IM Nuvo or Waterbox or Red Sea

kevin.st said:
To be clear, my tank is the older version with T5's instead of Hydra's.

I have replaced return pump, skimmer, lights, removed the built in powerheads and added 2 mp40's. That's at least $2k right there.

I wish I would have just pieced together my own setup.
Click to expand...

That stinks!
Well the reefer series only includes:
Tank
Sump
Stand
ATO

The Red Sea like has come a long way imho
 
Justintegra said:
i live in the South Bend area and unfortunately there is NOWHERE around here that I can go see all of these tanks setup. I'm debating between the exact same brands for my next big tank next year (48 or 60 inch)
Click to expand...

If you are willing to drive a couple of hours go the Ark in Merrillville, IN. They have Waterbox and Red Sea
 
Yea, I make it to the ark every 2 months or so to get something or the other. I haven't seen water box, but they only seem to ever have one red sea set up, and it's usually the 250 or if you are lucky, the 350. I'd like to see a 525xl, for instance.
 
Justintegra said:
Yea, I make it to the ark every 2 months or so to get something or the other. I haven't seen water box, but they only seem to ever have one red sea set up, and it's usually the 250 or if you are lucky, the 350. I'd like to see a 525xl, for instance.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I have seen Waterbox there before. The largest setup I saw there was a 350.

I am actually considering a 250 now. I didn't realize the 350 was 4 ft long. I'll have to check the wall I am putting this setup on, but I believe 3' will fit better. Plus the 250 is $400 cheaper than the Waterbox 100.3, and I don't think the extra 14 gallons is worth that.

So I am leaning towards the Red Sea 250 or 350 at the moment. I would like to consider the IM but I think the Red Sea and Waterbox are a notch above for quality
 
Indiana Reefin said:
So I am leaning towards the Red Sea 250 or 350 at the moment. I would like to consider the IM but I think the Red Sea and Waterbox are a notch above for quality
Click to expand...

Go with the biggest option you can physically squeeze in, i'm kicking me self in the butt for not going for the 450 and settling for the 250.

Visually unless the wall is really short and the tank will takes the majority of it, it will look small. I'm really not liking the the 250s dimensions.

350 seems much nicer aesthetically to me. May sound silly, but take two large towels and fold em to more or less their animations and see what fits the wall better or lol (iv done it) cut out dimension in a piece of paper and use your cell flashlight to project the size of the tank onto the wall.
 
Szar said:
Go with the biggest option you can physically squeeze in, i'm kicking me self in the butt for not going for the 450 and settling for the 250.

Visually unless the wall is really short and the tank will takes the majority of it, it will look small. I'm really not liking the the 250s dimensions.

350 seems much nicer aesthetically to me. May sound silly, but take two large towels and fold em to more or less their animations and see what fits the wall better or lol (iv done it) cut out dimension in a piece of paper and use your cell flashlight to project the size of the tank onto the wall.
Click to expand...

I hear ya. I do like the looks of 3' long tanks. Plus lighting will cost significantly more on a 4' long vs a 3' long tank.
For instance:
I was planning on putting either a Nanobox Quad or two hydra 26 HD over the 250. The quad or the hydra 26's is not enough for the 350. I could do a 36" ATI hybrid fixture over the 350 but that will cost significantly more. Plus I like the looks of hanging the lights off the back of the tank not from the ceiling or wall.
I have a little while and I really need to think about this
 
Indiana Reefin said:
I would like to consider the IM but I think the Red Sea and Waterbox are a notch above for quality
Click to expand...

I'm in a similar spot. I really like the dimensions of the IM 100. It's like a deep blue 80, but just the perfect height. If I wasn't concerned with it exploding I'd likely get it.
 
For what it's worth I've run an IM Nano and a Pico for many years and have had no issues (despite the odd horror story). I would definitely buy IM again.
 
Cdogsailr said:
For what it's worth I've run an IM Nano and a Pico for many years and have had no issues (despite the odd horror story). I would definitely buy IM again.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback. A lot of people have their tanks and they look nice. But I am putting his tank upstairs and I can't afford to have a tank leak or blow out
 
I have the APS stand, it is well built, make sure you get a real good idea of amount of room you have to put a sump in it. You can remove the side panel and install see through smoked acrylic panels in there instead. I would also get the extra shelf if they make it for your tank.
 
currently have a reefer 425 xl .. its a love hate thing.
the tank is dead silent when setup right.
sump is a little small meaning external equipment in some cases is easier .. but its still very workable .. i think the quality isnt to bad.
the cabinet is easily marked and looks taddy after a day or two.
filter sock compartments are odd sized so you have to buy red sea stuff .. 3.5 inch over 4 inch .. i wanted a klir filter but im stuck with media cups & socks for now till i modify it.
glass isnt as clear as some tanks ive seen in all honesty.
overall its quite good though,
BUT !!!! IF i had to do it again the best quality tank ive seen in person are the cade pro reefs closely followed by waterbox .. the cade pro reefs are immaculate.

