Premium Reefing Guide
Which reef aquarium suits you? Red Sea REEFER, REEFER MAX and REEF-FRAME as well as D-D Reef-Pro and Aqua-Pro Reef compared, with costs, equipment, weight, delivery and cycling.
In short: A reef aquarium with a sump consists of a display tank, a cabinet and a sump underneath, which holds the protein skimmer, return pump and heater. For a first large reef, 200 to 450 litres is a good range. The most important difference between the systems: some come with the equipment included (Red Sea REEFER MAX and REEF-FRAME MAX), with others you choose it yourself (REEFER G3+, REEF-FRAME, D-D).
As of: October 2026. Dimensions, volumes and scope of delivery according to manufacturer specifications, prices from our shop.
You can compare all tanks, with a configurator and a shopping list for every step, on our Large reef aquariums page.
The systems at a glance
| System | Example | Display volume / total | Equipment included | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sea REEFER G3+ | REEFER 300 G3+ | 246 l / approx. 300 l | ReefControl with ATO module | €1,449 (REEFER 200) |
| Red Sea REEFER MAX G3+ | REEFER MAX 425 G3+ | 343 l / approx. 433 l | ReefLED G2, ReefWave, ReefRun, ReefMat, DC Skimmer, ReefControl Pro | €3,299 (REEFER MAX 200) |
| Red Sea REEF-FRAME | REEF-FRAME 250 | 204 l / approx. 246 l | none, your choice | €1,149 (REEF-FRAME 170) |
| Red Sea REEFER Peninsula G3+ | Peninsula 350 G3+ | 278 l / approx. 353 l | ReefControl with ATO module | €2,399 |
| D-D Aqua-Pro Reef | Aqua-Pro Reef 900 | 212 l / 259 l | none, your choice | €1,399 (Aqua-Pro Reef 600 Cube) |
| D-D Reef-Pro | Reef-Pro 1200 | 275 l / 323 l | none, your choice | €1,599 (Reef-Pro 600) |
Equipment included or your own choice?
Complete systems like the REEFER MAX are matched to each other and run via the ReefBeat app. You save yourself the planning and get everything from a single source. For the REEFER 425 G3+, the tank costs €2,449, the REEFER MAX 425 G3+ with complete ReefBeat equipment €5,149.
Tanks without equipment such as REEF-FRAME, REEFER G3+ or D-D give you a free choice of lighting, flow and protein skimmer. That makes sense if you already own equipment or want specific devices, for example an aquaBAR for lighting.
Which equipment do you need?
- Lighting: for example Red Sea ReefLED, aquaLEDs aquaBAR or AI Hydra Edge.
- Flow: usually two pumps that together move about 20 to 30 times the tank volume per hour, such as ReefWave or D-D Funktion Wave.
- Return pump: brings the water back from the sump, for example the ReefRun DC pump or the D-D Funktion DC pump.
- Protein skimmer: matched to system volume and livestock, such as the REEFER DC Skimmer or NYOS Quantum EQ.
- Heater and auto top-off: the REEFER G3+ already comes with ReefControl with ATO module, for D-D there are separate ATO systems.
- Later: a dosing pump and automatic testing equipment for KH, calcium and magnesium.
Location, weight and delivery
As a rough guide, count on a good 1 kg per litre of water, plus glass, cabinet, rock and sand. Red Sea states around 374 kg for the filled REEF-FRAME 250. From about 300 litres, you should check the load capacity of your floor and place the tank as close as possible to a load-bearing wall. If in doubt, a structural engineer can help.
Large tanks are delivered by freight. Get in touch with us briefly before you order, and we will arrange the delivery date and drop-off with you. Check beforehand that the tank and cabinet fit through doors and the stairwell.
Cycling and first corals
Mix the water with RO water and sea salt to about 1.025. Starter bacteria such as Équo BACTERYA get the biology going faster, and cycling usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. Once ammonium and nitrite are no longer measurable, add hardy soft corals and LPS corals. SPS corals follow when KH, calcium and magnesium stay stable for weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between REEFER and REEF-FRAME?
Both are eurobraced reef aquariums with a cabinet and sump. The REEF-FRAME is the new series with a cabinet in black, white or oak and comes without equipment, while the REEFER G3+ includes ReefControl with ATO module. Both are also available as a MAX version with complete ReefBeat equipment.
What is a peninsula tank?
A tank with two long viewing sides that stands in the middle of the room as a room divider. Red Sea offers the REEFER Peninsula G3+ from 350 to S-950, D-D the Aqua-Pro Reef Peninsula 1350 and 1500.
Why D-D?
D-D manufactures in the UK, uses low-iron glass and offers many cabinet finishes. The tanks have a ClariSea-ready sump, and you choose the equipment yourself. More on our D-D aquariums page.
How long does it take before the first corals can go in?
Usually 4 to 8 weeks after filling. What matters is stable parameters, not the calendar.
Planning a large reef? Send us your location, preferred size and livestock via WhatsApp. We will put together the right tank and equipment for you. For smaller tanks, read our guide to the nano reef tank.
Premium Reefing
Corals and equipment from one source
Carefully selected corals, many of them as WYSIWYG one-offs, plus everything for care, equipment and acclimatisation.
Discover corals →