SC Aquariums Owners Thread

[Thornbreaker]

Does anyone have a good picture of what their plumbing looks like underneath the center overflow of one of these 150 gallon SCA tanks?

Thank you!

[soulpatch]

just watch my video above a few posts as I show my 150 plumbing...

[Thornbreaker]

Originally Posted by soulpatch

just watch my video above a few posts as I show my 150 plumbing...

Thanks soul. I've bookmarked you on youtube and will take a look later.

[RogueGrown]

Upadte to my 50 pnp. I got the inside of the stand painted and the outside restrained with 3 coats of the ebony stain they use. Next I will do multiple coats of varnish, gloss to the inside semi gloss to the outside. Then start building ATO and electrical cabinets.

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[RogueGrown]

Why is tapatalk so random with the way photos are posted? I didn't want to post a pic the size of Texas? Anyone know a fix?

[pfan151]

Originally Posted by RogueGrown

Why is tapatalk so random with the way photos are posted? I didn't want to post a pic the size of Texas? Anyone know a fix?

Doesn't it give you the option to pic the size when you attatched a pic? Mine asks small, medium, large or actual size.

[d0ughb0y]

always pick small. anything larger will be too big too display on a computer browser.
and you also want to turn your picture so it is right side up.

[RogueGrown]

I'll have to pay attention as to what image I'm selecting next time, I don't remember it offering me a selection though. Thanks again and sorry for blowing up your desk tops lol

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[Desert Sea]

I'm doing my homework for a new tank purchase. I originally dismissed the SCA tanks as I thought they only offered them with the internal overflows and the bottom panel drilled. After contacting Steve at SCA, I have learned that they will make you whatever you want. I am looking at going with a eurobraced 150 (5x2x2), drilled for a ghost overflow. So I'm curious how those of you who've had an SCA tank for a while like it. Is the build quality there and holding up long term? Any thing you would do differently?

[ReefCowboy]

Originally Posted by Desert Sea

I'm doing my homework for a new tank purchase. I originally dismissed the SCA tanks as I thought they only offered them with the internal overflows and the bottom panel drilled. After contacting Steve at SCA, I have learned that they will make you whatever you want. I am looking at going with a eurobraced 150 (5x2x2), drilled for a ghost overflow. So I'm curious how those of you who've had an SCA tank for a while like it. Is the build quality there and holding up long term? Any thing you would do differently?

I did just that and ended up selling the euro braced tank and getting a rimless 15mm 5x2x2 predrilled for ghost overflow. The water level on the euro braced version is already a bit low(glass bracing is glued 1.5" below the top), so if you still predrill it for a ghost, it will set the water level another inch or so lower. The rimless version with ghost is set to have water level at 1.5" below the top which is nice and looks super sharp.

[Desert Sea]

Originally Posted by ReefCowboy

I did just that and ended up selling the euro braced tank and getting a rimless 15mm 5x2x2 predrilled for ghost overflow. The water level on the euro braced version is already a bit low(glass bracing is glued 1.5" below the top), so if you still predrill it for a ghost, it will set the water level another inch or so lower. The rimless version with ghost is set to have water level at 1.5" below the top which is nice and looks super sharp.

How long ago did you get your eurobraced tank? I wonder if they changed the design. The pictures I've seen show the bracing starting about what looks like a 1/2" down from the top edge of the glass. For some reason on the 150's they lap the adjacent glass strips that make up the bracing, assuming for strength. Having about 3" of glass above the waterline is a no go for me and I was avoiding going rimless to help keep the snails in the tank and control salt creep. Thank you for the heads up on the bracing location.

I wonder if notching the bracing to get the overflow to sit higher is an option?

[ReefCowboy]

Originally Posted by Desert Sea

How long ago did you get your eurobraced tank? I wonder if they changed the design. The pictures I've seen show the bracing starting about what looks like a 1/2" down from the top edge of the glass. For some reason on the 150's they lap the adjacent glass strips that make up the bracing, assuming for strength. Having about 3" of glass above the waterline is a no go for me and I was avoiding going rimless to help keep the snails in the tank and control salt creep. Thank you for the heads up on the bracing location.

I wonder if notching the bracing to get the overflow to sit higher is an option?

The eurobraced tank came in last year, around august. I doubt they changed the design... After I received the tank, decided to remove the internal overflow, drilled myself the holes for the syndergy overflow as high as possible on the rear glass panel, touching the top glass bracing. That was when I realized the water level was going to be way low for my taste, around 2.5" below the top.

I called Steve at SC and he mentioned the rimless would be a better option. To be honest, even though I didnt like the internal overflow, I hesitated when I first got the braced tank, since quality a craftmanship was really top notch. A braced tank also has its advantages, such as making it harder for waves to go over the glass.

I also wondered why they glue the bracing so low down the glass? Im not sure if you can get those placed different from standard, but I could be wrong.

[Desert Sea]

Originally Posted by ReefCowboy

The eurobraced tank came in last year, around august. I doubt they changed the design... After I received the tank, decided to remove the internal overflow, drilled myself the holes for the syndergy overflow as high as possible on the rear glass panel, touching the top glass bracing. That was when I realized the water level was going to be way low for my taste, around 2.5" below the top.

