mmorrison55
Community Member
I’m experiencing analysis paralysis. Trying to think about the best way of setting up a new tank is starting to get overwhelming.
1st it was, and still is designing the tank itself.
I’ve settled on waterbox custom with an external overflow, and it will be sitting on an 80/20 stand with the heavy duty roller/caster leveling feet. I’ve kept going back and forth on the tank size 3, 4, 5, 6 ft vs cost of the upkeep for the different sizes. I’ve settled on 5ft (60 x 24 x 21).
After the display, I’ve been all over the place on whether I would be using their sump and plumbing or buy an aftermarket or custom sump and do my own plumbing. Initially I was leaning towards the latter, but think after seeing some videos of how nice their sumps are built, and that waterbox also offers custom sumps and plumbing, I’m now leaning heavily towards letting them do it. Cost wise, I don’t think I could do it cheaper for what I’m looking for by going aftermarket.
So I would say i’m about 80% there on the display, sump and plumbing, but my gosh, I don’t know where to start with everything else. I’m really getting overloaded looking at all the options.
The pump:
based on the online feedback, I’m planning to go with dual return pumps (another reason why being able to customize the sump will be nice). Initially I was looking at the smaller royal exclusiv speedy 3s, but has anyone tried to navigate their website? OMG. I realize they are a German company and I’m sure a lot of my issue is being lost in translation, but it’s not an easy site to navigate nor understand what’s available. Plus two of the Speedy’s would still be a lot of money vs two eco techs, two Neptune cors or something else. I suspect if I remain with this for a few years, I’ll end up with some kind of controller, so I’m leaning towards getting the cors now, and I can add the controller later, but if I do go the cor route, then I would likely be picking the Neptune apex as my controller and would need to loan everything else around that infrastructure or end up having to sell everything down the road and buy new for the apex.
Having two pumps allows me to go with two UVs down the road and be able to tune the flow to fight algae and parasites at the same time.
Skimmer:
My biggest requirement for the skimmer is it being ozone compatible and easy to drain and clean. But still too many choices.
My top 3 (at the moment):
Reef ultra akula
Adaptive reef
Reef octopus elite
Fleece roller:
I’m going pretty cheap here. The reef factory medium has received pretty good reviews and looks easy to changes the rolls, and has a fairly small footprint.
Lights:
I’m on the fence but leaning towards the Kessils. I like the heavy shimmer look.
But also could go with radeons or orphek icons. goin on the Looks of the light fixture alone, I think the icon is hard to beat. But man o man, that’s one heavy light to be suspending over a tank.
Then all the other gear I will need to get started…
I’m glad there are so many options, but at the same time, wouldn’t mind an easier process.
Did you guys go through this as well and have any advice to reduce the information overload?
1st it was, and still is designing the tank itself.
I’ve settled on waterbox custom with an external overflow, and it will be sitting on an 80/20 stand with the heavy duty roller/caster leveling feet. I’ve kept going back and forth on the tank size 3, 4, 5, 6 ft vs cost of the upkeep for the different sizes. I’ve settled on 5ft (60 x 24 x 21).
After the display, I’ve been all over the place on whether I would be using their sump and plumbing or buy an aftermarket or custom sump and do my own plumbing. Initially I was leaning towards the latter, but think after seeing some videos of how nice their sumps are built, and that waterbox also offers custom sumps and plumbing, I’m now leaning heavily towards letting them do it. Cost wise, I don’t think I could do it cheaper for what I’m looking for by going aftermarket.
So I would say i’m about 80% there on the display, sump and plumbing, but my gosh, I don’t know where to start with everything else. I’m really getting overloaded looking at all the options.
The pump:
based on the online feedback, I’m planning to go with dual return pumps (another reason why being able to customize the sump will be nice). Initially I was looking at the smaller royal exclusiv speedy 3s, but has anyone tried to navigate their website? OMG. I realize they are a German company and I’m sure a lot of my issue is being lost in translation, but it’s not an easy site to navigate nor understand what’s available. Plus two of the Speedy’s would still be a lot of money vs two eco techs, two Neptune cors or something else. I suspect if I remain with this for a few years, I’ll end up with some kind of controller, so I’m leaning towards getting the cors now, and I can add the controller later, but if I do go the cor route, then I would likely be picking the Neptune apex as my controller and would need to loan everything else around that infrastructure or end up having to sell everything down the road and buy new for the apex.
Having two pumps allows me to go with two UVs down the road and be able to tune the flow to fight algae and parasites at the same time.
Skimmer:
My biggest requirement for the skimmer is it being ozone compatible and easy to drain and clean. But still too many choices.
My top 3 (at the moment):
Reef ultra akula
Adaptive reef
Reef octopus elite
Fleece roller:
I’m going pretty cheap here. The reef factory medium has received pretty good reviews and looks easy to changes the rolls, and has a fairly small footprint.
Lights:
I’m on the fence but leaning towards the Kessils. I like the heavy shimmer look.
But also could go with radeons or orphek icons. goin on the Looks of the light fixture alone, I think the icon is hard to beat. But man o man, that’s one heavy light to be suspending over a tank.
Then all the other gear I will need to get started…
I’m glad there are so many options, but at the same time, wouldn’t mind an easier process.
Did you guys go through this as well and have any advice to reduce the information overload?
