Best reef ready tank deal of 2024 - whose looking for a new tank?

[JoJosReef]

I should also mention as well that I met Dennis today (CEO of Current USA before sale to SWA) at his home and shop, which is an enormous well-equipped greenhouse. Seemed very knowledgeable and practical. Was a pleasure doing business with him.

 

[Danthefishman]

If it means anything…Current tested this in house over 2.5 years before going to market with it.

The front overhang is not uncommon because that’s how the cabinet doors end up being flush. The issue with the first generation redseas was a perfect storm. Low grade silicone and an improperly braced stand allowing flex in the front.

Again those “all in one bundles” are typically giving you a lot of cut corners.

The stand for this was designed and made by a cabinet maker/cabinet shop in California. The stands in typical bundles, or off the shelf stands are particle board and cheaply designed. The stand for my aqueon 75 actually has no center brace that spans the front to back of the tank. It’s held together with staples. It’s a miracle this thing has lasted so long.

The quality of the stand is extremely high end, from the materials, to the design, to the little touches, like skinning the entire thing inside and out in waterproof laminate so spills and drips don’t cause any damage. The wood underneath is actual marine grade plywood which is significantly better than particleboard or chip board. And, they made a point to tell me, they designed their tank with 4 full length load bearing vertical braces, where most companies do 2 or 3. It’s overbuilt to prevent any flexing and to last a lifetime

The two center braces limit the sump size but that’s the trade off to have a properly braced stand. They custom designed the sump around the braces for create the largest possible sump to fit that left area. And the sump does appear short, but it is wide and almost the depth of the tank.

I feel they really put a lot of research and planning into this setup, and the end result looks and functions very well

Awesome, it definitely sounds like they put a lot of effort into this. The stand does look much better than the standard, mass produced ones out there. Do you know if I still have to ask them for the revised plumbing that you helped them with? I know you mentioned that in the past.

 

[VintageReefer]

Included automatically

 

[Danthefishman]

Included automatically

Okay, cool. So is the tank really heavy? can you give me a rough estimate of what you think it weighs? Also, can you tell me how tall the stand is please?

 

[VintageReefer]

My shipping receipt attached to the pallet says total weight of the crate is 430 lbs. the crate is screwed to the pallet. I am not sure if the pallet is included in the weight but I assume so

Stand is 36” tall

 

[Danthefishman]

My shipping receipt attached to the pallet says total weight of the crate is 430 lbs. the crate is screwed to the pallet. I am not sure if the pallet is included in the weight but I assume so

Stand is 36” tall

Well I placed my order. I'm really excited, but also nervous lol. This thing looks massive.

 

[VintageReefer]

Well I placed my order. I'm really excited, but also nervous lol. This thing looks massive.

4 average kitchen tiles wide (assuming 12” is average)

 

[JoJosReef]

Anyone take a picture of the bottom of the stand?

 

[JoJosReef]

Sand ordered. Red sea cups ordered. Going with the 1" RFG!

Still need a lid, but that will come once I figure out how to mount the lights and where the Plank will go.

 

[JoJosReef]

Also, did I ask already? Anyone got pics of their wire management?

 

[Danthefishman]

Picked up, and set up in temp space in warehouse, intact!

Not everything is hunky dory, though. I don't like this:

This is the exact problem that Red Sea had with their tanks (as far as my understanding of the situation is). I'm planning on adding something very sturdy that the whole tank sits on top of, laying on top of the stand. Perhaps another piece of wood or a cut piece of steel sheet. Also considering adding an internal eurobrace on the bottom. Hmmm...

Silicone looks very nice, but is very very thin:

I'm used to the IM tanks that have a thick black silicone layer in the corners. Thinking more on the eurobrace at the bottom...

Overall excited about the tank. Looks super nice!

Did they include that return pump with the whole kit?

 

[JoJosReef]

Did they include that return pump with the whole kit?

Bought separately

 

[Danthefishman]

Bought separately

Oh, okay. I heard that someone got a free return pump included awhile back.

 

[VintageReefer]

One person did get a return pump included, it was an extra they had on hand, possibly a demo or one they used while the tank was setup for the photos on their website. You aren’t missing out, the return pump was never part of the bundle, someone just got lucky

 

[JoJosReef]

Regarding the plumbing, part of the plumbing is glued tight, the other part is not. Dennis says you can dry fit it if you want, you don't have to glue it. If there is a drip on that part, it just drips into the sump.

Anyone have experience with this? Should I put some sort of glue on the pipes that aren't already glued? Or just dry fit them together?

 

[VintageReefer]

Do you mean the two elbows at the top left in the pic?

 

[JoJosReef]

Do you mean the two elbows at the top left in the pic?

I believe it is those two, but currently in the UK, so can't check. I've largely left it alone for now. Plan is to get everything together and then start working on the setup mid-July.

Edit: I'm fairly certain it is those two, as he had the cemented ones fit at the angles needed to go into the stand from the overflow box.

 

[VintageReefer]

You could use a wooden mallet to make a really good fit. It shouldn’t leak. And there is no back pressure on the drains (caused by a pump which is a lot of pressure being produces). Those are just gravity drains. And Dennis is correct, if there was an occasional drop it would just drip into the sump.

IMO there’s no reason to glue those fittings

 

[exnisstech]

Laying around I have 3 gen 4 xr15s, return pumps, skimmers and a stock tank full of 8 yo real ocean live rock . I also have a desire to replace my small reefer 170
I think I read the stand is 36" tall so 56" total correct?

 

[VintageReefer]

Laying around I have 3 gen 4 xr15s, return pumps, skimmers and a stock tank full of 8 yo real ocean live rock . I also have a desire to replace my small reefer 170
I think I read the stand is 36" tall so 56" total correct?

Correct