In a prior article, I discussed my first experience at Global Pet Expo. It was a great experience, and I decided to highlight some observations from the booths I visited. Enjoy!

I have been thinking about a new system to replace my 18 year old 125 gallon tank. There are so many providers in the market these days that it’s hard to choose. Though, as a consumer, more options and stronger competition is better for us.

Eshopps Mariner Series 70/100/130

What piqued my interest with the Eshopps Mariner series was the little details that most people do not usually notice on a reef-ready aquarium combo. Designed in California and built in Vietnam, this system has some great design factors to consider. The product line was originally launched in October 2023; full details and specifications can be found on the manufacturer’s site linked here. The pricing found online is competitive with existing options in the market segment so it really comes down to quality and feature sets. Below are the features I liked the most, especially when I could examine it in person.

• The marine grade plywood aquarium stand has a much nicer finish than most MDF cabinets on the market
• The acrylic reinforced corner seams all around protect the silicone during glass cleaning
• The bevel cut euro bracing on the bottom of the tank (Mariner 100/130) for stronger silicone adhesion
• White based acrylic sump for a clean look and great visual indicator when it needs to be cleaned
• Includes flexible VCA variable flow nozzles on the returns