Maxspect Dice Review: A 12-Gallon All-in-One Nano Reef Tank

Introduction

The Maxspect Dice is a 12-gallon glass all-in-one reef tank that takes its name from its small cube design. Inside one footprint it brings together a display aquarium, a rear filtration section, a return pump, and a capable LED light with simple built-in schedules that can be matched to the types of corals you plan to keep. It lands close to a budget-friendly $300 price point, which is a sensible starting place for a complete nano system.

That package matters for anyone who has priced a reef build piece by piece. A tank, a light with its own mount, a return pump, and filtration media bought separately add up quickly, and matching all of those parts to a small aquarium takes research. The Dice arrives with those components already chosen and fitted to the tank.

This review covers what comes in the box, how the aquarium is built, how the filtration and lighting behave in a nano setting, and where a new owner may still want to add equipment.

Who the Maxspect Dice Is For

The Dice is built for reefers who want a small, self-contained system rather than a large project tank. At 12 gallons, with a 15.75-inch length, 15.75-inch width, and 14.25-inch height, it is small enough to sit on a countertop or a sturdy desk. The cube shape keeps the footprint tidy while still offering a useful area for aquascaping.

That cube form is a good match for anyone who wants to save space without feeling cramped. It does not demand a large amount of rock to look complete, and it stays open enough that a simple design works well. A single island, an arch, or a pair of bommies all suit the dimensions, and a custom aquascape can make even more of the extra depth that a cube offers.

It is also a reasonable choice for soft coral keepers. The included return pump delivers enough turnover for a tank full of softies such as a zoa garden, so a beginner-friendly coral mix fits the system without extra flow hardware.

Build Quality and the Glass Filtration Panel

The aquarium itself is well constructed, with beveled edges and pin-straight black silicone. One of the more distinctive details is the glass filtration panel at the rear. Most all-in-one tanks use acrylic here, and glass is the sturdier option: it is more robust and easier to clean with a scraper without the worry of scratching it.

The overflow, the return, and the emergency overflow are all cut out of the glass, and the satin finish over the dark smoke glass gives the rear section a clean look. The display side is 12.25 inches wide, leaving just shy of 3.25 inches of width for the filtration compartment.

A leveling mat is included, which helps the tank sit evenly and flush on whatever surface you choose. It handles minor bumps or imperfections in the surface rather than correcting a sloped table, so it is still worth checking that the surface itself is level before filling. For anyone who prefers a freestanding setup, a matching cabinet is available in black or white, sold separately, with a large single door and a wide opening at the rear for cords and cables.

Filtration, Media, and Included Equipment

Maxspect includes a fair amount of filtration hardware with the Dice. The mechanical stage uses a filter sock and a coarse foam pad, and the package also covers phosphate media with a mesh media bag. Biological filtration is handled by the included biosphere media, which provides extra surface area for beneficial bacteria. Maxspect also supplies its clear cube media, intended to reduce excess organics in the water, keep algae at bay, and help the display stay crystal clear.

A thick acrylic cover sits over the filtration section as a splash guard, which is a thoughtful addition for anyone who decides to run the tank without a cover over the display. There is enough room in the rear chamber for a small internal protein skimmer, and similarly sized gear built for small all-in-one systems, such as a media reactor, should fit without trouble. Checking dimensions before buying add-on equipment is still worth the effort.

The last chamber holds the return pump, rated for 600 liters per hour, or 158 gallons per hour, which pushes water through a small posable dual outlet nozzle so flow can be aimed where it is needed. That output is fine for a tank of soft corals, but most reefers will want a secondary flow pump for a wider range of corals. A small, versatile unit in the style of a Nero 3 is the sort of addition that covers that gap in a tank this size.

Lighting: The Included Jump 130 LED

There is no need to shop for a separate light fixture, because the Dice ships with the Maxspect Jump 130 LED and its own tank mount. The fixture uses 10 white diodes, 14 sky blue diodes, four deep blue diodes, two violet diodes, and two near UV diodes. The diodes are spread across the body of the light and sit behind a frosted diffuser.

The output looks good to the eye and should have no trouble growing coral in an aquarium this small, so the light covers both the viewing side and the practical side of keeping a nano reef. Control is deliberately simple. You can switch the fixture on and off manually with a digital timer, or use the built-in timer. There are three intensity and spectrum options to choose from, and the photoperiod can be set to 6, 10, or 12 hours.

That is basic rather than elaborate, but it is enough to get the job done while showing off the colors of the corals in the tank. For a first reef or a low-maintenance nano, the limited options remove a lot of the guesswork that comes with full programming.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The Dice covers the tank, the light and its mount, the return pump, and a solid starting set of filtration media, but it is not a complete reef in a box. A heater, substrate, rock, and salt still need to be added, and those are real costs to factor in alongside the aquarium. Budgeting for them from the start keeps the first setup smooth.

Flow is the other area to plan for. The included pump is rated at 158 gallons per hour, which is adequate for soft corals, but anyone hoping to keep more demanding corals will likely want an additional small flow pump. The light control is also intentionally limited: three intensity and spectrum options and photoperiod choices of 6, 10, or 12 hours, rather than the deeper scheduling found on larger fixtures.

Two more practical points are worth checking. The cabinet is sold separately in black or white, so factor that in if the tank will not sit on existing furniture. And because the leveling mat only compensates for minor surface imperfections, confirm that the counter, desk, or stand is genuinely level before filling the tank.

Buying Advice

The Maxspect Dice makes the most sense for someone who wants a compact reef system without assembling every part separately. The $300 price point covers a glass cube aquarium, a filtration section with media, a return pump, and the Jump 130 LED with its mount, which is a considerable amount of the starter kit in one purchase.

For a soft coral nano, the included equipment can carry the tank on its own with the addition of a heater, substrate, rock, and salt. If the plan is to keep a broader mix of corals, add a small secondary flow pump at the same time as the initial order so the tank is not limited from day one. Anyone who wants the setup to stand on its own rather than on existing furniture should also price the matching cabinet, available in black or white, into the decision.

Where the Dice stands apart from many all-in-one tanks in this size class is the glass filtration panel. If easy cleaning and a durable rear panel matter to you, that detail alone makes it worth a closer look.

Conclusion

The Maxspect Dice is a well-considered 12-gallon cube for reefers who want to keep things small and straightforward. The glass construction, the glass filtration panel, the included media, and the bundled Jump 130 LED light with its mount cover the essentials of a nano reef, and the cube form factor gives enough room to build an aquascape that looks deliberate.

It is not a system without limits. The light control stays basic, the stock flow suits soft corals rather than everything, and a heater, substrate, rock, and salt are still on the shopping list. None of those are dealbreakers for the right buyer. If you want a compact, tidy entry into reef keeping with most of the hardware already handled, the Dice is a sensible place to start.