would love to automate water changes and top offs etc
Any thoughts on that ?

Any particular brands of RR SYSTEMS better than others .. any standouts ?