RedSea Max 34G system

SomethingFishy · 11-01-2006, 12:18 AM

Has anyone checked out this new RedSea Max system yet??

My LFS guy was going off about how sweet it is and he has ordered some in for the store. I was ready to throw down the cash for the Oceanic Biocube29 untill I heard about this new one. Honestly I'm considering the Oceanic BioCube29 and I think I will go with that. I think I might upgrade to a MH light for the price I would save instead of the MAX. It's about a $400 dollar difference in price.

Any coments would be great.

Also do you require a skimmer?? I know the Max comes with one, but I thiought I would run the BC29 without and see how it works first.

**CarmieJo** · 11-01-2006, 12:36 AM

Hi SomethingFishy,

to TR.

I can't comment on the 2 systems but I will say that I think a skimmer is a great help in maintaining your tank. But there are quite a number of people who don't use one and are successful.

**Amphibious** · 11-01-2006, 10:04 AM

SomethingFishy,

to Talking Reef community and Podcast.

I can't comment on either system, not familiar with them. I would recommend you use a skimmer, though. I'd also recommend you ask people here to comment on brands of skimmers for Nano tanks because not all skimmers are efficient in smaller sizes.

doctorthompson · 11-01-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomethingFishy

Has anyone checked out this new RedSea Max system yet??

My LFS guy was going off about how sweet it is and he has ordered some in for the store. I was ready to throw down the cash for the Oceanic Biocube29 untill I heard about this new one. Honestly I'm considering the Oceanic BioCube29 and I think I will go with that. I think I might upgrade to a MH light for the price I would save instead of the MAX. It's about a $400 dollar difference in price.

Any coments would be great.

Also do you require a skimmer?? I know the Max comes with one, but I thiought I would run the BC29 without and see how it works first.

Welcome to TR, SomethingFishy!

The BC29 looks shallow enough to allow you to keep quite a few types of coral with only CF or T5 lighting.

I'd say use some of that $400 you save on a decent skimmer, especially if you're going to have any fish in there with your corals, then make the move to MH in 6-8 months or so (when your tank has matured and you feel the need to add species with higher light requirements) and the rest of it on a couple of decent powerheads, high quality live rock, good substrate, etc...

Is this your first reef tank?

doctorthompson · 11-01-2006, 10:58 AM

Here's how one person modified their BC29 to fit a Tunze Nano DOC 9002 skimmer.

... and a few more BC29 modifications.

SomethingFishy · 11-01-2006, 12:13 PM

You Guys(and Gal) are quick and awesome!! I guess I better put some ca$h away for a skimmer than. I was thinking a Tunze???

I have a 110G which was a full reef setup with MH and CO2, but I have it setup for a Predator tank. I wanted this 29G for fraging corals and more so just for corals and inverts.

I just thought I would get the MH for this new tank because I know how important lighting is and I got really frusterated with my other tank because the LFS sold me these half a??ed compact lights and than I had to get MH any way. I would sooner rather spend the money and do it right the first time.

doctorthompson · 11-04-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomethingFishy

I have a 110G which was a full reef setup with MH and CO2, but I have it setup for a Predator tank. I wanted this 29G for fraging corals and more so just for corals and inverts.

Were you thinking of plumbing the 29 into the same system or will it be separate?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomethingFishy

I just thought I would get the MH for this new tank because I know how important lighting is and I got really frusterated with my other tank because the LFS sold me these half a??ed compact lights and than I had to get MH any way. I would sooner rather spend the money and do it right the first time.

If you're going with MH right from the start and you're going to get a skimmer you might not want to shell out the bucks for the BC29, since a good portion of the price is for the integrated lighting/filter system. A normal tank that's 24", 36", or 48" wide (the common widths) will give you a lot more options for lighting systems and other equipment than a custom or odd size tank will. Many decent hang-on-tank style skimmers simply don't fit the various nano-cube products (or you have to Dremel the hood you just paid good money for just to fit the skimmer inside).