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

[JdubC]

Mine is not like that. Hinges should have tiny screws for making adjustments. Probably shifted during shipping

Agreed. Not a huge issue. I’m confident I can fix.

 

[SocalReefer760]

There’s a little screw on the hinge that needs to be tightened to correct the sag. Mine sagged a bit and just tightened it a bit and it corrected it

 

[VintageReefer]

Pics of ATO lid, nice touch is the lid slides back to fill without having to remove the whole lid. Convenient, I like it

 

[JdubC]

Pics of ATO lid, nice touch is the lid slides back to fill without having to remove the whole lid. Convenient, I like it

Nice. I reached out and they are sending mine with the pumps I ordered. Really digging the little touches. Too bad they decided not to pursue these as a long-term product.

 

[VintageReefer]

Nice. I reached out and they are sending mine with the pumps I ordered. Really digging the little touches. Too bad they decided not to pursue these as a long-term product.

I agree, there’s a lot of little touches, the tank and stand are beautiful, they could have competed against any of the other tank vendors

 

[JdubC]

Two things I’m contemplating.

1. Should I run the emergency drain over to the larger area of the sump so it is noisy in case of a main drain failure? The plumbing it comes with puts it in the first small chamber along with the main drain.

2. Anyone thinking about lids yet? The ghost overflow is quite tight to the top of tank and pretty much flush if the small lid is on. Might prevent an inset lid. Perhaps a cutout?

 

[VintageReefer]

I have two companies that can make lids that I’m talking to. Different approaches and costs

 

[JNalley]

I have two companies that can make lids that I’m talking to. Different approaches and costs

Kraken? ClearView? TopLids? I've dealt and bought lids from the first two... I would go with Kraken again if it weren't for the fact that their lids must come in two pieces if over 24" in one dimension.

ClearView was a nightmare... The lid they sent was incorrect, one of the cutouts in the back was in the wrong spot, and I didn't want to go through another ridiculously long wait for a correction. Took a Dremel to it to fix it. Their lids are also much thicker than I expected, especially compared to the kraken, the edges are not polished either, and the feed door is a joke... I definitely wouldn't buy from them again... I'm even considering going to TopLids to have them make a lid to replace the ClearView... Tenecor was supposed to be getting into the lid game, but they bailed on the project before they ever got it off the ground.... This space needs more competition

 

[VintageReefer]

Kraken? ClearView? TopLids? I've dealt and bought lids from the first two... I would go with Kraken again if it weren't for the fact that their lids must come in two pieces if over 24" in one dimension.

ClearView was a nightmare... The lid they sent was incorrect, one of the cutouts in the back was in the wrong spot, and I didn't want to go through another ridiculously long wait for a correction. Took a Dremel to it to fix it. Their lids are also much thicker than I expected, especially compared to the kraken, the edges are not polished either, and the feed door is a joke... I definitely wouldn't buy from them again... I'm even considering going to TopLids to have them make a lid to replace the ClearView... Tenecor was supposed to be getting into the lid game, but they bailed on the project before they ever got it off the ground.... This space needs more competition

Top lids claims to be able to make it but they say the price would start at 340$ and go up form there with options, and they have a 2 month lead time, and have screwed over forum members. I question if I would take the risk and use them

My Etsy guy that made my 75g lid said he can and has made lids for 48” before. He said he can do up to 33” before needing to use alternate methods. I asked what that means and he said

Sorry I should have been more clear. I have done tanks over 33 inches.
Not that specific tank. But yes I have made lids for 48” frameless tanks. I make a lip around the lid and it will sit on the rim


I am awaiting example photos and price quote

 

[VintageReefer]

@JNalley

My lid guy for back with a quote for this tank:

It would be roughly $100 and would have to be in two sections. Two sections will also make it sturdier and will not bow.


Sooo still two independent lids, which could make it easier to work with. And price can’t be beat. For 100$ I could live with it

 

[JNalley]

@JNalley

My lid guy for back with a quote for this tank:

It would be roughly $100 and would have to be in two sections. Two sections will also make it sturdier and will not bow.


Sooo still two independent lids, which could make it easier to work with. And price can’t be beat. For 100$ I could live with it

Yeh, on a 36" tank I much prefer a single lid design. Even on a 4 ft tank a single piece lid for me is just better... I can see why a 5ft or larger tank would be beneficial in 2 pieces though... That is a pretty decent price for a polycarbonate lid though

 

[VintageReefer]

Yeh, on a 36" tank I much prefer a single lid design. Even on a 4 ft tank a single piece lid for me is just better... I can see why a 5ft or larger tank would be beneficial in 2 pieces though... That is a pretty decent price for a polycarbonate lid though

I have a 36” freshwater bow front with a single piece glass lid, no issues there. And my 75 is eurobraced so I’ve been using two lids for…a decade and am used to it

I like being able to open a section and not worry about a fish jumping out the other half

100$ I think I’m gonna go for it

 

[VintageReefer]

Ok let’s talk socks. Does anyones socks fit? My cut outs are 3.75” and my socks are 4” with a lip. The entire sock section is 4” and the socks don’t fit in even if I took the top piece out.

