Red Sea Max 250 and a major design flaw?

[Seasider]

I am looking to purchase a new aquarium shortly to replace my current system which includes a TCM V2 protein skimmer and Vectron2 UV Steriliser as equipment compenents. I tentatively asked my usual marine aquarist retailer for his opinion of the Red Sea Max 250, acknowleging that it is an expensive piece of kit but appears to do a great job in hiding all the essential components.
He was surprisingly critical and advised me that the product has a major design flaw in that it doesn't include the essential component of a UV steriliser and that there is no capacity to add one due do space limitations.
Does anyone out there care to comment please?

[Novice Nano]

If i was going to spend that kind of money, id actually put it to better use and purchase a Beta Lifespace 680. You could then keep your existing skimmer and UV. Hey presto you have pretty much everything youd need other than liverock, substrate and inhabitants.

[wave ace]

UV steriliser is not an essential component of a reef system
if you do need to have one it can be mounted externerly when its requiered

[zimreef]

As per wave ace a lot of people, me included, have never had to use a UV filter, so to say it's an essential piece of equipment and from that construe that the RSM has a major design flaw is a huge leap IMHO.

John

[Tom73]

I am looking to purchase a new aquarium shortly to replace my current system which includes a TCM V2 protein skimmer and Vectron2 UV Steriliser as equipment compenents. I tentatively asked my usual marine aquarist retailer for his opinion of the Red Sea Max 250, acknowleging that it is an expensive piece of kit but appears to do a great job in hiding all the essential components.
He was surprisingly critical and advised me that the product has a major design flaw in that it doesn't include the essential component of a UV steriliser and that there is no capacity to add one due do space limitations.
Does anyone out there care to comment please?

if this is what you think ,, why dont you email REDSEA and ask them for there opinion ,,,,

[Sharpster]

I have easily installed a vectron UV filter into the RH cabinet on my RSM 250, there is enough space for that, an aquamedic auto top-up and a 25l RO water container!!
I used the existing 1200lph pump in the rear chamber and the accessorie kit that came with the tank to attach all the hoses. The whole job took no more than an hour, I had to remove the shelf in that side of the cabinet but there is still ample space on the otherside for all your test kits, dry food etc.

HTH

Regards

Sharpster

[AlanM]

Does anyone out there care to comment please?

My only comment would be commercially based: do they not sell them but do sell something else they are trying to steer you towards?

Cynical, yes, realistic, yes again. Under these conditions it would be unfair to expect too impartial a view, especially when they are already upselling on "essential" equipment such as UV.

[Will]

they do have an attachemnet to allow you to plumb one in very easily and very neatly, needed prehaps if you dont quarantine, but essential is a leap, personally i think the heat issues are the major factor on this product, but then isnt it on every tank with lots of tubes and an enclosed hood ?

[Redrum]

He was surprisingly critical and advised me that the product has a major design flaw in that it doesn't include the essential component of a UV steriliser and that there is no capacity to add one due do space limitations.

Since when is a UV steriliser an 'essential component'?? I have never had one, never needed one... and very much doubt I will ever want one. I have never even seen one, actually. But if I DID need one to address some specific problem (like a disease outbreak), I imagine I could hang it from the tank temporarily until the crisis passed and then remove it. I certainly would never run UV 24/7. Simple is better.

[NanooNanoo]

I always used to run UV 5-6 years ago but my current tank that I have had for around 18months is doing much better and I do not use one.

[redseasteve]

Many people do not use UV's, with me being one of them. Of those who do, lots run the water through them far too quickly without realising that the 'contact time' required is an essential consideration when rating the pump & uv for a particular aquarium. However, Red Sea is aware that some people wish to use a UV and therefore there is plenty of space for a pump and we even include an accessory kit to enable kink-free hose connections. Therefore I have to agree with everyone else that there really isn't a 'major design flaw'.