ridetheducati August 22, 2011 August 22, 2011 I am looking to upgrade my Oceanic 180g to at least a 300g. April 2011, a fellow reefer upgraded to a Marineland 300g (6Lx3Wx2H)and the bottom pane cracked and flooded his basement. Marineland replaced the tank with another tank, which after careful inspection, the second tank had a three inch scratch or crack on the front corner pane. Marineland replaced the second tank and the reefer is setting it up this week. I wish him luck. I was considering purchasing a 300g from Marineland, but I question their craftsmanship. Are there any other manufactures that make a glass 300g (6x3x2) in the $1500-$2000 range? I am also considering acrylic 8x3x2, although acrylic has its disadvantages. BTW Glasscages is NOT on the short list.
flowerseller August 22, 2011 August 22, 2011 If high intensity lighting is being used, GO GLASS. If you will not be using high intensity lighting, acrylic can be fine. You will appreciated glass once coraline algae starts and you can use a razor blade to remove it. You can not do so with acrylic unless you don't mind the bejesus being scratched out of it.
zygote2k August 22, 2011 August 22, 2011 I work on large tanks 400- 600g range both in glass and acrylic. The glass tanks are so much easier to not scratch and as Chip said, coralline algae is way easier to remove. Plus if you order a real nice acrylic tank in that size, it'll cost as much or more than a Starfire tank. Of course you can always cheap out and get a thinner acrylic but it'll bow out and might even pop or push the cabinetry around- I've seen both happen.
ridetheducati August 23, 2011 Author August 23, 2011 (edited) Can anyone recommend a glass manufacture in the $1500-$2000 range? The Marineland tank is $1700. It will be a SPS dominated system. Edited August 23, 2011 by ridetheducati
Der ABT August 23, 2011 August 23, 2011 a friend has 2 300g DD marinelands and loves them, i actually asked him about the rumors of breaks as he just set up the 2nd 300g about 2 or 3 months ago. he had not heard about the tons of breaks just yet but didnt seem too concerned, his other 300 was over 2 years old and been great. Ive heard more breaks happen when the marineland stand is not used but if they are replacing them it sounds as if their stand was used. kinda scary but man those tanks are nice when they are running. I didnt realize how long the DD have been around, one of his friends had one for over 5 years. I just wanted to point out the warranty stuff in case you were planning on doing your own stand. i hope someone has some suggestions if only you lived in vegas you could get a quote for a tank that left enough room to put your TV in your tank and they could still make a profit. good luck and keep a good pic thread going when you get it.
roni August 23, 2011 August 23, 2011 There really isn't a tank in that range to be honest. You're looking at 3K-6K once you factor in shipping and delivery. That's why the 300 DD is such a good seller. FWIW, there are a lot of people with 300 DD that have good experiences but I think there was a bad batch about a year ago as a couple tanks in richmond failed at the same time.
ridetheducati August 23, 2011 Author August 23, 2011 (edited) Sounds like the Marineland is the only reasonable game in town. The build will begin in October. I was going to build my own stand, been doing it for years. Edited August 23, 2011 by ridetheducati
Vadim August 23, 2011 August 23, 2011 talk to NAGA on the boards. he builds acrylic tanks. does an excellent job and very knowledgeable about acrylic. Not that anybody else on this board is but he builds tanks.
DaveS August 23, 2011 August 23, 2011 I had my 210 built by AGE- Acrylic Glass Exhibits in TX. Black Mammoth had his 300 done by them too. Excellent craftsmanship. They also offer the hybrid PVC bottom/Glass sided tank. No worries about the bottom pane. Fins and Feathers is the local retailer for them.