I called Steve at SC and he mentioned the rimless would be a better option. To be honest, even though I didnt like the internal overflow, I hesitated when I first got the braced tank, since quality a craftmanship was really top notch. A braced tank also has its advantages, such as making it harder for waves to go over the glass.

I also wondered why they glue the bracing so low down the glass? Im not sure if you can get those placed different from standard, but I could be wrong.

I found this picture of a 150 here on RC. It looks like the bracing is installed almost at the top of the glass. Was yours different from this one?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/10/23/ba5azase.jpg

If I could get this with a ghost overflow versus their internal one, I'd be a happy camper.

[crazycolt42]

Measuring from the top of the bracing to the top edge on my 150, the side bracing is 1/4in. from the top and the front and back are 3/4in from the top. Bought it during their sale on that particular tank in December '16.

[ReefCowboy]

Originally Posted by Desert Sea

I found this picture of a 150 here on RC. It looks like the bracing is installed almost at the top of the glass. Was yours different from this one?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/10/23/ba5azase.jpg

If I could get this with a ghost overflow versus their internal one, I'd be a happy camper.

I have a pic of the eurobraced tank with a ghost overflow here in this thread somewhere.
It is easy to see where the bracing is and the overflow. I will try to find it and post it

[rgodoy22]

so after 3 day of reading this thread from start to finish I guess I can finally comment lol

I finally became an SCA owner! picked up a used 50 gallon cube set up last week. I've spent the first week cleaning, and now moving onto the stand. i will be painting the inside white as most have done and sealing the entire stand with kilz due to it being mdf.

my biggest issue is the size of the original sump, I would love to have more room for other items inside the cabinet. has anyone actually gone through with using a different sump on the 50 gallon I've seen others use some great acrylic sumps on the larger tanks but nothing on the smaller ones. does anyone know of any pre made sumps that will fit? the only two I have found is trigger systems cube which will also leave little room in the cabinet but may allow for better organization or the synergy reef cl22. the synergy seems like the better option for allowing space but what do you guys think? will it be too small as far as how much water it will hold or will it work? has anyone found something better???
any input is much appreciated everyone!

[soulpatch]

You can easily go with a smaller sump BUT you need to ensure you plumb the overflow at the correct height and have your returns hign enough (or drill a siphon break hole in locline) so that they break suction when the return pump goes off to siphone water back into the sump. I dont have a 55 so I can't comment too much on which one to go with but it can be done.

Those of us with larger systems still have space issues. My apex needed its own external enclosure and my ATO container is outside my stand as I can not fit more then my sump, reactor, and calcium reactor inside my stand. With the amount of equipment and plumbing needed I think most people have issues in their stands at some point.

[aiber]

Hello all. Getting back into this world after a 10 year hiatus. Interested in this 50 gallon set up. Question: Are there already two holes in the overflow drilled? Also, what lighting and powerheads do you recommend?

Thanks

[RogueGrown]

Originally Posted by aiber

Hello all. Getting back into this world after a 10 year hiatus. Interested in this 50 gallon set up. Question: Are there already two holes in the overflow drilled? Also, what lighting and powerheads do you recommend?

Thanks

Yes the overflow has 3 holes drilled. 1 return and 2 overflow. The tank comes with all the plumbing you would need as well but most ditch everything provided from the bulkheads down and replace it with a hard plumbing.

Im going to run a AI primes over my 50 when it goes up. As far as flow is concerned I havent gotten that far to decide what to run. Im sure others will chime in on the mater.

[aiber]

Thanks Rogue....That lighting is pretty expensive! Have you or anyone else thought about this lighting? Mars 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum Reef Coral Grow SPSLPS Tank

[soulpatch]

There is a very long thread on the mars leds. The chinese black bix units have come a long way

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[aiber]

Any thoughts of the need for an overflow cover? Is it needed? Where can I buy?

[pfan151]

Originally Posted by aiber

Any thoughts of the need for an overflow cover? Is it needed? Where can I buy?

I'd definitely use a cover. I made one out of some spare pieces I had left from a BRS mesh top. I was going to get the one from SCA but I thought $30 was a little high for a little piece of acrylic.

[soulpatch]

Hmm I thought it was cheap to spend the $25 to get the cover so that it matched the rest of the overflow. Though no one has ever said I spend wisely...

[pfan151]

Originally Posted by soulpatch

Hmm I thought it was cheap to spend the $25 to get the cover so that it matched the rest of the overflow. Though no one has ever said I spend wisely...

I guess. He told me $30. I just didn't want to spend that for what is basically a 10" piece of acrylic. I kind of feel like it should have been included with the system. But I'm cheap. I wish they had something that would come up from the overflow closer to flush with the rim of the tank. I'm still worried about a fish jumping onto my overflow cover and not being able to flop back into the tank. I've already lost a radial filefish and a cleaner wrasse that I had for almost two years through the tiny space between the BRS mesh top and the edge of the aquarium. I still don't know how that cleaner wrasse made it through that space. The filefish somehow made it through and landed on top of the mesh.