ADA tanks???

[if_fishes_were_wishes]

10 gallons are fine de-rimmed. I personally wouldn't do it to a larger tank. Can we stop with the 10 gallons? We can't all have a $100 tank. They look nice de-rimmed, there's no doubt, if you do it right. You get the no rim look without the ADA price.

I love the look of rimless tanks vs. one with a rim. Standard 10 gallon tanks look so clunky, not half as elegant as a rimless tank. That's definitely part of ADA's appeal, the no rim look. That's why I went with the Mr Aqua 12 and 13.3 gallon tanks vs. a standard one.

[Neatfish]

12g long they do look nice I might get a 12 long next time. Where can you get them from?

[if_fishes_were_wishes]

Marinedepot has them, but the shipping is pricey. Worth it though! It's a beautiful tank

http://www.marinedepot.com/Mr._Aqua_...FIAQRA-vi.html

[Neatfish]

Maybe I'll get one for xmas.

[somewhatshocked]

Shipping is under $20 for a three foot tank nicely packaged in a huge box. Delivered in 2-3 days. I'd call that super-cheap.

[Neatfish]

I think it was $8 shipping.

[blink]

I've only seen the ADA tanks a couple times and placed side by side with a regular tank they really have that something. The seams look amazing, the different shapes and proportions are more pleasing and they just suit my desires for glass more perfectly.

If I have to look at this glass box everyday, I want it to look good and everytime I look at the sloppy seams on my marineland it bothers me a little. Granted, the scape and plants bother me too, but the seams are something I can't really fix without spending the money for something better.

[if_fishes_were_wishes]

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Shipping is under $20 for a three foot tank nicely packaged in a huge box. Delivered in 2-3 days. I'd call that super-cheap.

True - it is extremely nicely packaged. I was lucky enough to get one for $5.25 shipping from Amazon - that spoiled me I'm eyeing the 11 gallon one next - $7.99 shipping, plus an $8 heavy weight fee, that really isn't bad, compared to the $50 ADA wanted to charge me (then again, that would be from Ca. to NC).

[tetra73]

Originally Posted by MCHRKiller

I bought my mom an ADA Mini-L for her Bday...it is nice, and yeah the glass is low iron. It is a nice little tank, I will never see the hype with them tho. My Seaclear tanks are more clear, and honestly have a more pleasing look IMO. Acrylic isnt really that easily scratched if you are careful and only use appropriate tools...plus its an easy fix if you do scratch it unlike glass

Besides, you can't see the scratches on the acrylic in 95% of the time. As for ADA? If you have the money, go for it. If you are talking about price versus values, I think ADA is on the low side (low values). Being a high quality and expensive tank, it does not make your plants to grow any more nicer. A $10 petco tank and the ADA one serve the same function. If the tank has some predrilled holes to add additional accessories, that's a whole different thing.

[bluestems]

Originally Posted by if_fishes_were_wishes

For one, they have tanks with unique dimensions. I want a 60-f so bad, but it's $110 for an 8.9 gallon tank! I love that it's 2 ft long, but shallow, so it's wider than it is tall. If Mr. Aqua made a tank with those dimensions (24" x 12" x 6"?) I'd be all over it. I really don't care about the glass quality - I have a 12 gallon long by Mr. Aqua that suits me just fine even though it's not the best glass there is. Not a priority for me. Do!Aqua has the 60-f in lower quality glass but of course they're out of stock :P

To me, ADA means top quality glass plus unique dimensions.

I found an old Aqua Pro in a local shop recently that is approx. 20"Wx8"Dx9"H (see my journal below). However, the rocks and setup I had in mind are a bit too big for the depth of the tank and I'm considering getting a 45P size. So, they are out there!

[if_fishes_were_wishes]

Good to know! That is a pretty little tank you have there. I've checked Green Leaf aquariums, Mr Aqua, Do!Aqua...I'll keep looking for more cheap rimless options.

[bluestems]

True that there are cheaper tanks out there, but considering what you get for the price (excellent craftsmanship, iron-free and super clear glass, and dimensions well suited for a planted scape, I think they are worth it.

Plus, in the scheme of things, the price of the tanks is one of the cheapest components of the aquarium setup if you're doing CO2, canister filtration, etc. So, why not showcase it as best you can?

[stevenjohn21]

The "artwork" and "craftsmanship" is whats inside the tank , not the actual tank !
If the Mona Lisa painting was framed using a replica walmart frame would most of us notice ? I doubt it.... your eyes dont look at the frame !
If I was to aquascape an ADA tank and Takashi Amano aquascaped a $20 tank...... would mine look better....... Hell No ! So IMO i just wasted $100.....but hey, if you got it flaunt it ;-)

[bluestems]

Originally Posted by stevenjohn21

The "artwork" and "craftsmanship" is whats inside the tank , not the actual tank !
If the Mona Lisa painting was framed using a replica walmart frame would most of us notice ? I doubt it.... your eyes dont look at the frame !
If I was to aquascape an ADA tank and Takashi Amano aquascaped a $20 tank...... would mine look better....... Hell No ! So IMO i just wasted $100.....but hey, if you got it flaunt it ;-)

I'm guessing the Mona Lisa is framed using high quality glass.


Here's a picture showing the difference in clarity and color tint between low-iron, starphire glass (left) and regular glass (right):

[tetra73]

Is form follows functions. If the extra craftsmanship does not create additional or improve the function of the tank, the design has failed. Is like you paid the full price of a Porsche and the car looks like a Porsche, but it drives like a Ford Escort. If I paid extra money for a better tank because it can help my plants to thrive better, that's value.