buying "reefready" worth it?

[Joel A]

So i need to replace my old POS tank, that has multiple large scratches, an uneven top trim, a patched up crack on the back panel.. etc. etc. I also am currently using an overflow box... which i hate.

I want to do it right, so i'm looking at a brand new tank, rimless, with starfire glass on the front panel, and i want it to have a real overflow....

Now i'm looking at ordering this through glasscages... i understand that some of you have had bad experiences, and do not trust this dealers workmanship.... but recently i have heard a whole lot of good things about them, and i have also seen some of there tanks in person and been impressed. I understand that there are better makers of custom aquariums out there... that would probably be do a better job on the silicone and what not... but they simply are to rich for my blood...

My question is this:
Do i buy reef ready, or do i get the hole drilled myself? To buy reef ready, i'm looking at an extra 110 bucks when it's all said and done (including bulkheads). Now it seems like to me that a lot of people drill there tanks themselves with no issue what so ever, and set up a perfect overflow, with no issue what-so-ever. I'm thinking that doing it myself (or having someone help me) would be cheaper, and maybe even more well done.. what do you guys think?

Thanks.

 

[fanaglethebagle]

The bottom will probably be tempered and I would not risk drilling a tank as nice as that. I would get the reef ready and save the risk of any issues.

 

[Joel A]

The bottom will probably be tempered and I would not risk drilling a tank as nice as that. I would get the reef ready and save the risk of any issues.

i thought of that too... but at the same time, why would they use tempered glass for the bottom pane? Is it cheaper for them or something? I would think that they would construct it just like they would if they were going to make it reef ready, and then simply not drill the hole... but maybe i'm wrong?

 

[fanaglethebagle]

Tempered glass is much stronger and wont crack under pressure.

 

[JayM]

as Andrew said, the tempered glass is needed to support the weight of the water in the tank....

I'd spend the money and have them drill it.....

 

[Joel A]

alright... sounds good. In the big scheme of things what's 100 bucks in this hobby anyways?

 

[s_kelley]

I just went from no overflow, using canister filtration, to a reef ready and couldnt be happier. In my opinion if your going to upgrade why not get what you want right from the company. Then you dont have to risk anything. 100 bucks isnt much and a tank is a solid investment.
definatley worth in in my opinion.

 

[JohnK]

Is the RR qoute of an extra $110 including the overflow box?

IIRC glass cages makes the overflow boxes out of glass, then an acrylic shroud thing over that. Strong, but not the only way to do it.

I'd ask for a quote to just drill the hole, and look into a DIY box (but that's just me....)

 

[JayM]

alright... sounds good. In the big scheme of things what's 100 bucks in this hobby anyways?

a drop in the water change bucket.

 

[afboundguy]

$100 bucks is a few acan frags

 

[Joel A]

Is the RR qoute of an extra $110 including the overflow box?

IIRC glass cages makes the overflow boxes out of glass, then an acrylic shroud thing over that. Strong, but not the only way to do it.

I'd ask for a quote to just drill the hole, and look into a DIY box (but that's just me....)

yeah, the 110 extra is with the standard "glass wall overflow" drilled holes, and bulkheads included. Maybe i should just ask for the drilled holes, and bulkheads and see what they get me for that?

I ideally just want the standard black acrylic overflow wall that you commonly see... just like the one you put into that tank at the DIY presentation.

 

[Dave McReeferson]

The bottom will probably be tempered and I would not risk drilling a tank as nice as that. I would get the reef ready and save the risk of any issues.

Tempered glass is much stronger and wont crack under pressure.

as Andrew said, the tempered glass is needed to support the weight of the water in the tank....

I'd spend the money and have them drill it.....

This really depends on the construction method used for the tank, I would think it unlikely they would use tempered glass for a custom built tank, but, that is easy to determine, just ask the guys who are building it.

Even if the bottom is tempered, you can always just drill the back. I actually think going this route results in a nicer setup in some situations.

I wouldn't pay $100+ to have someone else drill a hole or two for me, but that's just me, it depends on how comfortable you are with drilling it yourself (a pretty simple job IMO). There are 16 holes in the bottom pane of my tank, and 4 in the sump, and while building the thing was a bit nerve racking at times, I never even thought twice about drilling the holes, that's a walk in the park.

