Can you "clone" this for less than $2,500...?

[Salty150]

Can you "clone" this for less than $2,500...?

http://www.redseafish.com/max-concept/max-s-series/max-s-650-2/

 

[Gorgok]

Yes.

I would get a standard 180, which is longer and not quite so tall. Little bigger overall. Drill, add overflow, no big deal. 750

A DCT-12000 will be a very good replacement for the pump. 150

The powerheads add up to a joke, real powerheads will flow more. 160

Many skimmers will work. 250

Steel stand and ply panels isn't hard to do either. 200

40B sump on sale. 40

The lights also don't mention being T5HO, so i had trouble finding a suitable replacement. But even with a T5HO fixture i think its doable under that price. 650

Pair of timers, power strip with individual switches. 45

2245 as a quick estimate.

 

[thejuggernaut]

The only thing I see there that looks neat is the stand. A few sheets of ply wood and some high gloss Formica and your good to go. Like was said above, a 180 non reef ready with a aftermarket overflow. Nice pump and sump. Lighting would be a personal choice. Power heads and your good to go. I think it is worth mentioning that that system would require tweaking to turn into a full blown SPS. I think the flow would be lacking the way it is setup.

 

[Salty150]

Thanks for the replies!

The thing about the Max S 650 is that it looks very clean - and everything is hidden...

You have the 4 hidden water pumps/power heads in the back glass/acrylic rear sump all along the back of the tank...

You don't see anything hanging inside the aquarium at all.

The full length surface skimmer

The integrated automatic top off

And that power center is very nice...

 

[tkeracer619]

They are nice setups for people with a decent budget and not so much experience putting systems together themselves.

I have a RSM130. They are good for what they are, they could be better but overall they work and you can grow whatever you want as long as your husbandry is up to par.

 

[BlackTip]

I don't think so. I looked at this model in the beginning. Once you start buying equipment, the cost will run up very very quickly. I doubt you can start a brand new 180g with brand new equipment for less than 7K.

 

[Salty150]

Yeah... it is actually a 150 gallon tank... 64" long...

The extra 25 gallons comes from the attached rear sump which is 10 gallons and the underneath cabinet sump which is 15 gallons.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Thanks for the replies!

The thing about the Max S 650 is that it looks very clean - and everything is hidden...

Yes it's like an all-in-one type but bigger, and with a bit more "filtration" under the tank

You have the 4 hidden water pumps/power heads in the back glass/acrylic rear sump all along the back of the tank...

You don't see anything hanging inside the aquarium at all.

Of course you don't, but something else you don't have, is the extra width that area is taking up. Hard to figure out on the webpage, but I'm guessing it's probably at most 16-18" wide, when it could be 24" wide. Now I've had my fair share of "skinny" tanks, and I have to say front to back depth can make a world of difference. That said, I'm spoiled now, so to me it sticks out like a sore thumb, to someone else who isn't spoiled they probably wouldn't care too much

Also the water movement, what if that isn't enough flow? How do you change it? You can't can you? So you have to place your rocks around the pumps output, hoping there's going to be enough flow for you to use. Otherwise you put a pump on the side, then your argument about not seeing any cords goes away. You could put one on the backwall, but it won't look as clean as you problem want.

The full length surface skimmer

Coast to coast overflow is what that is, it takes that water into the tank's filtration systems.

And that power center is very nice...

It does look nice, how useful it is... don't know but it looks nice.

Overall the tank is fine for what it is, someone who wants a larger than cube all-in-one tank that has everything already set without having to think about doing anything.

However if you're into the DIY mindset, which it seems like you are, why would you bother with it? I personally would rather pick and choose components that I like, Red Sea might make good tanks, but skimmers...ehhhh there's a LOT of better ones out there. Ditto with the pumps, ditto filtration, heating, ok heating usually doesn't matter, but you're buying all RedSea goods in that one tank, you don't have a choice in the matter.

As to making it. My first thought it to start with an acrylic tank with a black back wall, put in an external coast to coast overflow, closed loop, and everything crams into the stand. Put a false side wall so you don't see anything in the back unless you have to access it, then you can go for any dimensions you want. Call it a day.

Less than $2500... maybe... as long as you don't go with too much custom stuff, but getting a really good skimmer might make that price a bit less feasible.

 

[shermanator]

Where are you getting one for $2500? Isn't the MSRP over $5k?

They certainly seem to be nice systems. I like my basement fish room and tinkering way too much, but this looks like a good way to enter the hobby if you don't want to tinker and spend a fortune. At $2500, it's a very good deal.

 

[Salty150]

Hard to figure out on the webpage, but I'm guessing it's probably at most 16-18" wide, when it could be 24" wide.

It is actually 28" wide - with the rear sump taking about 5" I believe...

Also the water movement, what if that isn't enough flow? How do you change it? You can't can you? So you have to place your rocks around the pumps output, hoping there's going to be enough flow for you to use. Otherwise you put a pump on the side, then your argument about not seeing any cords goes away. You could put one on the backwall, but it won't look as clean as you problem want.

Actually there are several people on the owners thread who say the pumps at maximum have too much flow and kick the sand up - they have to turn them down, etc...

However if you're into the DIY mindset, which it seems like you are, why would you bother with it? I personally would rather pick and choose components that I like, Red Sea might make good tanks, but skimmers...ehhhh there's a LOT of better ones out there. Ditto with the pumps, ditto filtration, heating, ok heating usually doesn't matter, but you're buying all RedSea goods in that one tank, you don't have a choice in the matter.

Well, sadly, I am not... I would have to hire someone to make this "clone" for me.

 

[Salty150]

Where are you getting one for $2500? Isn't the MSRP over $5k?

They certainly seem to be nice systems. I like my basement fish room and tinkering way too much, but this looks like a good way to enter the hobby if you don't want to tinker and spend a fortune. At $2500, it's a very good deal.

LOL, no, that is the problem... it is $5,000...

That is why I was seeing if it could be "cloned" for half the price...

 

[rwb500]

it doesn't look like there is any screen top over the water. it should be illegal to sell an all-in-one tank without a lid. i imagine these will not sell very well, but if they did, there would be a lot of dead fish due to this design.