Red Sea Max E-170 or Red Sea Max 200 G2+ for ultra-low-maintenance?
Hello, I have been running 2 RSM 250s for more than a decade. I generally loved them, never had a major issue like a leak, but after that many year - one of the tank is 13+ years of continuous operation, the other 12+ years - they are frankly not change anymore, the equipment is in the "near falling stage" etc, so I decided to downsize to 170-200L (~40 gallons) .
My priorities are: ease of maintenance!
I plan to only keep softies, zoas and some LPS, nothing too fancy or finicky, and a couple of fish, lightly stocking.
I am hesitating between Red Sea Max E-170:
Pros:
I can add below a big ATO and/or try to automate water changes, and or new Red Sea Reef Mat 250 (do I really need it for such a modest reef)? Or I could add refugium to keep eg. shrimps not compatible with my flame hawk (i.e. any shrimp) or grow cheat/culture pods.
Cons:
Supposed to be a previous generation and not completely "plug and play", which would be my preference (has been running my previous RSM in stock configurations other than adding chiller)
or should I get Red Sea Max 200 G2+?
Plug and Play will be my preference, but I am not sure if I am getting here exactly what I want here?
Sump is big, does it includes an top-off container for ATO? If so, how big?
Do I need such a big skimmer and a roller mat for my relatively low maintenance reef?
Is there a place for a refiugium in the sump or not?? BRS website specifically answer this question to say "yes" but Red Sea says it is not "refugium ready" ?!?
I noticed also that both pumps seems stronger on the 200 G2 vs E-170 - is this actually good for a non-SPS reef I am planning to keep? Is lighting the same?
I would be grateful for all comments & suggestions - except to do a DIY tank, I have zero skills and inclination to do it, I definitely want plug & play and I am ok paying extra for it
Hello, I have been running 2 RSM 250s for more than a decade. I generally loved them, never had a major issue like a leak, but after that many year - one of the tank is 13+ years of continuous operation, the other 12+ years - they are frankly not change anymore, the equipment is in the "near falling stage" etc, so I decided to downsize to 170-200L (~40 gallons) .
My priorities are: ease of maintenance!
I plan to only keep softies, zoas and some LPS, nothing too fancy or finicky, and a couple of fish, lightly stocking.
I am hesitating between Red Sea Max E-170:
Pros:
I can add below a big ATO and/or try to automate water changes, and or new Red Sea Reef Mat 250 (do I really need it for such a modest reef)? Or I could add refugium to keep eg. shrimps not compatible with my flame hawk (i.e. any shrimp) or grow cheat/culture pods.
Cons:
Supposed to be a previous generation and not completely "plug and play", which would be my preference (has been running my previous RSM in stock configurations other than adding chiller)
or should I get Red Sea Max 200 G2+?
Plug and Play will be my preference, but I am not sure if I am getting here exactly what I want here?
Sump is big, does it includes an top-off container for ATO? If so, how big?
Do I need such a big skimmer and a roller mat for my relatively low maintenance reef?
Is there a place for a refiugium in the sump or not?? BRS website specifically answer this question to say "yes" but Red Sea says it is not "refugium ready" ?!?
I noticed also that both pumps seems stronger on the 200 G2 vs E-170 - is this actually good for a non-SPS reef I am planning to keep? Is lighting the same?
I would be grateful for all comments & suggestions - except to do a DIY tank, I have zero skills and inclination to do it, I definitely want plug & play and I am ok paying extra for it