Which Red Sea Reefer?!

[SuperSaiyanTang]

Hello everyone!

I am jumping back in the hobby after lurking here on reef2reef for many years. Ive got the itch and the red sea tanks have caught my eye. I have a home office about 8'x9' where I would like to place the tank. I originally was looking at the 425XL or Peninsula 500, however I think I could fit a 525 or 625XL. My plan would be to keep a mixed sps dominant reef and I think the extra length would be good for the fish. My questions are: Anyone have experiences with the 525/625XL? What do you think about a tank that size in a small room? Any concerns for heat or humidity? I am undecided on lighting, last time I was in the hobby it seemed like metal halides were the go to for SPS.

 

[Westside Guy]

Sometimes less is more so perhaps a Reefer 350 or if you want a little more volume a Reefer 425 might be more appropriate for an 8'x9' space. I definitely would not consider a Peninsula model as it would cut off the room which is already fairly small.

PS, I recommend the white cabinet which will make the tank look larger.

 

[4FordFamily]

With fish more is more! Bigger = better particularly if you like tangs/angels.

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

Sometimes less is more so perhaps a Reefer 350 or if you want a little more volume a Reefer 425 might be more appropriate for an 8'x9' space. I definitely would not consider a Peninsula model as it would cut off the room which is already fairly small.

PS, I recommend the white cabinet which will make the tank look larger.

Definitely white for sure, it matches the office. I was going to place the peninsula 500 parallel to the wall with a clear back but I think I settled on the black background.

With fish more is more! Bigger = better particularly if you like tangs/angels.

That's what I was thinking. Kinda leaning towards the 525XL, 625Xl may be a tad too big.

 

[Westside Guy]

Definitely white for sure, it matches the office. I was going to place the peninsula 500 parallel to the wall with a clear back but I think I settled on the black background.



That's what I was thinking. Kinda leaning towards the 525XL, 625Xl may be a tad too big.

If you are going to center it on one wall I think you can go with the 525 although I still think a 350 or 425 would be more appropriate. The 525 and 625 are both 59 inches wide but the width on them can make a difference and make the room visually look too small. The 525 is 22.6″ wide and the 625 is 25.6″ wide.

If possible give us a blueprint (a sketch will do ) showing the entrance door and any windows and indicate where you were planning to place it.

Also don't forget to factor in the weight of these tanks when filled, especially if you are in a home that has a basement below. You need to make sure the floor can support it!!!

 

[rkpetersen]

A 525 would probably be too much for that space, although it depends on your taste.
I have a 450 against one wall in a 13 x 14' dining room and I can tell you that it completely dominates the space.
I'm sure it because of the white cabinet.

 

[Morelia]

I just bought a 525XL Deluxe in December 2018, and love it! My vote would be the 525XL!

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

If you are going to center it on one wall I think you can go with the 525 although I still think a 350 or 425 would be more appropriate. The 525 and 625 are both 59 inches wide but the width on them can make a difference and make the room visually look too small. The 525 is 22.6″ wide and the 625 is 25.6″ wide.

If possible give us a blueprint (a sketch will do ) showing the entrance door and any windows and indicate where you were planning to place it.

Also don't forget to factor in the weight of these tanks when filled, especially if you are in a home that has a basement below. You need to make sure the floor can support it!!!

I am on a slab so I think I should be ok?

Here is a quick paint sketch.

The blue is a large window and the opening is my door. I was thinking about putting it on the far left wall.

A 525 would probably be too much for that space, although it depends on your taste.
I have a 450 against one wall in a 13 x 14' dining room and I can tell you that it completely dominates the space.
I'm sure it because of the white cabinet.

Thanks! Good to know.

I just bought a 525XL Deluxe in December 2018, and love it! My vote would be the 525XL!

Awesome to hear, thanks!

 

[Juniorh2r]

Go as big as possible trust me. Cause then your going to want to upgrade and thats a pain the bigger the bigger fish and more fish and corals

 

[Westside Guy]

I am on a slab so I think I should be ok?

Here is a quick paint sketch.

The blue is a large window and the opening is my door. I was thinking about putting it on the far left wall.

If you are on a slab you should be good to go unless you live on top of a sink hole!

