Thinking of making a change and needing some advice

[Waboss]

OK, so here's the deal.

I have a Red Sea Reefer 170, which I do like a lot and it's a heck of a tank/stand/sump combo. What I don't like, and didn't realize until after I had it up for months, is that I'd really prefer a shallower tank with a little more length to it. It will have to stay at about the same volume as weight is an issue in my second story apartment.

So here's what I'm thinking at this point. Pick up a Deepblue 36x18x16 rimless, RR, tank and a R&J Oak Extreme stand.

Pro's
-36" in length vs. the 24 I have now. Allows a little more "room" for fish to swim and coral placement is easier (for me)
-Takes about 4" off the height of the tank
-Stand has a reputation for being built like a tank (which is one of the things I really like about the Reefer170 stand)
-Stand is a little taller (36") so plenty of room and better viewing for a shallower tank
-It's not a cube! Or cube-ish. I'm becoming less and less of a fan of cube tanks

Cons
-Money man....spending more bloody money!
-In relation to the first con, need to buy a good sump as well (probably a ruby trigger)
-All the mods I've done to my setup will be "lost" many won't tranferr over to the new system
-Have to get rid of my Reefer 170 once I've moved everything over
-Work involved in moving tanks....not a big deal, but is something to consider

So after taking the time to write this post, it's pretty evident that all the cons will there no matter what I do, if I switch tanks......so there's that!

Anyone have any helpful thoughts, comments, ideas?

 

[nervousmonkey]

If you have the money to make the switch and get the equipment you want, I say go for it. One thing I've found in this hobby is that there is nothing more satisfying than setting up a new system the way I want it. Getting new stuff is just fun, and you keep refining and refining until you get a system you love, then do it again. That being said, I just opened a Trigger Ruby Elite and man, that thing is beautiful. So well built that I'm surprised. Check out the Tideline sumps from Trigger, those are even more amazing.
As far as the cons go, the only bad one is spending more money. It's actually a pro in my mind that you're getting a Ruby Trigger. And your mods can be redone but this time just a little bit better. Getting rid of the Reefer should be pretty easy really. Lots of people want those set ups. OK, moving tanks sucks too....

 

[Waboss]

Yeah, agree with pretty much everything you said. I guess a tank swap is what I'm going to do. Now I just need to finalize on a tank/stand combo. What I listed in the OP is just what I thought of off the top of my head.