Designing a new aquarium is an exhilarating experience. There are thousands of possibilities and so much to learn. Some aquarists prefer to pick out each and every piece of their new setup separately. The glass tank, the stand, the sump or filter, all the equipment, plumbing, and lighting may come from different companies, but they get exactly what they want.
Others choose to purchase a fully equipped package with an end goal in mind and don’t mind who made which piece of equipment. They are more concerned with the destination than the journey.
This article is for those of us somewhere in the middle. It's for the aquarists who enjoy some customization when choosing equipment, but rely on professionals to build the right tank, stand, filtration, and even lighting. You will find an ideal aquarium package for easy installation with brands such as Waterbox, Innovative Marine, and Fiji Cube.
These brands offer aquarium kits that include the tank, stand, plumbing, sump (filter) and sometimes even lighting. They still leave plenty of room for personalization and customization to create your ideal freshwater or saltwater aquarium setup.
This article was written without sponsorship from these brands, however, I will focus mainly on their features as they are the three main brands we offer for installation at Boodleshire Aquatics.
Before Buying a New Aquarium Package, Consider the Following for Easy Installation:
The main aspects to consider when choosing an aquarium package are:
The size of the aquarium
Display volume vs. total volume
Footprint
Position of overflow
Type of glass
Plumbing
Size and layout of sump
Stand material
Lighting
Choosing the Right Size and Shape of Aquarium Setup for Your Vision.
The first feature of your new aquarium to consider is the size and shape. Most brands that offer aquarium kits will list a total volume. This total volume is the sum of the volume of the display and the sump together. Therefore, if you want a 90 gallon display tank, the total volume, which includes the sump volume, will be more than 90 gallons.
For example, the Waterbox MarineX 90.3 has a display volume of 59.3 gallons, a sump volume of 31 gallons, equaling 90.3 gallons of total volume.
The shape of the aquarium is also important. Some models are perfect cubes, while others are shallow and long rectangles, and some are deep, front to back. The type of livestock you plan on keeping, and the overall aquascape you desire, will be one of the driving forces behind your decision on the footprint, or shape, of the aquarium.
Shallow, lagoon style aquariums are great for planted tanks, frag tanks, or shallow reef tanks. However, If you want larger fish, you’ll need a tank with plenty of depth, length and height.
Your desired equipment is another factor to consider when choosing the size and shape of your aquarium. If you want a rollermat, skimmer, bio-pellet reactor, refugium, calcium reactor, auto-top-off, doser, and a neptune controller to fit under the stand, a 40 gallon cube might not be large enough. You’ll have to include supplementary furniture next to the tank to house the extra equipment.
When determining the size and shape of your new aquarium setup, consider the location where it will stand, the livestock and aquascape design you want to include, and the type of equipment you want to install.
Deciding Overflow Placement for Your New Aquarium Setup.
Choosing between an overflow placed in the corner, on the sidewall, on the center back wall, or even externally, depends upon your tank placement, aquascape, and flow.
Aquarium Placement and Overflow
The tank placement should be considered when choosing overflow placement because what surrounds the tank can influence where you want the overflow to be. The goal is generally to keep as much of the four glass panes open for viewing as possible.
For example, if you want to place the aquarium in the corner of a room, the overflow can go anywhere along the back wall, or the adjacent corner wall and it won’t block your view of the inhabitants of your aquarium.
Alternatively, if you want the tank to be in the center of a room with only one side against a wall, then a peninsula overflow against the side wall won’t block any potential viewing angles. No matter where you want your aquarium placed in your home or office, these aquarium kits provide an overflow option that will work.
Aquarium Overflow Placement to Optimize Flow and Habitat
Once you decide where you want your tank, and which overflow options are best for viewing the tank in that location, you should then consider your aquascaping and flow.
Flow is an integral part of every aquarium. Reef aquariums require lots of flow (water movement within the display tank) while freshwater planted aquariums need less, but still need a steady and constant amount. Your flow layout is determined by where your returns are located (overflow placement) and by how your aquascape is designed (rocks, wood, plants, coral, etc)..
For example, with a center overflow, you will have to consider the amount of flow coming from the center of the tank when designing how high your aquascape goes, or what kinds of plants you want to place back there. Flow intensity can also be adjusted from the overflow by the return pump. However, you don’t want to settle for too low of a turn-over rate (how many times your tank's volume goes through your filter) just to accommodate for a poorly designed aquascape. Instead, design your aquascape with your turn-over flow rate in mind.
In addition to the flow coming from the overflow, most reef tanks, and many freshwater tanks, will also have additional circulation fans, wavemakers, or powerheads. The placement of these extra flow providers should be considered when designing your aquascape as well. They are more flexible in terms of location. For example, a peninsula overflow would benefit from a gyre type circulation fan on the opposite wall from the overflow, moving water near the surface. Additionally, you could add one or two smaller broad-angle circulation fans on the same wall, on either side of the overflow.
When choosing your overflow position, consider viewing angles and tank placement, what your desired aquascape will look like, and how additional circulation fans will complement the flow provided by your overflow.
The Type and Quality of Aquarium Glass Does Matter
Extra thick and extra clear glass are major benefits of choosing an aquarium kit from these brands.