Der ABT August 23, 2011 August 23, 2011 im pretty sure that if you use your own stand it voids the warranty on the tank but could be wrong, just dont want you to find it out the hard way
zygote2k August 23, 2011 August 23, 2011 Don't go cheap on a nice glass tank. If you have a catastrophic failure of a bottom panel, you'll spend more than the cost of the tank in water damages. If you want a very nice, sturdy, professional built tank, go with Coast to Coast or Miracles. I work on several of these and they are outstanding as far as quality of build.
ridetheducati August 23, 2011 Author August 23, 2011 Miracles quoted me more than $5,000 for a 300g starfire, eurobracing and coast-to-coast overflow with curbside delivery. I always insure my reef(s), so the tank can crack if it wants,State Farm will pick up the pieces. For those listening, a generator and insurance is a must for any system worth $1,000 or more in equipment.
DaveS August 23, 2011 August 23, 2011 Based on the price for my 210, I suspect AGE may cost a good deal less. IIRC mine was less than half what you were quoted- eurobracing, external overflow, and all.
roni August 23, 2011 August 23, 2011 A.G.E. was about $5K for a 300ish gallon tank when I got a quote. These quotes seem to be all over the place. After the earthquake, maybe I should go with an acrylic tank!
ridetheducati August 23, 2011 Author August 23, 2011 @DaveS, How long have you had your 210? Trying to judge inflation rates. I will give A.G.E. a call, but if its price is equivalent to Miracles, I have to pass. $5,000 for glass is steep.
DaveS August 24, 2011 August 24, 2011 I got mine about a year and a half ago I think. Can look at my build thread for dates and photos.
Black Mammoth August 24, 2011 August 24, 2011 A.G.E. was about $5K for a 300ish gallon tank when I got a quote. These quotes seem to be all over the place. After the earthquake, maybe I should go with an acrylic tank! That's crazy! Mine is a 325g and was WAY cheaper than that. I had them make a stand as well. All of that shipped was around $5k.
DaveS August 24, 2011 August 24, 2011 That's crazy! Mine is a 325g and was WAY cheaper than that. I had them make a stand as well. All of that shipped was around $5k. That's what I was thinking. roni, who quoted that AGE for you?
roni August 24, 2011 August 24, 2011 (edited) That's what I was thinking. roni, who quoted that AGE for you? I was wrong. Just went through my pms again. 5K was coast to coast. I got so many quotes that all the numbers ran together. A.G.E was about $4K delivered to my door, ~3500 to the store. I think if you go with the 36 front to back depth, it's really hard to beat the marineland DD tanks. When you stay with 30", all the other tanks become much more competitive. I also only got quotes on rimless tanks with coast to coast overflows. I think if you go with a more standard tank, the price would be lower. Sorry for the confusion. I would definitely get quotes from the different people. I've had quotes change within 2 weeks from the same company. BTW, anyone want to volunteer to help move a ~300 gallon tank in 2 months? I don't even know how to start with something like that other then renting the truck from home depot Edited August 24, 2011 by roni
Der ABT August 24, 2011 August 24, 2011 BTW, anyone want to volunteer to help move a ~300 gallon tank in 2 months? I don't even know how to start with something like that other then renting the truck from home depot I have an open aluminum trailer thats got a 16 or 18ft bed if you need to borrow it (i wouldnt mind driving but also would want the understanding that i am in no way liable though it would be a slow drive), some blankets for padding and tie downs would make it complete. and i would think it would actually work well (what are the dimensions (if not that big i could always borrow the sister f250 with an 8 ft bed.) sorry to get off track , but i would think you could do an almost coast to coast (middle of tank or something for alot cheaper but then again ive only dreamed of going this big and bigger.
roni August 24, 2011 August 24, 2011 I have an open aluminum trailer thats got a 16 or 18ft bed if you need to borrow it (i wouldnt mind driving but also would want the understanding that i am in no way liable though it would be a slow drive), some blankets for padding and tie downs would make it complete. and i would think it would actually work well (what are the dimensions (if not that big i could always borrow the sister f250 with an 8 ft bed.) sorry to get off track , but i would think you could do an almost coast to coast (middle of tank or something for alot cheaper but then again ive only dreamed of going this big and bigger. don't want to get too off track...pming you.
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