1, cade
2, waterbox
3, red sea

ive seen them all in person many times both new at shop and setup/running .. and the cade has so much workability compared to waterbox/red sea.
they really are in a league of there own when you actually see one in person.




my next will be the Cade PR1800 6 footer when my blue tang outgrows the 425 xl.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
 
4x4cubereefer said:
currently have a reefer 425 xl .. its a love hate thing.
the tank is dead silent when setup right.
sump is a little small meaning external equipment in some cases is easier .. but its still very workable .. i think the quality isnt to bad.
the cabinet is easily marked and looks taddy after a day or two.
filter sock compartments are odd sized so you have to buy red sea stuff .. 3.5 inch over 4 inch .. i wanted a klir filter but im stuck with media cups & socks for now till i modify it.
glass isnt as clear as some tanks ive seen in all honesty.
overall its quite good though,
BUT !!!! IF i had to do it again the best quality tank ive seen in person are the cade pro reefs closely followed by waterbox .. the cade pro reefs are immaculate.

1, cade
2, waterbox
3, red sea

ive seen them all in person many times both new at shop and setup/running .. and the cade has so much workability compared to waterbox/red sea.
they really are in a league of there own when you actually see one in person.




my next will be the Cade PR1800 6 footer when my blue tang outgrows the 425 xl.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Wow thanks for the feedback!!
Those Cade aquariums look amazing! Do they sell in the states?
 
moondoggy4 said:
I have the APS stand, it is well built, make sure you get a real good idea of amount of room you have to put a sump in it. You can remove the side panel and install see through smoked acrylic panels in there instead. I would also get the extra shelf if they make it for your tank.
Click to expand...

Yeah the APS stands look awesome! I will have to see more positive reviews on the 75 INT before I consider IM
 
Indiana Reefin said:
Wow thanks for the feedback!!
Those Cade aquariums look amazing! Do they sell in the states?
Click to expand...
they were overseas in the past few weeks as there website was partially closed for business trip .. dont quote me on it but it was around the time of macna .. im not too sure though as i havent looked into it too much being australian myself but in saying that you could see them over there in 6 months to a year if there not already there as far as i know .. but hands down from top to bottom they are amazing and i cant wait to get my hands on one once my regal outgrows the reefer .. they really are a shelf above qualitywise .. the only thing i can knock about them is the glass doors if they get salt creep on the black painted back it will knock the paint off over time but nothing some clear vinyl/contact trimmed & laid over the top cant fix vefore setting it up.

waterbox the quality is also there and the glass is much more clearer then the reefers .. but the reason they are no.2 for me is there sump while there are positives like the line to input your calcium reactor/media reactors, a good sized refugium .. standard sized plumbing for any mods where as red sea is odd sized plumbing not much real space for a fuge - i run a chaeto reactor/gfo .. while not too bad at all i feel there is room for improvement the ATO chamber is very small in comparison to tank size "just like the reefers" either tank for ease of use id suggest an external drum/tub .. and in the waterbox if you were planning on automating waterchanges like i do that last chamber where the you have the ATO is the only part where a consistent water level is & the only proper place to automate it where the fish have no idea whats going on its quite small so daily water changes will only be of a very small volume & not worth it with my reefer its the other way around and i can automate a 25% weekly change up to 50% or more through daily changes via an auto aqua ato touch where all i have to do is fill & mix my fresh saltwater once a week straight into the tub .. no more carrying heavy buckets etc just kick back and relax let it fill with rodi .. add salt mix it and walk away.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
 
Thanks!!
I pretty sure they use the same glass on both Red Sea and Waterbox. The factories are literally right across the street in China....
I guess the biggest benefit to the 350 vs the 100.3 is the 48" length, as apposed to the 36" length. If I have the room for an extra foot, this will give me more options on fish.
4x4cubereefer said:
they were overseas in the past few weeks as there website was partially closed for business trip .. dont quote me on it but it was around the time of macna .. im not too sure though as i havent looked into it too much being australian myself but in saying that you could see them over there in 6 months to a year if there not already there as far as i know .. but hands down from top to bottom they are amazing and i cant wait to get my hands on one once my regal outgrows the reefer .. they really are a shelf above qualitywise .. the only thing i can knock about them is the glass doors if they get salt creep on the black painted back it will knock the paint off over time but nothing some clear vinyl/contact trimmed & laid over the top cant fix vefore setting it up.

waterbox the quality is also there and the glass is much more clearer then the reefers .. but the reason they are no.2 for me is there sump while there are positives like the line to input your calcium reactor/media reactors, a good sized refugium .. standard sized plumbing for any mods where as red sea is odd sized plumbing not much real space for a fuge - i run a chaeto reactor/gfo .. while not too bad at all i feel there is room for improvement the ATO chamber is very small in comparison to tank size "just like the reefers" either tank for ease of use id suggest an external drum/tub .. and in the waterbox if you were planning on automating waterchanges like i do that last chamber where the you have the ATO is the only part where a consistent water level is & the only proper place to automate it where the fish have no idea whats going on its quite small so daily water changes will only be of a very small volume & not worth it with my reefer its the other way around and i can automate a 25% weekly change up to 50% or more through daily changes via an auto aqua ato touch where all i have to do is fill & mix my fresh saltwater once a week straight into the tub .. no more carrying heavy buckets etc just kick back and relax let it fill with rodi .. add salt mix it and walk away.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
why not go for a 425xl its a 90 gal display and imo a better choice then the 350 volume wise for fish with the same length.
Indiana Reefin said:
Thanks!!
I pretty sure they use the same glass on both Red Sea and Waterbox. The factories are literally right across the street in China....
I guess the biggest benefit to the 350 vs the 100.3 is the 48" length, as apposed to the 36" length. If I have the room for an extra foot, this will give me more options on fish.
Click to expand...

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
 
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