Need Help Deciding! New Tank!

[BlindZide]

I need y'alls honest opinions here. So I am currently running 2 tanks. A 75G LPS tank and a BioCube 14 Mixed Reef. I have always gone about piecing the tanks together. Recently I upgraded some equipment in my 75G: ReefBreeders and a Maxspect Gyre. My wife asked me if there was a way to buy a tank that comes with everything so that I wouldn't have to keep buying things. Kinda like my BioCube. She says I never buy anything for it (I don't, already has what I need). I looked around and came across 2 tanks that I like. The CAD Lights 70G Artisan II and the Red Sea Max Reefer Deluxe 350. Pros and Cons of each:

CAD Lights-
Pros-

• Tank
• Stand
• Sump
• Skimmer
• Return Pump
• Glass Cover (Should I care about this?)
• All Plumbing
• Refugium with Light

Cons-

• No Lights (I have a ReefBreeder Photon 32 v1 I could use)
• Extra $100 for LampTree
• Extra $25 for Filter Sock (Can buy cheaper online)

RSM Deluxe 350
Pros-

• Larger Tank (73G vs 70G)
• Stand
• Sump
• 2 AI Hydras
• 2 Light Mounts
• Integrated ATO
• No Glue Plumbing
• Filter Sock Included

Cons-

• No Refugium
• No Return Pump (I have a JeBao I could use)

Or I could do the RSM Reefer 350 (non deluxe) and just use my ReefBreeders as lights and save about $900. Any and all input is appreciated reefers!

Thanks!

 

[slyseekr]

Since it seems like your 75 gallon is set up with some nice equipment, and you have perfectly adequate equipment you could piece into a new system, I'm just curious why you'd not want to go for a larger tank?

Otherwise...

I think the lack of refugium for the Red Sea (and even CAD Lights) is a non-point (same for the filter socks). I'd actually want to eventually upgrade the provided sump to a Trigger Systems.

 

[BlindZide]

While going larger seems like a wonderful idea, I enjoy the size of the 70ish gallon tanks. The thoughts of going larger freak me out. Weight of the tank and such being that is on the middle floor of a townhouse and the basement is finished. Wife would pummel me for tearing it up to add more support. The equipment in my 75G is decent. It isn't bad but the brace is cracking in 2 spots. Now I could just replace the tank but who would do that when the Wife says buy everything new!

 

[slyseekr]

Thanks for clarifying, makes more sense to me now.

For the price, I'd personally go with the CAD Lights since you'd still be able to customize your lights. To me the tank and stand are pretty equal, and you could easily make up the missing 3 gallons by increasing the volume in the sump.

My one major gripe with the CAD: I don't like that the sump's chambers all have the same water height.

The Red Sea does have better plumbing and a better designed sump. But the price without lights makes me want to consider other high end manufacturers like ELOS.

Still would want to swap out the sump for a Trigger Systems, but I'm projecting since that's on my personal upgrade list for my tank, haha!

 

[on the spot]

Of those two options I'd prefer the CAD for the footprint. It's not as wide, but it's deeper.

Depth is undervalued.

 

[BlindZide]

Of those two options I'd prefer the CAD for the footprint. It's not as wide, but it's deeper.

Depth is undervalued.

I can see depth being something desired. Like staring off into the darkness of the ocean.