Best AIO?, I have a few links, just wanting some advice/opinions

[Alcapown]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...mp;pcatid=10677

I noticed this one(12g, not deluxe), and its very economical, and seems to be a pretty good tank. Anyone with experience, or knowledge care to comment, thanks! Thats a really good price imo, but I dont know as much as some, thats for sure.

But on ebay, theres a dealer with I guess you would call a little online shop on ebay, well they sell Oceanic Biocube 14g for 180, free shipping, and they have great feedback. They put up 3 at a time, and as soon as they sell them, 3 more are up. How does the previously mentioned tank compare to the 14g biocube?

And another is http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...mp;pcatid=13976 , the 12 gallon one. How is it, any advice/opinions greatly appreciated, and once again, how does it compare to the other two tanks?

Thanks for listening and reading! I look forward to some great responses, much appreciated!




Also, I would want an AIO that is just that, all in one, and I wouldnt have to buy anything at all pretty much to add to get started. I guess Ill just add, LR obviously, and basic, sturdy softies that would make it really look nice and colorful and a couple fish, CUC etc, so I would imagine stock lights would be fine on all of these selections, but I dont know exactly. And if theres one I didnt list, thats around same size and price, feel free to list away! Thanks guys!

[jer77]

Hey I'll try to help you out with my extensive knowledge, its been a while since i've looked at AIO's so give me a sec to compare the ones you were looking at.

[jer77]

Well it seems the links for the 12g DFS ones are not available. Can you give me a brand name and model?

[jer77]

Hey I think I found everything you were looking at anyway. First off, the JBJ 12 gallon nano cube is a decent one, but I think the water flow is on the low end of what is necessary - usually 10x volume in gph so it should have 120gph not 106gph. Also you didn't want the deluxe which only has 24W of PC/CF light which is not enough for most corals, even softies, in a 12g IMO - need at least 48W.

Next I looked at the Current Aquapod,
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CU-USA7050&Category_Code=Aquariums
which you didn't list but seems ok. It has 2X27W PC/CF lighting which is much better and 2 LED's. Only problem with this is I have heard the fan becomes too hot and malfunctions. Lots more flow too though with 160gph.

Last is the Oceanic 14 gallon,
http://www.oceanicsystems.com/products/biocube.php# , and I found it at Premium Aquatics which I would order from rather than eBay for the same price,
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=OC-AOC82051&Category_Code=Aquariums . Plus you can call and ask questions about the light wattage and flow before buying. I do like the oceanic the best, but I do think a call to Premium Aquatics is needed to make sure.

[Alcapown]

Wow, thanks jer77 for all your wonderful advice and help, you really put some effort into it, im flattered lol. I am thinkin the biocube14 seems the better of the options as well, Im reading up on it more so now, such as reviews, this one scares me just a tad, here it is...

"
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Biocube 14 Review, January 2, 2009
By Nicole M. Tsoukalas "N. Tsoukalas" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
We just purchased this biocube as a Christmas gift for my son and set it up as a tropical freshwater. The tank seems to be superior for an all in one. The only problem, which is really a big one, is that the fish can jump out of the tank into the filter area. It's okay if the fish jump in to the area that has water, but my son lost one of his fish this morning because it jumped into an area that didn't have water. We haven't had the tank a week yet and this is the third time a fish has jumped out, first fatality though. Now I have to figure a way to rig something up to prevent the fish from harming themselves, and preventing the heartbreak it caused my son. "

Have any suggestions on that? Or would you not let it bother you?

Also, im having issues finding the jbj 12g nano cube on that site, or any really now, something must have happened over night, I have no idea.

Do you think that fan issue on the aquapod is a high percentage chance of happening to me, and would you let that make you reconsider, and like I said, possibly go with the 14g BC? Thank you so much for all your help and advice, this is huge. Thanks again!!!!!

[Alcapown]

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18525/si3827075/cl0/jbj12gallondeluxenanocubewithfreecabinetstand

Is this credible, I found the jbj 12g deluxe, which is better I think you mentioned, correct?

I just saw its the 106 gph too, I was told this is reccomended and that on most all of these AIOs you need to change the stock pump, http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/c...e=0&offset=


Whats your opinion on that? And on the AIO, is it located in a chamber in the back? So itd be as simple as lifting the stock one out, and putting that one in? Thanks again, sorry for all the questions lol.

[Alcapown]

Then again, I cant tell at the moment, but shipping on that tank plus stand could end up being 100+ correct? I wouldnt really like that too much haha. edit* Just found the deluze for 188, no stand, so thatd probably be ok on shipping etc.

[Alcapown]

I also heard that oceanic, the maker of the biocubes, have GREAT customer service, and replace anything that malfunctions, free of charge and no questions asked. hmm.. really having trouble deciding.