I am liking the 525 on the far left wall based on that sketch. Also I hope that your desk and other home office furniture won't be too large or you might feel claustrophobic. That white cabinet definitely makes the tank appear larger than it actually is.

By the way if you plan to stay with the Red Sea RO reservoir tank going forward I am starting to lean toward the 625 over the 525 because of the larger volume. 525 - 4.3 gal, 625 - 7.6 gal.
As mentioned the 525 is 22.6″ wide and the 625 is 25.6″ wide and is slightly higher. 525 - 22″h, 625 - 23.6″h so will go a little deeper into the room.
Also the display tank on the 625 holds 25 gallons more than the 525. 525 - 108 gal, 625 - 133 gal.

https://www.redseafish.com/aquarium-systems/reefer/

Regarding lights, Red Sea has pulled their "deluxe tanks" that came with Ai Hydra 26 led's which I have on my Reefer 250 and will be shipping their own branded lights going forward.

Finally, depending on where you live you may want to consider a chiller (leave some space). No matter what some sort of battery backup or even better a generator because you are in a house is a must!

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

If you are on a slab you should be good to go unless you live on top of a sink hole!

I am liking the 525 on the far left wall based on that sketch. Also I hope that your desk and other home office furniture won't be too large or you might feel claustrophobic. That white cabinet definitely makes the tank appear larger than it actually is.

By the way if you plan to stay with the Red Sea RO reservoir tank going forward I am starting to lean toward the 625 over the 525 because of the larger volume. 525 - 4.3 gal, 625 - 7.6 gal.
As mentioned the 525 is 22.6″ wide and the 625 is 25.6″ wide and is slightly higher. 525 - 22″h, 625 - 23.6″h so will go a little deeper into the room.
Also the display tank on the 625 holds 25 gallons more than the 525. 525 - 108 gal, 625 - 133 gal.

https://www.redseafish.com/aquarium-systems/reefer/

Regarding lights, Red Sea has pulled their "deluxe tanks" that came with Ai Hydra 26 led's which I have on my Reefer 250 and will be shipping their own branded lights going forward.

Finally, depending on where you live you may want to consider a chiller (leave some space). No matter what some sort of battery backup or even better a generator because you are in a house is a must!

I think I am going to place the desk on the wall with the door or against the window. Ill have to move things around to see what is best. Thanks for the tips on the chiller and backup. If I go with LEDs I think I might be ok, comparing the Radions and Kessils at this point. However, good ole metal halides are tempting and I think I would need a chiller.

 

[Westside Guy]

I think I am going to place the desk on the wall with the door or against the window. Ill have to move things around to see what is best. Thanks for the tips on the chiller and backup. If I go with LEDs I think I might be ok, comparing the Radions and Kessils at this point. However, good ole metal halides are tempting and I think I would need a chiller.

If you haven't purchased a desk yet a corner type design might look great on the bottom righthand side of your layout where the window wall and entrance door wall meet.

I love my Ai Hydra 26 led's which work great with their phone app.

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

If you haven't purchased a desk yet a corner type design might look great on the bottom righthand side of your layout where the window wall and entrance door wall meet.

I love my Ai Hydra 26 led's which work great with their phone app.

That’s genius! I’ll have to look up some corner desks.

 

[Westside Guy]

That’s genius! I’ll have to look up some corner desks.

Find one that has filing drawers on both sides to maximize the space you are using.

Also what type of surface is the flooring in that room?

 

[SuperSaiyanTang]

Find one that has filing drawers on both sides to maximize the space you are using.

Also what type of surface is the flooring in that room?

Time to check IKEA! The room is carpet.

 

[Westside Guy]

Time to check IKEA! The room is carpet.

Don’t forget to work on window shades!

 

[jsvand5]

Definitely go as bigs as you can afford. I bought a 210g tank a few months ago and am already wishing I went for 300g-400g

 

[Lapras]

I like my 525, but i have a larger space for it. Just keep in mind when you're working on it, or doing maintenance, you will want some elbow room. However, with that said if it were me in your shoes, I'd get the biggest I could fit in there I think RedSea makes bigger than the 525 models now if it's within your budget

 

[Westside Guy]

By the way, whatever tank you order make sure you measure and it will fit through the door frame! A frame of mine has a room in his home with a custom size pocket door that is pretty narrow.

 

[Westside Guy]

Any decision yet on the tank?