Reefer 170 Deluxe or Max-E 170?

Pennywise the Clown · May 20, 2018

I touched on this subject briefly in the introduction pages but I thought that I would go into a bit more detail here. I have asked the same question on social media and still completely unsure. I don't want to make a mistake that could end up costing me a lot of extra cash.
My wife is treating me to a Red Sea aquarium and I am stuck between the above models. The tank will be a softy and LPS hybrid. Fish stock will be a pair of clowns, goby, blenny and one more open water fish, but I haven't made my mind up on that one yet.
I like the idea of an AIO and, according to my LFS, the Max-E will be more than capable of looking after my planned stock of corals and fish without any upgrades. Apart from an ATO which I have already purchased.
However, I also like the idea of a sump and the ease of maintenance that comes with it. One downside is that as I will be upgrading the ATO on the reefer, there is no room in the cabinet for an RO container so this will have to be placed outside. And one thing that I have had to promise my wife is that everything will be self contained and there will be no clutter.
I would love to here peoples thoughts and especially from anybody running a stock Max-E as there are hundreds of videos on-line regarding the reefer but not many for the Max.
Thanks,

Steve.

HolisticBear · May 20, 2018

Steve Thompson said:
And one thing that I have had to promise my wife is that everything will be self contained and there will be no clutter

Max E-170 for this reason.

This same question has come up in threads before. I think the vast majority of the R2R community prefers the reefers not only because they can pick their protein skimmer and working in a sump is easier, but deep-down many people buy corals as an excuse to keep gear

It's like photography where there are a million posts on gear and few on photographs.

I have a small ikea side cabinet on my Reefer 170. It's possible to keep everything inside that single cabinet, but it's real hard. Especially since you might one day add a controller, dosing containers, and a larger ATO container. With the Max-E, you can keep everything inside that single cabinet, and focus on reef-keeping from the get-go.

I'm a big fan of the Max-E. It's a great tank, you can learn what you like and don't like, and if you upgrade in the future, this tank takes 'the edge off' so you can plan that one leisurely.

Pennywise the Clown · May 20, 2018

Thanks HB, that's a great answer.

Pennywise the Clown · Jul 21, 2018

Sorry to dig up my old thread but I am finally in a position to pull the trigger on my new tank. Things have changed somewhat since my original post, I am now torn between the Reefer 250 Deluxe and Max-E 260. I have manged to persuade my wife that the tank will look fantastic in our front/living room but I have promised her that there will be little to no noise from the tank.
If I get the Reefer I will be getting a Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer, a TMC DC return pump and a pair of Jecod power heads (MP 10's are out of my price range at present)
If I go Max-E I will be running it stock with a Tunze ATO.
Please help me decide, I'm going mad at the moment with indecision and want to purchase on Monday.

408Dartfish · Jul 21, 2018

It’s a tough decision. I have the max e260 with sump and it’s extremely quiet. The noisiest thing about the tank was the skimmer water noises. I’ve had it got my since beginning of May. O problems so far, any questions lemme know. Dustin

Pennywise the Clown · Jul 21, 2018

Thanks Dustin. I love your set up.
Are you just running with the 2 return pumps for flow and if so, do you think it is enough? I'm thinking LPS and softies, no SPS (at least not for the first year or so)

408Dartfish · Jul 21, 2018

Steve Thompson said:
Thanks Dustin. I love your set up.
Are you just running with the 2 return pumps for flow and if so, do you think it is enough? I'm thinking LPS and softies, no SPS (at least not for the first year or so)

I’m running the 2 pumps in the back and a return pump in sump. The sump pump I first had was a 950gph and it was to much for my pink Fiji sand. I went to a Reef Octopus varios 2 at around 650gph. I plan on doing mostly softies and LPS as of now. The protein skimmer the E-260 comes with is best suited for the back of tank and not the optional sump IMO. Dustin

Pennywise the Clown · Jul 23, 2018

Finally ordered myself the Reefer 250, and it feels like a load off my mind. I think I would have been more than happy with any of the Red Sea tanks but after a long chat at my LFS, where they have a 250 set up, I handed over the cash. Now I just have to wait 1 more week.
Thanks for everyones input.

