Seeking advice

[Huro]

Hello salt people

I am from the freshwater side of the forums and am currently thinking about trying my hand at a reef tank. That being said I am looking for your thoughts/opinions on a tank I have been told would be a great beginner reef tank. It is the Oceanic BioCube HQI Aquarium System 29 Gallon, Oceanic Systems » BioCube HQI | Products. Please let me know what you all think. Thanks

 

[Janssenjr84]

I'm jumping in on this one too! I have been thinking about doing some reef with corals and stuff.

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[ezy33]

IMO spend a bit more and get LED lighting. They cost more upfront but are cheeper to run, last much longer and produce less heat. Good luck!

 

[Macscale]

Bio cubes are now made by Coralife. IMO Biocubes need to upgraded in so many ways for them to be a real reef tank.

 

[Huro]

I have a 16g bowfront that is currently unused and brand new would I better off starting a reef with that?

 

[bribo12]

The biocube a are fine all in one tanks. It's just the halide runs super hot and you may need a chiller. Jbj makes a really nice 28 gallon aio with leds

 

[Macscale]

Oh well Biocubes are nice tanks, they just need to be upgraded. I think the JBJ AIOs are better.

 

[Huro]

This one ? JBJ-USA Aquarium Products

 

[bribo12]

That's the one

 

[Huro]

Well I mean what do you guys think, would it be better to start with my empty tank and just add what I need or go with the bio cube?.

 

[bribo12]

I like piecing things together, so I'd go with the 16 but that's just me. More room to customize than the aio tanks

 

[Huro]

Ok that makes sense to me, thanks for the input

 

[bribo12]

No problem . Keep us updated

 

[Huro]

Anything I should know about or avoid starting besides the standard research stuff? I don't wont to get taken for a ride when it comes time to buy equipment and such.

 

[bribo12]

You don't need a skimmer for that size tank

 

[Huro]

Thanks good to know

 

[bribo12]

Ya just research everything first. And go slow, nothing good happens fast in sw

 

[Macscale]

Bribo covered it well! I don't like AIO, I like picking and choosing all the different things.

 

[Huro]

Yeah I am not one of those folks who want it up and running tomorrow, I just want a miniature reef with a well balanced ecosystem for the size and I want to do it the right way as it will take less time in the end that way.

 

[bribo12]

Although I would love a Red Sea max one day . But yeah customizing is so much better