Pre-made "complete systems"

[msmith619]

OK, decision made! I have done a LOT of reading on aquarium systems that come complete. Critics of all the available systems have faund faults with each. Some say the lights need to be changed, others say the skimmer is worthless, some say you need additional pumps, etc. I found a GREAT review on Red Sea Max last night at around midnight (and forgot to bookmark it and now I can't find it to link it!) that was many pages long.
The testor recieved the Red Sea Max 250 (65 gallon) several months before it was available to the public. While he was very critical of the 34 gallon, he was full of praise for the 250. He rated everything, lighting, protein skimminer, water flow, refugium, filtration, cabinet design, temperature/fans, etc. He says it is not only a beautiful piece of furniture but that Red Sea Max has listened to all the criticism of the 130 and fixed all the issues. The light consists of 6 T5 bulbs and he was able to keep sps corals. While it comes complete, it does have the flexibility to allow you to add things, such as a chiller or extra pumps. The componants are modular and designed to be easily replaced should they ever fail. The price can run from $1400-1700 depending on where you shop and it has been listed as being pricey. I know my 75 gallon cost over $3500 to set up and I bought EVERYTHING used to save all I could. I am sure if I had gone for new equipment and top-of-the-line stuff it would have been well over $5000. I think the price is fair.
Next month I hope to have enough change put together to go buy the Red Sea Max at AD (need a truck to get it home to Boerne!) and start a new tank! Then I will be posting a new tank build. This will be a seahorse, softie, LPS tank with a smattering of docile fish: Mandarin, jawfish, royal gramma and maybe a Bangai. This is going to be fun!
Mike

[Jarob]

I was looking into geting one of those too, just too expensive for me

[manhorsedog]

i love the little all in one set ups. You really just have to stay on top of water changes and its easy. I find my biocube14 to be the easiest of all my tanks to keep things happy.

[manhorsedog]

one thing about the red seamax that I do not like is the need for a chiller. They my have a way around it but most people end up having to get one.

[msmith619]

The red sea max 250 uses 6 t-5 lights with 2 built in cooling fans. No chiller needed unless you are making a temporate quarium. They fixed the heat issue.
Mike

[manhorsedog]

thats awesome! i now have t-5's on my 75g and they are cool to the touch and produce more light than any fixture i have owned.

[msmith619]

I found the link to the Red Sea Max 250 review, posted below if anyone wants to read it.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...owtopic=181220

Mike

[ballardjr2000]

Well to add to it i got the marineland corner flow its a 90 i will be sure to let everybody know how that goes. It came a a complete system minus the skimmer i had that already though so no biggy. i paid a heafty price of 1900 for stand, top, t-5's heater tidepool II filtration its filled and now i am awaiting the arrival of the live rock i ordered.

[cbianco]

I am thinking about my next tank.

So what did you find out Mike?

Hint, hint, a Finnex tank would make a fine addition to anyones home!



Christopher

[msmith619]

Going with the Red Sea Max 250 (65 gallon) system. Look for (yes, another!) tank build post to start some time next month. I wanted a little bigger than a 29-34 gallon system and the 65 is perfect for my plan:
4 sea horses, seahorse safe varieties of LPS/Zoas/softies, mandarin, royal gramma, yellow-head jawfish, Bangaii cardinal,and helfricki firefish.
Mike