Standard glass has a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 83%. This is because impurities (mainly iron) in the glass allow less than 100% of available light through. These impurities also impede our ability to see through the glass, resulting in a loss of clarity.
Waterbox, Innovative Marine, and Fijicube all use “Ultra-Clear”, low-iron glass. This translates to 91% VLT. Which means a significantly better aquarium experience for you. Low-iron glass creates a better viewing experience, better photos, and a more seamless look, which allows the tank to truly disappear and the occupants to shine.
Safety and structural integrity are also a feature of these aquarium kits. Thicker glass planes do result in a slightly heavier aquarium, but the benefits are beyond worth it. With extra bonding area for silicone, these tanks don’t have the corner silicone lines you’re used to, and create a stronger seal for a more robust tank. Combined with ultra-clear glass, your viewing experience is truly seamless.
Aquarium Kits and Plumbing
One of the coolest features of the Waterbox, Fiji Cube, Innovative Marine, and similar companies’ aquarium kits is their plug-and-play plumbing schemes (plumbing layout). You don’t have to buy any extra parts, and there is no cutting of pipes or glue required.
The plumbing scheme is dependent upon the size and model of the aquarium, and the sump layout you choose. Smaller aquariums will have fewer stand pipes, returns, unions, and manifolds. While you can always modify the plumbing that comes with these kits, you can trust in the knowledge that these were designed with great care to include the best plumbing scheme for the model and size you have chosen.
Waterbox makes two models of aquariums that have very similar displays, but the main difference is in their plumbing and sump layout. The MarineX is very straightforward and sets you up for all the equipment you’ll need. The Infinia series includes a manifold on the return line and an expanded sump.
Choosing the Right Model Based on Sump Size and Layout.
When choosing a make and model of aquarium kit, and weighing options of sump layout and size, you should consider what equipment you will want to add underneath the stand. Do you need room next to the sump for dosers, controllers, CO2 canisters, and ATO reservoirs? Will you need more sump space for a refugium and reactors? Like with most questions in this hobby, the answer lies in what type and quantity of livestock you’re keeping.
Freshwater planted tanks, for example, will benefit from a closed filtration system so the CO2 gas does not escape. In this case, you will want a model that does not include a sump at all. Several brands offer options specifically designed for freshwater tanks and the canister filters they commonly utilize.
However, If you're not doing CO2 injection for a freshwater planted tank, don’t overlook a sump for your filtration. Fresh or salt, the sump is an extremely versatile filtration housing which allows for maximum customization.
If you're keeping fewer fish and some coral (salt) or plants (fresh), then consider a system with a smaller sump with extra space in the stand for an auto-top-off reservoir, calcium reactor, or other equipment that doesn’t need to be submerged.
If you're designing a larger fish only system with lots of livestock, or a densely packed coral reef aquarium, then you may want a setup with a larger sump to allow for more filtration, refugia, and submerged equipment like skimmers and reactors. These systems may still need an ATO reservoir, a doser, and aquarium controller. However, it's best to build them into an external cabinet or display (controllers can look really cool mounted outside the tank), rather than to compromise on sump square footage. Additionally, many pieces of equipment, like dosers and controllers, are mountable on the back inside of the stand or with special mounts on the inside of the stand doors.
The efficiency of the plumbing and sump design of these kits allows you to utilize every available piece of real estate in the stand.
Considering the Aquarium Stand and its Material.
When deciding on a brand for your new aquarium kit, the stand is important. Most major brands, including Waterbox and Innovative Marine, use a hybrid aluminum frame with pvc laminated wood. This ensures maximum structural integrity, with a sleek modern finish.
Most brands will also include leveling feet, leveling mats under the tank, and multiple color options. The main differences will lie in the nuance of the aesthetics and door placement. Some brands offer side access on their larger models. Depending on the size of the aquarium, you may have anywhere between one and four doors on the front.
All three stands from the brands I’ve discussed will be safe and last a lifetime. However, you may want to consider the features and layout of each stand before you make your decision.
Should You Purchase the Aquarium Package with Lighting Included?
The importance you place on any of the features we’ve discussed so far determines its priority in your decision making process. Lighting is no different.
If you're just starting out, and are not interested in all the different features and capabilities of every light, but still want a quality product, then you’ll probably take the recommendation of someone who you feel is knowledgeable. Another option is to choose the lighting that comes with the package.
If you choose the included lighting, you’ll automatically have a layout designed for your tank size and shape. Most major brands that offer kits have at least decent, if not independently desirable lights (meaning you would buy them to put on a different tank). However, the included lighting may not have all of the features and controllability you want.
If you are more particular about what features and benefits your lights offer, then I would do the research, or ask a veteran hobbyist, and choose a brand that fits your needs and livestock more perfectly.
Acquiring the Right Aquarium Package
Now that you know what's available, you have a decision to make. Which aquarium package is right for you? Whether your gears are already spinning, or you're still stumped, Boodleshire Aquatics can help you realize your aquarium dream.
We offer full installation from ordering to fish acclimation, or piecemeal installation for the tricky parts like flow and PAR (light placement).
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