Quote:
Originally Posted by redonimask1
hello i am looking for some advice i have been to 3 different well known shops today and i came up with 3 different opinions on the red sea max 250. i am looking at get a 65 gallon tank setup for some fish and some corals and was looking to have a budget of around 1000 give or take
any thoughts, any advice would greatly appreciated
thanks
dave
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I've had a RSM250 for over a year now... and so far (knock on wood) all has been well. Everything in the RSM250 is still stock (pumps, skimmer, etc.). I am looking though to converting the stock T5 lighting to LED in the next month or so. Replacement T5 bulbs for the RSM250 can cost upwards of $150... and bulbs need to be replaced every year. So with an LED retrofit of around $450... I figure it'll pay for itself in 3 years.
The stock protein skimmer does an ok job. There are better skimmers out there, but it's a good start... and does an ok job at skimming. It's a hassle at the very beginning to get the skimming and water levels working with each other properly... adjusting the back flow gate, while adjusting the skimmer air flow and foam height adjustments.
The tank does run warm, which is combination of heat being produced by the pumps and the T5 lighting. I'm hoping that by converting to LED, the tank should cool down some.
I don't know if you're budgeting $1000 overall, or just for the tank. I purchased my RSM250 new for $1000... but that was well before any of the additional expenses... and there are many... such as salt, live rock, chemicals/additives/test kits, fish, corals (if you plan to have a full reef tank), auto-top-off device, etc.
For me... I've had tropical and cichlid freshwater tanks for years and years. The next obvious progression for me was into saltwater. I've always wanted a reef/saltwater tank, but knew there was a lot to learn, so there was no way I was going to immediately delve into purchasing a 200gal tank so I could experiment with setting up a reef tank. I knew from the onset that I wanted an all-in-one (plug-and-play) tank, and I wanted something around the 50-60gal size... so the Red Sea Max 250 fit the bill to get my feet wet (so to speak) in saltwater/reef. I has been an eye-opening and learning experience, but I don't regret it at all.
Any other questions, let me know... always happy to offer advice.