Help Choosing Tank Please

[ronaldvalente]

So I have done quite a bit of research and unfortunately I can't make up my mind. I need to ask on the great minds of RC to help out here as I have not built a reef setup before. (I have had freshwater and planted tanks for over 20 years).

I am looking for a tank no wider than 36 inches, I have narrowed it down to a short list:

• Marineland 60G 24x24x24 Frameless RR ($279)
• Marineland 65G 36x18x24 RR ($369)
• Deep Blue Edge 57 RR 36x18x20 ($349)

Deep Blue Opinions
I am a little weary of the Deep Blue tank as per some reviews, but they all seem old. The dimensions are nice and they have starfire glass on the front. It is nice that it is rimless, but its not frameless. I do NOT like Deep Blue stands at all.

Marineland Opinions
I am very familiar with Marineland aquariums and trust the brand. I am not totally sold on the cube idea but I think it could be very slick looking. I do like the Marineland stands, I have one on my 75G tank and it is sharp.

Marineland has both Framed and Frameless reef-ready tanks to choose from.

The 60G with overflow is $279 and the matching stand is $229. If you use the tank on the matching stand, it has a lifetime warranty which is nice.

• Marineland Stand
• Marineland Frameless

What I am looking for

• How are cube tanks? Do they function well for reef tanks?
• Should I steer clear of Deep Blue all together?
• Is a frameless going to look that much better?
• Are there any good lighting options for a 30" wide tank?

Resources

• Article on Marineland's Frameless Tanks

Thanks in advance for your ideas, I will be going to the store this weekend to purchase this (hopefully).

 

[James77]

I have a Deep Blue tank for my 75g, and I like it as much as an Aqueon tank. Their glass covers are thin glass, but the build quality of the tank I was impressed with. Mine was from an ongoing sale of 75g at $99 each. It has been really hard not to buy 50 of the friggin things.

There is nothing about a cube that would make it not good for a reef. Of the above, I would go with the Marineland 65g because I prefer rectangular tanks, and it has the most volume. Does the 65g offer the same lifetime warranty? If not, consider asking for it....you never know if they would do it to get more business

 

[Fizz71]

Based on those choices I'd go for the Marineland 65G. Cubes are nice looking, but I always want the most length I could fit. I also wouldn't bother with a cube unless it's a tank I know I will be walking past on multiple sides. If it's just against a big flat wall it's a waste IMO...you'll hardly ever see it from the sides.

Is there a reason you didn't look at other rectangle tanks like the Deep Sea Aquatics 90 Gal. Aquarium (36x24x25)? That would give you the 36" length but more width (front to back) to stack rock and get light loving corals up higher. Having only 18" front to back but 24" to the bottom of the tank (36x18x24) is a bit narrow for my taste if I have better options. DSA makes a 36" 50g bow front too.

 

[ronaldvalente]

Based on those choices I'd go for the Marineland 65G. Cubes are nice looking, but I always want the most length I could fit. I also wouldn't bother with a cube unless it's a tank I know I will be walking past on multiple sides. If it's just against a big flat wall it's a waste IMO...you'll hardly ever see it from the sides.

Is there a reason you didn't look at other rectangle tanks like the Deep Sea Aquatics 90 Gal. Aquarium (36x24x25)? That would give you the 36" length but more width (front to back) to stack rock and get light loving corals up higher. Having only 18" front to back but 24" to the bottom of the tank (36x18x24) is a bit narrow for my taste if I have better options. DSA makes a 36" 50g bow front too.

Good points here, I don't believe that I can get anything but Deep Blue or Marineland locally. I really would like to steer clear from ordering and shipping a tank for this build if at all possible.

 

[Fizz71]

Good points here, I don't believe that I can get anything but Deep Blue or Marineland locally. I really would like to steer clear from ordering and shipping a tank for this build if at all possible.

Makes sense...where are you? DSA is in Dallas, Texas but I can get them at 20 different LFSs way up here in Reading, PA in under an hour drive.

And what about lighting? The advantage of a 24x24 cube is that it can be lit with a single MH pendant. A 36xAnything will need 2 MHs. I'd still personally prefer the 36" but it's something to consider if you're going with MH.

Just remember...the tank (and stand) is the ONE thing you can't upgrade later without a complete tear-down. So make sure it's what you want...don't skimp to save $100 on shipping (or a short drive) if it means settling for something you'll kick yourself for later!

 

[ronaldvalente]

I will ask at my two LFS for DSA.

I want to light the tank with a BuildMyLED fixture.
http://buildmyled.com, I was thinking two 24" fixtures.
$362 total.

I have a huge footprint freshwater planted tank so I wanted something a little different this go-around.

I like the way the Marineland Frameless tanks look as well.
Custom without the price of custom. I don't want to spend $1k on a Reef Savvy frameless.

