Tank selection

[AlwaysSalty77]

I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this so mods please move if need be and I apologize...

So I've recently decided it was finally time to jump in to the reef scene as I've always wanted. Now my dream tank would be 240+ gallons but my life and home are not ready for that yet, so for now I want to do between 60-100 gallons. My main question is what company is worth the money? I've seen a bunch of different tanks in my search this far but I'm not really sure which to go with. I'm looking for a middle of the road not super pricey. I also dont necessarily need a stand as I am handy and can build one if so inclined. I'd really just love to hear from the forum on the positive experiences people have had. I dont know anyone personally who is in the hobby. Thanks,
Rob

 

[dugthefish]

Marineland or Aqueon 75g, both can be had relatively inexpensively

 

[cancun]

I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this so mods please move if need be and I apologize...

So I've recently decided it was finally time to jump in to the reef scene as I've always wanted. Now my dream tank would be 240+ gallons but my life and home are not ready for that yet, so for now I want to do between 60-100 gallons. My main question is what company is worth the money? I've seen a bunch of different tanks in my search this far but I'm not really sure which to go with. I'm looking for a middle of the road not super pricey. I also dont necessarily need a stand as I am handy and can build one if so inclined. I'd really just love to hear from the forum on the positive experiences people have had. I dont know anyone personally who is in the hobby. Thanks,
Rob

Hi there and welcome to R2R!!! The second tank I owned was a Innovative Marin SR 80. It was a 80 gallon tank and a all in one....which means no sump under your tank. It was a great tank because it was 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 16 inches tall. SR = shallow reef. It was a great tank. I had it for several years while I learned about reefing. No issues with the tank, and Innovative Marine was great if a issue came up on the rare occasion. For that tank all you have to buy is the skimmer, and maybe a power head for extra flow. You get a lot of bang for your buck IMO. I currently have the Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL. It is a 200 gallon with a sump. Red Sea makes smaller tanks also, but Red Sea can be pretty pricey. IMO Innovative Marine is in the middle of the road. You can also buy it without the stand if you want to build your own! Hope this helps!

 

[BeejReef]

Crazy options if you're handy.

If you're not concerned with the all in one packaging (or the stand), the branding is all about quality craftsmanship and materials... how transparent is the glass, how durable are the silicone seals. 100% agree not to crazy overpay for a name in your case... especially if you envision it as a two year tank before an upgrade.

 

[lapin]

My ipinion;
125g is a good size. Allows for stable water volume, more types of fish, lots more rockscaping room......
55g gallon home made sump will fit under it.

 

[AlwaysSalty77]

Thanks for the insight... I will look into the ones mentioned and figure out my path. Once i have a tank picked out I will certainly do a build thread.