For a custom built tank, what are the differences between "good" and "great" tanks?

[HHIslander]

For a custom built tank, what are the differences between "good" and "great" tanks?

I am in the market for a 300 gallon custom build and have been researching the best custom tank makers. Other than the obvious issues (less chance of breaking, better customer service, etc), how can you visibly tell the difference between a Reef Savvy and another "high end but not quite Reef Savvy" tank? Also, I am going to have to use a canopy (wife's call) so does it really matter all that much as the top won't be seen?

Also, thanks for this forum. I've been in the hobby since my first tank in 1980 when I was 12 and had a 55 with an undergravel filter. For my first purchase, the guy at the fish store sold me two clowns and a ritteri and told me "anenomes are hardy." This place is a gold mine and I've learned a lot.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Low iron glass makes the tank look much clearer. Some call it Starfire others use a different name.

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[mcgyvr]

The type of overflow/drain system makes a big difference.. Coast to Coast and Bean animal all the way..

 

[HHIslander]

The type of overflow/drain system makes a big difference.. Coast to Coast and Bean animal all the way..

Thanks, I am thinking of going with with a C2C but leaving 10 inches on the sides for returns. 90 x 26 x 28 tank. Smooth weir. The local builder told me a synergy shadow type box is quieter? Your thoughts? I kind of wrote that off due to his not really wanting to guarantee his sealing of the external box or that it won't fall off. Particularly after I found this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFoSXMRgnDA

Also, I am going with starphire all the way. Thanks.

 

[HHIslander]

The type of overflow/drain system makes a big difference.. Coast to Coast and Bean animal all the way..

Thanks, I am thinking of going with with a C2C but leaving 10 inches on the sides for returns. 90 x 26 x 28 tank. Smooth weir. The local builder told me a synergy shadow type box is quieter? Your thoughts? I kind of wrote that off due to his not really wanting to guarantee his sealing of the external box or that it won't fall off.

Also, I am going with starphire all the way. Thanks.

 

[dkeller_nc]

So I can't really answer that question definitively, as it runs a continuous gamut from folks like Reef Savvy that build tanks that can survive an earthquake to folks like Glass Cages that make tanks that satisfy the criteria "holds water" (sometimes).

But here's your calculation. A 90" x 26" x 28" tank is going to be an expensive beast, no matter what. Reef Savvy is going to be near the top as far as expense; Miracles perhaps a little less so, but still up there.

So, if you save $2k out of $8k on the total cost, especially knowing that you're going to spend at least that much on equipment and livestock, will it be worth it if you wait on the tank 6 months and it's not what you hoped for?

P.S. - BTW, running most of today's lighting fixtures in a canopy is a major no-no. You may need to re-think that idea, or plan on a tank-top to ceiling enclosure canopy that is actively vented.

 

[HHIslander]

So I can't really answer that question definitively, as it runs a continuous gamut from folks like Reef Savvy that build tanks that can survive an earthquake to folks like Glass Cages that make tanks that satisfy the criteria "holds water" (sometimes).

But here's your calculation. A 90" x 26" x 28" tank is going to be an expensive beast, no matter what. Reef Savvy is going to be near the top as far as expense; Miracles perhaps a little less so, but still up there.

So, if you save $2k out of $8k on the total cost, especially knowing that you're going to spend at least that much on equipment and livestock, will it be worth it if you wait on the tank 6 months and it's not what you hoped for?

P.S. - BTW, running most of today's lighting fixtures in a canopy is a major no-no. You may need to re-think that idea, or plan on a tank-top to ceiling enclosure canopy that is actively vented.

Thanks, I've narrowed it down to Reef Savvy, Miracles, Coast to Coast and Crystal Dynamics. The consensus here is that Reef Savvy is the best, just not sure what makes their tanks better than the others. They have the longest lead time, really don't wait to wait that long if there's some good reason why they are the better than the others. This is a huge project for me, I'm about to retire. I want this to be the best damn tank I've ever had and I've got $50k set aside for it. I don't want any remorse down the road, I have a 125 right now and I went cheap on a few things in the past and regret it. Cheap never works in the long run in this hobby, at least not for me.

I'll have a large (15" at least) open back canopy with Kessils (wife must have shimmer) using their canopy mount, I have LEDs on my current 125 with a 9" canopy and it hasn't been a problem with an open back. Never even knew they weren't supposed to go inside of canopies. There's no negotiation on the canopy issue unfortunately, I'm married. I'd go rimless/euro with a floating canopy if it was entirely up to me.

 

[dkeller_nc]

Then personally, I'd go with a Reef Savvy. From what I've personally seen, they're built extremely strong, and for a size tank that you're talking about, I'd guess that it would be reinforced on the bottom seams as well as being euro-braced around the top. I've never heard of a failure of a Reef Savvy tank, though I also haven't done a massive 'net search to determine whether my perception is correct or not.

Yeah, waiting on something for 6 months stinks, but what I'd personally do in the meantime would be to setup something different that's a challenge, and somewhat small scale so that it's easily manageable. Depends on your interests, of course, but something like an IM 40 that was dedicated to a carpet anemone and a harem of clowns sounds appealing, an ultra-nano like the various "reef bowls" that you can view on YouTube, a non-photo-synthetic tank, a coldwater tank, or even an exotic algae tank would be a few ideas.

I'd guess, btw, that a true open-back canopy wouldn't create any real issues as far as heat buildup. It will be hard on a lot of LED units simply because of the greatly increased humidity over what it would be over an open tank, but some of the LED units are pretty well sealed against this eventuality - Radions come to mind.

 

[moondoggy4]

Will it be difficult to get the tank in the house? I have seen lots of photo's of people doing stairs and turns, if so a very heavy tank can be a real problem.
Crystal Dynamic makes a real nice tank and they like to over build there tanks, they are in Ca so they like Euro Brace tanks, ie earthquakes in Ca. Reef Savvy tanks are gorgeous, it depends are your timeline.

Our club here in So Cal that host RAP, there are a lot of AGE Aquariums.

 

[reefteaser]

On the LED mounting issue, I've had a Reefbreeder 50-V2 in a canopy about 9" above the water for over two years and so far no I'll effects. The canopy is cut out so that the fixture sits flat across the top and the back is open, just close to the wall. Very low profile.