JoshH · Jul 23, 2018

Congrats on the new tank ! No matter what one you did go with it's a Red Sea so I doubt you'd be disappointed. Can't wait to see a new build thread!!

Pennywise the Clown · Jul 23, 2018

JoshH said:
Congrats on the new tank ! No matter what one you did go with it's a Red Sea so I doubt you'd be disappointed. Can't wait to see a new build thread!!

Thanks mate. I can't believe how hard the decision to buy a fish tank was. If I wanted a new car or TV, I do a bit of research and go out and buy it. With this tank I really struggled, for months. Weird.
I am looking forward to updating the forum on my progress.

WannaBSpaghetti · Jul 23, 2018

Steve Thompson said:
Thanks mate. I can't believe how hard the decision to buy a fish tank was. If I wanted a new car or TV, I do a bit of research and go out and buy it. With this tank I really struggled, for months. Weird.
I am looking forward to updating the forum on my progress.

Make sure to post a Tank build in the members tank section! I am currently planning out my RSR 250 and would love to see your setup, equipment decisions, and updates as well! A link to my thread is in my signature, if you want to check that out - I did a fair amount of research on each piece of equipment, but could always use the feedback of another user with a similar setup!

Thanks and happy reefing

Pennywise the Clown · Jul 23, 2018

WannaBSpaghetti said:
Make sure to post a Tank build in the members tank section! I am currently planning out my RSR 250 and would love to see your setup, equipment decisions, and updates as well! A link to my thread is in my signature, if you want to check that out - I did a fair amount of research on each piece of equipment, but could always use the feedback of another user with a similar setup!

Thanks and happy reefing

Just checked your thread and your list of equipment looks very much like my wish list. Unfortunately the boss decided that is exactly what my list was, a wish. I've had to downgrade MP10's to a pair of Jecods, a Nyos skimmer to a Bubble Maggus Curve 5 and a few other things have been scratched off the list completely. I'm getting the Deluxe version so at least the lighting will be pretty good. I've got 40lbs of CaribSea shapes waiting to go. I'm not sure if this will be enough but I do prefer a minimalist look over a great big pile of rocks
I will keep an eye out on your build, but I definitely like your proposed set up. Good luck.

Machpoint89 · Sep 16, 2018

HolisticBear said:
I have a small ikea side cabinet on my Reefer 170.

Hey chief,

Do you happen to remember the name of said cabinet and do you have a photo?

I'm looking at the same route so I can keep our kid away from wires and mess [emoji16]

Thanks

HolisticBear · Sep 16, 2018

Machpoint89 said:
Hey chief,

Do you happen to remember the name of said cabinet and do you have a photo?

I'm looking at the same route so I can keep our kid away from wires and mess [emoji16]

Thanks

I got this one: https://m.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/art/90333938/

All those Eket are cheap and match the white finish of the reefers exactly

Machpoint89 · Sep 16, 2018

dang that was a fast reply haha thanks !

vetteguy53081 · Sep 17, 2018

I like the reefer series and everyone i know wuth a reefer has exclaimed that it is trouble free to them and easy to maintain.

7237689918 · Sep 17, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
I like the reefer series and everyone i know wuth a reefer has exclaimed that it is trouble free to them and easy to maintain.

Man, I can relate. I'm at the exact same place. I really like the idea of the Max AIO and focusing on corals and fish and not having the inclination to focus on tinkering. On the other hand, having everything in the external sump seems like a lot easier to maintain and clean, once all set up.

7237689918 · Oct 8, 2018

Hi.

I may have been looking at it wrong but does the E 170 use filter bags for filtration? If not, are there any issues with keeping the water clean?

Jon956 · Mar 1, 2019

Do you guys know the Dimensions of the max e 170 display excluding the back sump I’m guessing it around 24x18x22? Compared to the reefer 24x20x20

vetteguy53081 · Mar 1, 2019

Jon956 said:
Do you guys know the Dimensions of the max e 170 display excluding the back sump I’m guessing it around 24x18x22? Compared to the reefer 24x20x20

Overall dimensions: 24" L x 22.6" W x 56" H