Custom 125 Rimless Build

[Goby13]

I have decided to go ahead with a custom 125 rimless build and wanted to get some feed back as the tank build progressed.

I have decided to go with a Rimless 125 from Great Lakes Aquarium in Warren, Michigan.

I liked their build a little better than Glass Cages mostly bc of the beveled rim and overflow options. Does anyone have any experience with this company? 4-6 weeks lead time.

The tank is is 60.5"x24 1/8"x24". I go back and forth on lighting. Does anyone have a tank this size with any suggestions? I'm tired of experimenting and wasting money on bulbs and leds. I need to get a light and stick with it!

And the sump, I'm in love with the Royal Exclusiv Dreambox, but the air freight is 600 from Germany. They still don't have a distributor in the US. So I am still in the air. Most people are function over form... I wish I was.

I am going top end on this and hopefully that will be all for a while. I'm tired nickel and dime stuff.

Any suggestions are welcome for the light and the sump. My plan is to have a mixed reef.

 

[ZIGGY63]

can't wait to see this come together.

 

[Rob.D]

I don't know anything about the tank builders.

I have used MH, T5, and LED's, for me LED's are the way to go.
I ran a Radion Gen2 for about 6 months and I was not too impressed with it, I replaced the Radion with a Ocean Revive Arctic fixture and I'm totally impressed with growth and color on my corals.

Please hit up Rick @ Synergy Reef Systems, he manufactures his sumps in Murfreesboro and uses American made acrylic and IMO, they are the best looking and functional sumps around, his ATO box and reactors are worth a look at also.

https://www.facebook.com/SynergyReefSystems

Synergy Reef Systems!, Laser Precision Acrylic!

 

[k2parkstar]

I agree on synergy making nice sumps. I'm a fan of T5's myself. Only thing I would consider is led t5 hybrid but those are costly. Sounds like an awesome build!

 

[gwhook]

I am also a fan of my T5s. I have LED, T5, and MH. My T5s and MH are my first two choices.

 

[Goby13]

I actually just took a look at the geisman hybrid and the ATI hybrid... That is one expensive light!! 3200 for the 60"!

I'm running the radion pro gen 2 right now, so the lighting is the last step. Still trying to choke down the 2-3k for the Royal Exclusiv Dreambox... But the bubble king and red dragon speedy return pump may make it worth it! I'll have to list my vertex alpha 170 if I do. I've never seen the sump in person but the quality and silence of the alpha may be all the testimony I need

 

[Esage]

Sounds like it's going to be a nice build.

 

[Wildman]

Are you going to have a canopy? If so you could build your own LED/T5 with dimmer control for way less.

 

[Goby13]

I had a DIY with dimmer from Rapid LED, I wasn't a fan of all the wires!

 

[Wildman]

I feel ya. If you spend a little extra time you can drill your heat sink and run all the wires in the channels and dress it up really nice. You will have quite a bit of time invested but you end up with a product the equals the best stuff on the market.

 

[Siasl]

This is a little late to chime in, but I learned from Royal Exclusiv that they are (have already) opening up a Florida warehouse. This allows them to ship stuff in bulk to the US and save all of us in TX charges. I am actually talking to them presently about a replacement part for a skimmer and also a custom sump. They just throw the purchased item in their monthly container - you get a longer wait time, but lower shipping costs...

 

[k2parkstar]

Bump for pics!!

 

[ohio reefer]

I do not have any personal experiences with the company, but I have seen over 100 tanks made by them. They're only about 30 mins away from me since the move, and I'm picking up a 300 gallon around Christmas. The tanks I've seen have been amazing and the owners have been very happy. It seems everyone in the reef clubs up here have at least one tank through them.