 

[Fizz71]

The frameless cubes are sharp...I wanted to plumb one into my 300g setup to hold sea horses but I don't have the funds right now.

..and DSA has a "locate" feature to see how far an authorized dealer is from you.

 

[wicz101]

I vote Marineland 65G 36x18x24 RR

 

[ronaldvalente]

The frameless cubes are sharp...I wanted to plumb one into my 300g setup to hold sea horses but I don't have the funds right now.

..and DSA has a "locate" feature to see how far an authorized dealer is from you.

Ahh"¦ damn too bad the only authorized dealer is one that doesn't even know how to pickup the phone. Worth a shot.

I will take some pictures of the setup once I decide, thanks again for the help!
Here is a pic of my planted tank, made some changes since the picture. (I felt like I needed to add some eye candy to this post)

-R

 

[ronaldvalente]

I am quite disappointed.

I found a 27G frameless marine land tank in my LFS to check out before I pull the trigger"¦ Look at the terrible silicone job. The tank is not even square!

I don't know what to do now"¦

 

[dtssyst]

There are many things to consider and I agree with what another poster has said... "The tank (and stand) is the ONE thing you can't upgrade later without a complete tear-down. So make sure it's what you want."

Please consider some of the following...
Depth and width as this can really help with the aquascape of the tank and placement of corals.
The more water volume you have the easier it is to keep water conditions more stable.
How many lights will you need to evenly light up the tank and ultimately provide light for corals.
Support is not just the stand. Make sure the floor it is going to rest on can support the total weight of the tank and everything that is going into, under, and next to it.
Lastly, get the proper equipment now. Do not skimp now and plan on upgrading it later. You will prevent and or eliminate a lot of problems and issues by doing it right the first time.

I recently upgraded to a 93 gallon Marineland cube and love it. It is the framed not frame less version. Please note that I get to see it from three sides due to it's location in our home.

 

[dtssyst]

I forgot to mention DO NOT RUSH. Patience is very hard in this hobby but the outcome is so worth it.

 

[ronaldvalente]

There are many things to consider and I agree with what another poster has said... "The tank (and stand) is the ONE thing you can't upgrade later without a complete tear-down. So make sure it's what you want."

Please consider some of the following...
Depth and width as this can really help with the aquascape of the tank and placement of corals.
The more water volume you have the easier it is to keep water conditions more stable.
How many lights will you need to evenly light up the tank and ultimately provide light for corals.
Support is not just the stand. Make sure the floor it is going to rest on can support the total weight of the tank and everything that is going into, under, and next to it.
Lastly, get the proper equipment now. Do not skimp now and plan on upgrading it later. You will prevent and or eliminate a lot of problems and issues by doing it right the first time.

I recently upgraded to a 93 gallon Marineland cube and love it. It is the framed not frame less version. Please note that I get to see it from three sides due to it's location in our home.

How is the silicone work on the 93? I want to find out if the one I saw was a fluke/poor job or if its standard practice.

Do you have pictures of the tank?
Thanks,
Ron

 

[dtssyst]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2297477&page=2
Post 29
The photo is from a month or more ago and does not look as sparse as it does in the photo.

The silicone in my tank is nothing like that you show. It is actually very good.

 

[ronaldvalente]

Here is another option"¦ Deep Blue Pro "Edge" Series"¦ just kind of worried about the quality on Deep Blue.

I was thinking either the 60G Cube (24x24x24) or the 57G (36x18x20)

Thoughts?

 

[James77]

Really...don't worry on the quality . At the least it is very similar to Aqueon. Better in some ways...the silicone is cleaner and no bubbles(my 120 has noticeable polish marks on the edge of the glass as well as bubbles in the silicone) . I think mines been set up a year? But I would not hesitate to buy another.

 

[ronaldvalente]

Really...don't worry on the quality . At the least it is very similar to Aqueon. Better in some ways...the silicone is cleaner and no bubbles(my 120 has noticeable polish marks on the edge of the glass as well as bubbles in the silicone) . I think mines been set up a year? But I would not hesitate to buy another.

Jim, are you referring to the Deep Blue or the Marineland?

Thanks,
Ron

 

[James77]

The Deep Blue. Their website:

http://www.deepblueprofessional.com/

My tanks looks identical to what they sell on there in the catalog. I was a little skeptical at first to...again they sell the 75g on special for $99 at my LFS. I don't like the thin glass canopies, and the handles for it were a bit cheapo. But as far as the tank, I have to say it is great.

From what I gather online, they are Royal Pet Supplies...maybe some tie to Oceanic(although I thought Aqueon bought them). Please take that with a grain of salt...that is called Jim internet research and can be prone to being faulty .

No idea on the overflow quality, mine is strictly a tank, that I drilled myself afterwards.