 

[Joel A]

This really depends on the construction method used for the tank, I would think it unlikely they would use tempered glass for a custom built tank, but, that is easy to determine, just ask the guys who are building it.

Even if the bottom is tempered, you can always just drill the back. I actually think going this route results in a nicer setup in some situations.

I wouldn't pay $100+ to have someone else drill a hole or two for me, but that's just me, it depends on how comfortable you are with drilling it yourself (a pretty simple job IMO). There are 16 holes in the bottom pane of my tank, and 4 in the sump, and while building the thing was a bit nerve racking at times, I never even thought twice about drilling the holes, that's a walk in the park.

well that was my original thought.... maybe i could just call and ask... and if they were going to do it with tempered glass i could ask them not too?

I personally have never drilled holes, nor seen it done first hand, so i would want someone to help me with it who has experience, that's for sure... it seems simple enough, but i'm not sure if my comfort level is there yet...

 

[Dave McReeferson]

if they were going to do it with tempered glass i could ask them not too?

It depends on the construction method they use to build the tank.

 

[Joel A]

well, i'm assuming since they offer reef ready, they could give me an untempered bottom.. since they would use one in a RR tank anyways... but i guess i'd have to ask.

 

[American Flyer]

I just bought and installed a glasscages tank. I plan to post pictures when I am finished with the project. It is plumbed and filled with water now. Anyway, the tank... I a really happy with mine. The silicone job was a little messy but, I did not mind as it is recessed into the wall. I think I paid around $320 for a 50 gallon custom tank. It is drilled 2 each 1.5" holes. I am very happy with the way the drilling was done and how they built the overflow box. I purchased sch. 80 bulkheads from them. Only my front panel is starfire. If you call them, they will work with you and build anything you want. Like I said, I plan to post some pictures in the DIY forum later this week so you can see the tank if you'd like.

 

[sciknen]

once i get some money together and some more corals..i plan on buying a few of their coral tanks..B has them at his shop and they look great and do the job

 

[loru1588]

Commercially available tanks, for the most part, are almost always tempered glass now. (Okay, is that redundant?) Reef Ready tanks are drilled and THEN tempered. This has been a cause of many a busted tank over the years (people thinking it's drilled therefore I can just drill a few more holes !). A quick way to spot tempered glass is to wear polarized lenses and ( I know this sounds stupid, but...) move you head from shoulder to shoulder and if you see a "netting" appearance on the glass it's tempered. If you were to drill it yourself, the cost of the diamond bits may be $100 anyway. If you had a store drill it they usually charge $30 per hole and no guarantee if the tank goes kaput ! Which could take days. My 2 cents get it Reef Ready from the get go. Not worth 50 gallons of H2O on the floor and the cost of a new tank & equipment if it goes bump in the night !!

 

[Sokretys]

Iiiinteresting. Has NO idea that even drilled reef ready tanked are still tempered? Any idea what it is they do to the glass to temper it?

As far as going reef ready or not? In general, i prefer a skimmer box mounted on the rear of a tank. Especially on smaller tanks. The reef ready overflows take up a pretty significant amount of sand bed and one way or another you are aquascaping around it. with the rear mounted overflow your options for aquascaping are nearly endless. i mean...how many of us are constantly changing the rockwork for like the first 6 months to a year until we get it juuust right...just my 2 cents..

Btw, fwiw...you can get glass bits pretty cheap on ebay. ive used the yellow ones you will find. They are a few dollars more than the standard silverish ones. but they are a more rugged and wont get dinged up. ive found that they can drill a few more holes.

The bits you can get for the 80-100 range are only worth the money if you are setting up a storefront...or see the need to be drilling 30+ holes. For diy purposes the cheapo ones are amazing. if the hole is taking more than 6-7 minutes with no more than 2 lbs of pressure...its time for a new bit.

Like Dave was saying...drilling glass is really no sweat at all...just take ur time. allow the bit to do the work..after all..you are grinding the hole out..not cutting it. the thicker the glass the easier...anything 20 gallons or larger is cake.

I didnt see johns diy presentation but from what i saw from picks...if you still wanted to go the floor to ceiling route. you could just drill the hole in the bottom of the back panel and work your plumbing that way. easier to have glasscages yeah...but nothing beats diy

 

[fanaglethebagle]

IIRC tempered glass is double cooked at a certain temperature to make it harder.