dtdream

Just a couple of other misc things for your consideration: 1. If you have to wait for your new tank, you can start to cycle your rocks first while waiting so you can shave off cycling time. Just put them in a tub or something with salt water and add an ammonium source. Adding bacteria is recommended but not strictly necessary. Just make sure the tub is clean and preferably not exposed to soap, etc before. 2. For return pump, go DC, not AC. Better controllability and far, far quieter. Only imo relatively more expensive than AC. Just buy DC and thank me later. 3. If you go custom, I'm not too familiar with custom makers nowadays, so other bros can help on this one, but please ensure you will are making apples to apples comparison. Which is that Red Sea uses an "ultra clear glass", I think the custom equivalent is "sapphire glass" (again other bros please correct me if I'm wrong on the name). But yea, not all glass are equal, and its a big part in the cost of a tank.

@alexcyfyea but OP sounds like he want's plug and play from original post. His budget include tank + equipment etc (light + skimmer). The reefer systems he mentioned include light + skimmer (albeit Red Sea ones, which are good enough I suppose, but I think we can all agree there are better and cheaper ones). Btw, I've seen alexcyf tank in person and it really is quite impressive. So if OP you end up wanting to do custom, take a thick notebook and take as much notes as you can from him! Anyway @viper0419, all the bros above providing good advice and I agree with all of what they said. But keep in mind we are all pretty much addicted to reefing here. There are other people who dislike and quit the hobby but their voices are not heard here for obvious reasons. If you have a budget, especially if you have a "boss" around, try to keep within it (even though you most probably won't). Remember, happy wife, happy life. Btw, you can also consider getting a used tank and/or equipment. If you don't see anything you want in buy/sell forum, just be a little more patient. The benefit of going used is if you end up not enjoying the hobby, did not cost as much. Btw, for new Red Sea most likely you'll have to wait too, I waited 2 months for mine. But if you are set in your mind to want to go new, that's fine as well. Just keep in mind what the other bros have said above. With AIO you will be ready to go pretty quickly, and save you some time thinking at the beginning, that's the only benefit I see. But if you end up loving the hobby like the rest of us here, you're going to outgrow it very, very, very quickly. That's the risk you are going to take with AIO. Tanks with a sump, you will need to think abit more on equipment at the start, but it provides more flexibility and should last you longer. But hey, I think above all will agree, if you end up loving the hobby, I guarantee you are going to upgrade whichever choice you choose now anyway, lol.

Actually, it is recommended that you still put chiller outside in any case, regardless of AIO or Sump. Cuz if you put in the cabinet, circulation not so good, so the chiller is not as efficient and will kind of shorten the overall lifespan of the chiller. BUT, I do understand the aesthetic issue, it does look much cleaner inside the cabinet, so just have to monitor closely. I see your point on the other items. Yea I suppose if you want an almost fuss free plug and play system, then the Max Nano or E170 would be ok. But as mentioned, you could consider the innovative marine set ups, they are pretty good systems too. Anyway, if its between the Nano and E170, the question you gotta ask yourself is just basically how many and what type of fishes and corals you wanna keep. If you want just a couple clowns, just go small and learn from there. But if you want a tang or something, then better to go for the bigger tank. (But for tang depends on the type also, you definitely don't want to put a Naso even for the 170).

It really depends on what you want. For example, if you just want a few small fishes like a couple clowns and maybe a few simple corals, then you don’t really need the extra volume and light. If you want to keep more fish, especially slightly larger ones (but still not the largest), and bit more challenging corals, then yea the extra premium will be “warranted”. But if you already considering the E170, why not just go for the 170 with the sump? Sump will be much easier to maintain than AIO actually. It looks cleaner since all your filtration will be below. And with more water volume, system will be more stable. There should be an ATO too for the sump version, which is quite important imo. And.. if you need to change or upgrade anything (eg. Your skimmer), you’ll have more space to do so. BUT, if in your mind this is just a training/play play tank and looking to upgrade to an even bigger tank next time, like reefer 250 or 350 or even custom, then I suppose you can get the smaller one to play first. But I guarantee you you’ll most likely upgrade within the year.

Upz

sold to a nice bro.

Patient and helpful is heng suay. Just avoid a shop in the west please (they will push their own stuff on you). Just go during off peak hours most shops should have more time to help you. Personally, I like SAS, ABA and FnM. But I've seen (luckily not me) the very occasional "bad service" towards others from those shops also la, but they also human ma right. Alternatively ask your questions on the forums, most reefers here are friendly and will be happy to chime in.

Hands down go Red Sea. They have thought about everything regarding overflow, pipe diameter etc. Quality dollar for dollar is also much better. eg. the glass quality. For custom, you still need to think about details which you may not be familiar with especially if you are new. May have hidden cost too.

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Thanks for all interest. Paid and reserved by a nice bro.

Used 3-4 months only.

As per header.

As per title. Please see pics. Pretty much new condition. Invoice date is 3 Sep 2021, under warranty. Just bought to try for a few days. PM if interested, thank you. BRS Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAQykMwkzng Open to offers.

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Upz $10 each!

Upz $250

Upz $250