Why no quality small (5-8 gal) AIOs?

[MaxTremors]

Biocube used to make an 8g, I’ve got one out in my garage. It was a nice little tank, but the ballast for the PC lights exploded and caught fire, would’ve burned my house down if I wasn’t home. It was still under warranty and Oceanic (before Coralife bought the brand) wouldn’t even replace the ballast let alone cover the damage to the stand and wall, I was super busy at the time and just didn’t care to pursue it. It was a decent tank, might set it back up with a new light as a little frag tank.

 

[5G Reefer]

Yeah, we can do that. But our customers want something a bit more refined. Like I said, we aren't for everyone. If this is the extent of what everyone wants, then OP should head down to petco and get one of these. But if you think you have a better design, share with us and we will protype it for you. Explain to me what is the downside of this offer.

I can draw a prototype if that is what you want I will post a picture in this thread and everyone can give some feedback…

 

[5G Reefer]

The whole sorry saga of mine is here if anyone is bored. I did get a refund but that wasn't what I wanted, I wanted a correctly manufactured tank! I'm glad to hear yours is still going strong. Mine looked really nice until it leaked and then came apart!

Disappointed with Micro Reefs Aquariums

This painful saga started to go wrong at first contact and I should already have been wary, but here is my experience with Micro-Reefs Aquariums. I was in the market for a small (5 gallon) frag tank and was initially looking at a different vendor but they, unfortunately, had very poor reviews...

www.reef2reef.com

Can you post a picture of the tank I could rebuild it???

 

[5G Reefer]

Yeah, we can do that. But our customers want something a bit more refined. Like I said, we aren't for everyone. If this is the extent of what everyone wants, then OP should head down to petco and get one of these. But if you think you have a better design, share with us and we will protype it for you. Explain to me what is the downside of this offer.

I

 

[hotdrop]

I don’t think there are a lot of good designs for one. What are you trying to use as a filler anyway? You probably don’t need one as you can do weekly 50-80% wc but if you want a filter stock I’d just build a small box just big enough for a tiny filler sock and put a power head under the filler.

 

[FishyFishFish]

Yeah, we can do that. But our customers want something a bit more refined. Like I said, we aren't for everyone. If this is the extent of what everyone wants, then OP should head down to petco and get one of these. But if you think you have a better design, share with us and we will protype it for you. Explain to me what is the downside of this offer.

Well, for a start, you have jumped in on my thread and posted links to several hundred dollar tanks and now you have attitude because I commented on the high cost. If I could have got what I wanted from Petco, do you not think that I would have gone there instead of starting this thread?

If you can make cost-effective tanks, then you should make this clearer on your website. There is a 'fast quote' link but why would I ask for a quote when all of your other tanks are out of my price range? I had no idea you could make cheaper tanks.

You mentioned all of the things that you could remove to get the tank cheaper (a weird way of trying to show all of the items that make yours so expensive), but many of those things you mentioned (pump, bio media, shipping) were all included in my $100 tank.

Your tanks are acrylic? Mine is glass.

There is nothing wrong with your offer; I would personally, however, have presented it differently if I had wanted to entice a customer. I would have explained how good my tanks are and what I could do for the customer, rather than saying how much you would need to 'de-value' your tanks to meet my 'cheap' demands. If someone else wants to provide a concept for you to quote then that would be great, but as I have stated twice on this thread now, I already have my new tank(s).

Please don't less this thread turn into an argument with one manufacturer; it was a request to discover what is out there and you have highlighted your product. I have already found what I want, but it would be good to have this info out there for anyone else who might be looking for a small Nano/Pico AIO.

 

[FishyFishFish]

Can you post a picture of the tank I could rebuild it???

There are pictures in the link that I posted earlier. It was basically a 12x12x8 box with a simple AIO filter section in the back.

 

[PR_nano]

I got the Fluval V but never got to set it up. I was going to use it to raise some peppermint but now sits in its box. Might need to sell local at a loss. I find it too narrow.

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

Well, for a start, you have jumped in on my thread and posted links to several hundred dollar tanks and now you have attitude because I commented on the high cost. If I could have got what I wanted from Petco, do you not think that I would have gone there instead of starting this thread?

If you can make cost-effective tanks, then you should make this clearer on your website. There is a 'fast quote' link but why would I ask for a quote when all of your other tanks are out of my price range? I had no idea you could make cheaper tanks.

You mentioned all of the things that you could remove to get the tank cheaper (a weird way of trying to show all of the items that make yours so expensive), but many of those things you mentioned (pump, bio media, shipping) were all included in my $100 tank.

Your tanks are acrylic? Mine is glass.

There is nothing wrong with your offer; I would personally, however, have presented it differently if I had wanted to entice a customer. I would have explained how good my tanks are and what I could do for the customer, rather than saying how much you would need to 'de-value' your tanks to meet my 'cheap' demands. If someone else wants to provide a concept for you to quote then that would be great, but as I have stated twice on this thread now, I already have my new tank(s).

Please don't less this thread turn into an argument with one manufacturer; it was a request to discover what is out there and you have highlighted your product. I have already found what I want, but it would be good to have this info out there for anyone else who might be looking for a small Nano/Pico AIO.

Well, I certainly did not want to upset or offend you or anyone else. You being up some very good points. Because of this thread we are going to be developing a line of lower cost AIO like what you were talking about. Again, no offense was intended. I found your thread very informative.

 

[A Young Reefer]

Dymax are popular where I live they have three models:
Dymax Iq3: 1.8 Gallons, 80 USD.
Dymax Iq5: 3.4 Gallons, 110 USD.
Dymax Iq7: 4.2 gallons, 154 USD.
all three models come with the following:

• Dimmable LED lighting
• Complete filtration system
• Power head with flow rate control
• Micro processor base to control brightness of blue and white light
• Curved edge - elegant and safe
• Easy to maintain
• Stronger, clearer and safer than glass
• More impact resistant than all-glass tank
• Ultra-clear and durable 1/4 inch acrylic
• Filtration system
• Overflow system
• Adjustable flow pump
• 

not the cheapest if you ask me.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Yeah, we can do that. But our customers want something a bit more refined. Like I said, we aren't for everyone. If this is the extent of what everyone wants, then OP should head down to petco and get one of these. But if you think you have a better design, share with us and we will protype it for you. Explain to me what is the downside of this offer.

So, I have a design, where should I email it too. Out of curiosity?

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

So, I have a design, where should I email it too. Out of curiosity?

Please email it to [email protected]. Attn Mark Jones. I am going to start our own thread in a little bit so as to not derail this one. Looking forward to seeing it.

 

[Chrisv.]

I had an innovative marine nuvo 8 for a while. It was a decent little tank. The light was insufficient for most things. If I remember correctly I was getting about 45 par.

Design of the tank was fine though. Baffles were considerably better than my waterbox mini peninsula 15.

 

[5G Reefer]

There are pictures in the link that I posted earlier. It was basically a 12x12x8 box with a simple AIO filter section in the back.

Was it acylic or glass?

 

[FishyFishFish]

Was it acylic or glass?

The Micro-Reefs one was acrylic, and that was the problem with mine as the joints weren't bonded correctly.

 

[5G Reefer]

The Micro-Reefs one was acrylic, and that was the problem with mine as the joints weren't bonded correctly.

I am pretty sure there is a way to take the joints appart and you can rebond the acylic.