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Biocube vs DIY...opinions?
Posted: 05 Jun 2008, 09:13
by fishfool
Hello,
Next month I am going to start my first reef tank ever. I want to go nano or semi nano and am looking at either the 29 gal. Biocube or a DIY setup with either a 10 or 20 gal glass tank, buying everything seperately. Can I ask for everyone's opinions on both options please?
I will have medium light corals easy for beginners e.g. Polyps &
Zoanthids, Mushrooms, ect.
Possible (eventual) fish: coral catfish, 1-2 clowns, 1-2 small dragonette's or gobies, clean up crew.
Thanks in advance!
Re: Biocube vs DIY...opinions?
Posted: 05 Jun 2008, 11:37
by racoll
Hi.
I have never set up a reef tank, but in principal when setting up any tank I always go DIY.
With the off-the-shelf tanks, you have limited scope to modify or customise the equipment should your or the livestock's needs change.
I always buy all my equipment separately, this way developing and adapting the tank becomes a lot easier, less expensive and more flexible.
On a side note, if by coral catfish you mean
, then these are in no way suitable for a nano tank. They get to over a foot long and are a shoaling species.
Re: Biocube vs DIY...opinions?
Posted: 07 Jun 2008, 09:37
by Barbie
If you're going to go for a reef tank, go with the biggest tank you can. The wider the footprint is from front to back, the more natural the rockwork will look, along with allowing you to create better flow. If you go DIY with a halide, the light "spread" is going to be about 2', so you might as well utilize that light with a cube style tank. The red sea biomax tank has a built in skimmer, as does the new Current Solara tanks that are frameless with a pendant halide and a built in top off chamber. It really depends what you want to end up with, to be honest. Just knowing you want it to be a reef tank isn't going to be enough information. Do you want to do soft corals? Do you intend to do regular water changes or want it to be more low maintenance? Figuring out what you want the end product to be will definitely help you be happier with your end product.
Sites I recommend for reef tank information would be http://www.reeffrontiers.com and http://www.reefcentral.com . Just remember that the volume of information there can make it a little confusing. Don't get discouraged! They can be very rewarding!
Barbie
