Scoping out tanks

[Medic755]

I'm looking to start a 150g with a Aqueon model 4 sump next year some time. I'll be building my own stands and the sump will be in the basement so I can add more equipment to it and do automatic water changes as I go on. What are some manufacturers I should look at for a tank and how much should I be anticipating to spend?

 

[domb54]

if your sump is in the basement why not use another tank undress of paying extra for a prefab. cost wise for a150 and live stock looking around 3000 if all new and good equipment. if you want cheaper i would look on c list

 

[texdoc77]

I'm looking to start a 150g with a Aqueon model 4 sump next year some time. I'll be building my own stands and the sump will be in the basement so I can add more equipment to it and do automatic water changes as I go on. What are some manufacturers I should look at for a tank and how much should I be anticipating to spend?

This is kind of like asking how much is a car. There are lots of tanks with varying degrees of bells and whistles. The real question is how much do you want to spend. You can probably find a 150 gallon tank on craigslist for a few hundred dollars. Will it be reef ready? Does it have thick glass? Is it center braced, euro braced or rimless? You can spend thousands of dollars on a custom tank from a custom manufacturer.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Do you want a reef ready tank? Meaning do you want holes drilled in the bottom or back for drain and return?
2. Do you want centerbraced, eurobraced or rimless (google search images)?
3. Does extra clear starphire glass matter to you?
4. Are you OK with standard sizes of tanks, or would you need a custom size?


Once you decide on a budget, and answer these questions you can get a much better idea of if your budget matches your needs.

All of that said I personally like the quality/value ratio of the SC Aquarium tanks.

Hope this helps.

 

[Medic755]

This is kind of like asking how much is a car. There are lots of tanks with varying degrees of bells and whistles. The real question is how much do you want to spend. You can probably find a 150 gallon tank on craigslist for a few hundred dollars. Will it be reef ready? Does it have thick glass? Is it center braced, euro braced or rimless? You can spend thousands of dollars on a custom tank from a custom manufacturer.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Do you want a reef ready tank? Meaning do you want holes drilled in the bottom or back for drain and return?
2. Do you want centerbraced, eurobraced or rimless (google search images)?
3. Does extra clear starphire glass matter to you?
4. Are you OK with standard sizes of tanks, or would you need a custom size?


Once you decide on a budget, and answer these questions you can get a much better idea of if your budget matches your needs.

All of that said I personally like the quality/value ratio of the SC Aquarium tanks.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, it does a lot. I already have the sump which is why I just didn't make my own. I would like a reef ready tank, I was contemplating a ghost overflow as I don't like the ugly towers taking up real estate. The couple places I've talked to to try and get said tank gave me pretty extortionate estimates on a tank drilled for a ghost overflow. I'd like simple centerbraced tank and I'm not really into the starphire glass. Standard dimensions are fine for me as well as that just so happens to be what will fit perfectly in my spot.

 

[Medic755]

Since looking at that website I honestly might just buy their tank. I really like the idea of a bean animal and to be able to get the starphire glass for $50 more than what I was quoted by my LFS is amazing.

 

[texdoc77]

Since looking at that website I honestly might just buy their tank. I really like the idea of a bean animal and to be able to get the starphire glass for $50 more than what I was quoted by my LFS is amazing.

Steve is a good guy to work with. Check out Acer's build thread. He had SCA custom drill for a bean animal and ghost overflow. I just bought one off the shelf and decided to go with a herbie which I am cool with.

 

[Medic755]

Steve is a good guy to work with. Check out Acer's build thread. He had SCA custom drill for a bean animal and ghost overflow. I just bought one off the shelf and decided to go with a herbie which I am cool with.

Just emailed him now. With the dimensions I was thinking about the synergy ghost overflow on the right wall of it which will leave me with plenty of room for more activities.