Which Type of Reef Tank is Best For a New Reefer?

This guide answers which type of tank is best for new reefers, glass boxes, reef-ready, or all. All that is coming up.

There are three basic options when it comes to choosing a tank:

  • A simple glass-box
  • A glass box plumbed to a sump down below (reef ready)
  • All-in-one (the tank with a sump at the back of the tank)

All very different approaches to a saltwater tank. However, 80% or so multi-year refers our there having an aquarium when all the filtration is or a reef ready tank that's often more of a journey than it is a starting point.

Simple Glass Box

Most beginners go for a simple glass box because it is less expensive when looking at the total system cost, with a no sump approach, the filter hanging at the back of the tank, while heaters and other equipment fo in the tank.

It is usually not the most attractive approach, but it could be half or a third of the cost and eliminate the complexity of plumbing a tank. So, it is an easy and affordable path to achieving success as a beginner.

Reef-Ready tank

With overflows and sump, this approach will achieve the following three things:

  • You get a heater and most of the cords out of the tank and all the hang-on gear and hide them down below the tank in the sump.
  • The sump or reef-ready approach will allow you to use high-performance gear and different types of filters like refugium, filter socks, and others.
  • Third, it increases the water volume, making the tank more stable. 

That effect tends to scale down and is less pronounced as the tanks get larger. There is two common way to do a sump-based tank. Once buy it with a reef-ready tower already installed, or drill a tank and add an external overflow.

All-in-one

Here the sump is usually at the back of the tank, also known as the hybrid approach. In this case, it is a compartment in the back that houses most of your pump, heater, and filters. It also makes it easier to run bags of carbon or other filter media, even filter socks or UV down the road.

AIO tanks cost more than a standard tank of the same size but are also cheaper than the overall sump-based approach.

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