What should my next tank be?

[enlighten]

Considering a few options. I am not sure what I want to be honest so help me decide!

40g breeder or 60g breeder with the fiji cube 20L drop in AIO siliconed to either middle back or one side.

For the 40, i would go visio from LFS for 120 and get a stand on amazon. 60s are 220 at petco for the aqueon and doesnt look like they are putting those on sale anymore.

Waterbox 75g Frag - 1st generation - comes with stand and sump, and plumbing - 500

SCA 85g with custom stand, no sump - 400

Space is maxed out at 4 x 2 footprint, but ideally I would go smaller as that would be right next to outlet (and would need a gfci upgrade instead of the plugin one I typically use, renting so landlord gets involved. He did this before for my 29g tank.

There was another BAR member with a fiji cube 32 INT for sale, but i would have to travel for it (located in Clovis). Guilty of being a CVR (almost defunct) group member, we have FRAG but also, no where on the level of BAR, only a barely active facebook group.

Last option is a 22g fiji cube EXT, i have a stand and 15g icecaps sump ready to go for this setup, but its not really much of an upgrade from the 20g AIO innovative marine tank that I am trying to replace. I could just not upgrade and redo my 20 AIO. I have a large supernova bta taking up half the tank which is why I am even considering upgrading. and I want to move the LPS out of my SPS dominant tank as well.

I have 2 MP10s, and equipment to cover this setup. Just need to decide on the tank. Plan is for the nem and LPS to live in harmony. Maybe a softy or two but those are all being sent to the 15g IM mangrove tank. Toadstools will not last long in there LOL.

The other reason for the new setup is to document the process as well. About to hit my 3 year anniversary for Saltwater/Reefing so with the amount of knowledge and passion I have gained from those years of failures, I feel confident to share my way of reefing as a guide for some newbies in the ocean of information that already exists XD I have also considered doing it in Spanish as well, but I also need to learn more Spanish.

Thank you for reading, all insights, suggestions, and comments are welcome as well as appreciated!

 

[GeeksReef]

I think ur best bet is as big as possible without being too expensive to maintain. going from small tanks to a normal size tank has been light and day with stability and coral growth.

 

[H2OPlayar]

Bigger is easier...once it is in place.

Think about where you want the tank to be and how big you want it, then wait for that system.

Another month or so of patience on the used forum might yield some surprising results in terms of gallons of the system per dollar. There are often steals of people getting out of the hobby/moving and letting stuff go for pennies on the dollar if you are willing to make it easy for them.

 

[SupraSaltyReefer]

Easy choice. The Waterbox 75g Frag setup is the best option.

 

[enlighten]

Easy choice. The Waterbox 75g Frag setup is the best option.

An added note, the 85G SCA is 40" x 24" x 20" and comes with a custom stand. It will also include a small frag tank and 2 HMS mounts.

 

[Jakeller]

Easy choice. The Waterbox 75g Frag setup is the best option.

I second this. I have the newer infinia model and absolutely love it

 

[jhuynh]

unsure of your budget, but innovative marine has their black friday sale. 20% - 50%.

 

[SupraSaltyReefer]

An added note, the 85G SCA is 40" x 24" x 20" and comes with a custom stand. It will also include a small frag tank and 2 HMS mounts.

If that footprint works for you than go for it. You mentioned it doesn't have a sump. So for the extra $100 of the Waterbox that includes a sump and plumbing which you can plug and play is why I said the WB is the better choice. Plumbing can bet expensive.

I'm assuming the Waterbox is the Waterbox Platinum Frag 80.4, 48x24x12" model?

 

[enlighten]

If that footprint works for you than go for it. You mentioned it doesn't have a sump. So for the extra $100 of the Waterbox that includes a sump and plumbing which you can plug and play is why I said the WB is the better choice. Plumbing can bet expensive.

I'm assuming the Waterbox is the Waterbox Platinum Frag 80.4, 48x24x12" model?

I believe so, it has passed between 2 other reefers. but those are the dimensions.

 

[SupraSaltyReefer]

12" height is the only downside. Not much room to work with if you want to keep tall corals and for fish to swim.

With any used tank, always make sure to check silicone seams, scratches, chipped corners, bulkheads, plumbing, stand condition, etc.....

 

[enlighten]

12" height is the only downside. Not much room to work with if you want to keep tall corals and for fish to swim.

With any used tank, always make sure to check silicone seams, scratches, chipped corners, bulkheads, plumbing, stand condition, etc.....

Yeah, 12" is way too short. If it is the 16" version that would be perfect. I need to double check.