Red Sea? Water box? Direct buy? LFS? ‍♂️

[Sean Clark]

$800 is almost one Radion XR30. Which route is the cheapest? Online, direct or through LFS?

Or lots of other great lights... let's not limit ourselves.

 

[DerekPino]

$800 is almost one Radion XR30. Which route is the cheapest? Online, direct or through LFS?

On line and or direct. It blew my mind that my LFS didn’t even want to talk about cash to save some sales tax

 

[Jeffcb]

On line and or direct. It blew my mind that my LFS didn’t even want to talk about cash to save some sales tax

They are not a official Red Sea dealer if they are trying to charge you above MSRP. Look up dealers on RS website and buy there. You will pay MSRP plus discounts if you purchase other Red Sea Items. Don't buy one from a none Red Sea dealer beacause it may be several years old. Possibly an older version. Who every you buy it from doesn't mater. A freight company is going to drop ship it to your homes front door .... You are not going to pick it up at a LFS.

For your LFS to become an official Red Sea Dealer they must have a fully functional RS tank set up and running with all available equipment.

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hi! My name is Derek but my friends call me D. So please feel free.
I’ve had a 32 bio cube for over 7 years now. I’ve done very well with it and for the most part I love it. I’ve learned, often times, the hard way what will and what will not thrive under the hood of a BC and it’s limited lighting. 7 years of diligent water changes. 7 years of giving my Kenya tree…well, let’s just call it grooming on a regular basis. And everyone I know in the hobby has some frags from my Kenya trees. It’s been wonderful but alas, I’m pretty much done. Can’t really add anything, there’s really no room and that’s one of the joys of the hobby.
so I’m looking at a new tank.
I think the Red Sea 250 would be just the right size for my apartment and everyone I talk to tells me to do my own lighting.
ok, great. I’m going to buy a new Red Sea!
Ewwwww… lol look at the water boxes that have mysteriously appeared in my Facebook feed? It’s like they knew I was thinking about purchasing a new thank…Hmmmmm
Talked to my LFS. Oh yeah get the Red Sea, we know nothing about the Water Box! Looked on line. Lots of opinions. Lots of prices. There’s only about an $800 dollar difference between buying on line, direct and going they my LFS! If it were a few bucks surrrrrre! I’d buy at my local fish store but $800? That’s a lot of live rock, a good chunk of the new lights or at least some really cool new corals and or fish. So, any opinions on RS? WB? Where to purchase and what light packages you’d buy?
TIA,
D!

Hi D and Welcome! Glad you joined. I started planning tank, but then found someone leaving hobby and selling everything, so all plans changed and I saved a LOT of money and they got some money towards their daughter's college costs. Why not also keep an open mind and begin watching craigslist, local forum, etc:

Local Reef Club Discussion

Looking for some locals to share frags and info with? This is the place! Find a local club that meets in your area! If you want to add your club just contact us.

www.reef2reef.com

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[geckoejon]

Hey D,

I did a lot of research between the two, and went with Waterbox 180.5 for several reasons… All pros for Waterbox = The stand is made of plywood instead of particle wood, the stand has leveling feet, the supply has 2 outlets instead of 1, the top off reservoir is SO much easier to use, the stand is several inches taller factory, and RS had some busted seam issues lately... Didn’t see any cons?

I ordered through a lfs, got 10% in credit, and they delivered it & leved the tank / stand.

I went with a 180.5 & it’s cycling now. I had a rs years ago, and the minor improvements are well worth it on the Waterbo, imo. Ask me in a year

 

[DerekPino]

Hey D,

I did a lot of research between the two, and went with Waterbox 180.5 for several reasons… All pros for Waterbox = The stand is made of plywood instead of particle wood, the stand has leveling feet, the supply has 2 outlets instead of 1, the top off reservoir is SO much easier to use, the stand is several inches taller factory, and RS had some busted seam issues lately... Didn’t see any cons?

I ordered through a lfs, got 10% in credit, and they delivered it & leved the tank / stand.

I went with a 180.5 & it’s cycling now. I had a rs years ago, and the minor improvements are well worth it on the Waterbo, imo. Ask me in a year

Great info. Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it.

 

[Flameback Pair]

@DerekPino welcome to R2R!! Personally I can’t speak for Waterbox but I have a RS Reefer 250 and just love it!! Check out my build thread by clicking or tapping the Build Thread Contributor badge underneath my username. I was so glad to get out of the endless number of nano tanks I had. Good luck !!!!

 

[Manny’s Reef]

Hello and welcome to R2R. We sure are glad to have you here.

 

[Adolfo]

 

[Kiwi reefer]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Kimosobey]

Welcome! I recently ordered a Fijicube and had a great experience with them and their tank quality is top notch

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[MartinM]

Welcome! I recently ordered a Fijicube and had a great experience with them and their tank quality is top notch

How would you compare it to Red Sea or waterbox?

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Welcome, you might consider a company that offers an aluminum stand with the tank. I am not a fan of MDF wood stands cause water destroys them in case of contact.

 

[radreef02]

Just bought my RSR 200xl. All the issues I had with it that many others complain about seemed to be user error and just takes some tinkering, 0 issues with it now. Quiet , no leaks, no gurgling.

I really enjoy the tank, super clean look and great quality. And about the busted seams , maybe it was a bad batch . Nothing that Redsea wouldn’t take care of if it was an issue. I think it’s a great company and tank. Comes down to personal preference

 

[Heather Kastory]

WB lover here..you may want to think about buying through coral store if cost is same..some offer rewards..WWC here in Orlando has a good one and i know they represent WB. Its a win win..IF you decide on that manufacturer. BTW..welcome to the group!