Which is another nice touch. I didn’t realize the black acrylic with the 3 circular sock cutouts is removable. Makes it easy to clean, or to use the section for something else. That insert is a tight fit though so be careful inserting/removing

Seller pics show socks that fit, sooo did I get the wrong ones?

 

[VintageReefer]

Heater placement in this sump?

Poll.- best place for heater

500w. Titanium heater. What’s the best spot? I was thinking A but it’s a small volume area with rapid moving water, water might pass through without being heated enough. What would you do?

www.reef2reef.com

I was thinking A or B to keep it out of the way in the main section. Where’s everyone putting their heater?

 

[JdubC]

Ok let’s talk socks. Does anyones socks fit? My cut outs are 3.75” and my socks are 4” with a lip. The entire sock section is 4” and the socks don’t fit in even if I took the top piece out.

Which is another nice touch. I didn’t realize the black acrylic with the 3 circular sock cutouts is removable. Makes it easy to clean, or to use the section for something else. That insert is a tight fit though so be careful inserting/removing

Seller pics show socks that fit, sooo did I get the wrong ones?

You may have gotten the wrong socks?

Cutouts are 3.75” on mine and socks slide right in and fit snug in holes.

I’m planning to replace with filter cups and fill with bio media or rubble.

Good catch on the insert being removable, will be helpful.

 

[JdubC]

Heater placement in this sump?

Poll.- best place for heater

500w. Titanium heater. What’s the best spot? I was thinking A but it’s a small volume area with rapid moving water, water might pass through without being heated enough. What would you do?

www.reef2reef.com

I was thinking A or B to keep it out of the way in the main section. Where’s everyone putting their heater?

I was definitely thinking A, but now am worried about flow.

I am also thinking about rerouting the emergency drain so it runs to C, so that would give more room to maneuver in A and access the heaters (edit: thinking 2 - 500w Hygger for redundancy).

Maybe B would work if I only use two filter cups and leave the back one empty for heaters? Or, since the whole filter sock piece is removable, could just make it an open space and pile some bio media/rubble rock and then heaters there.

Definitely want to leave C for a refugium, so am thinking heaters can’t go there. Unless that is a faulty assumption.

 

[VintageReefer]

So close

 

[VintageReefer]

I was definitely thinking A, but now am worried about flow.

I am also thinking about rerouting the emergency drain so it runs to C, so that would give more room to maneuver in A and access the heaters (edit: thinking 2 - 500w Hygger for redundancy).

Maybe B would work if I only use two filter cups and leave the back one empty for heaters? Or, since the whole filter sock piece is removable, could just make it an open space and pile some bio media/rubble rock and then heaters there.

Definitely want to leave C for a refugium, so am thinking heaters can’t go there. Unless that is a faulty assumption.

I also would like to avoid C if possible. I will have a skimmer, turf scrubber, bio media, possibly rock. It’s just getting too crazy in c

A fits perfect. I like this but my concern was too much flow, but the one comment in the poll thread makes me think high flow might be better. What’s your flow concern ?


B also works but can get close to the sock if you don’t mount it back towards the pane




I can’t reach my hand into A if it’s on the bottom. New idea. It could always be vertical in A

 

[JdubC]

I also would like to avoid C if possible. I will have a skimmer, turf scrubber, bio media, possibly rock. It’s just getting too crazy in c

A fits perfect. I like this but my concern was too much flow, but the one comment in the poll thread makes me think high flow might be better. What’s your flow concern ?


B also works but can get close to the sock if you don’t mount it back towards the pane




I can’t reach my hand into A if it’s on the bottom. New idea. It could always be vertical in A

My flow concern was similar to yours, but that last post makes sense to me as well. Was definitely thinking vertical in A.

Will still route emergency drain to C, so A will have more room.

Thanks for raising the issue and making the poll. Was good to see the responses and different thinking.

 

[VintageReefer]

Ok two updates!

1) seller tells me that the socks fit and I need to flex the black piece to get them to snap it. It’s snug to be water tight. Sure enough. It worked! But now I can’t get the black piece in the sump. Seer is sending me a video. Anyone else experience this?

2) their “large buyer” fell through. They have 18 left and are enabling the 10% off sale until April 1! No coupon needed! And works for the plumbing kit also!

No plumbing kit 1259 shipped!


With plumbing kit 1439 shipped!