New build, SCA 90 Rimless

[Mistersponge]

Hey all, after nearly a year of reading on here I have finally bit the bullet on a tank. I came very close to getting a BC29 before discovering SC Aquariums. I've read good things about them and have a 90 Cube on the way with a furniture grade stand and canopy. http://www.scaquariums.com/aquarium-systems/50-gallon-starfire-pnp-system-12.html

I travel often for work so I will be putting this tank together with the intention to make it as automated as possible. Currently I am looking for recommendations for a led system that mounts in the canopy and what size power heads I should get...MP40 vs MP10

Please recommend anything else you see that I should look into. I want to figure out a way to have mech filtration on the sump without using the bio balls.

 

[ReefKeep66]

I would look into aquarium controllers such as the Neptune Apex or Digital Aquatics Reef keeper. Both of them are good controllers and can automate/control your entire system.

 

[Mistersponge]

I will have a controller. Looking at the ecotech radion lights as well. What power heads should I get? The tank is 36x24x24

 

[TreyK]

What type of livestock are you planning to keep?

 

[Mistersponge]

Variety of corals including sps. Fish load will be light, pair of clowns and eventually mandarin

 

[ReefKeep66]

Your going to want a higher flow then. I'd look into the vortechs if you want to stick with ecotech Marine products, but personally I'm a fan of the jabeos. There 1/3 the cost of the vortechs and have 2/3 the features.

 

[Mistersponge]

I just saw some wireless jebaos are out. Starting to look into them now.

 

[ReefKeep66]

I just saw some wireless jebaos are out. Starting to look into them now.

That's the ones I'm thinking about getting for my 75

 

[noj3333]

An mp10 is too small if you go with a vortech, you'd definitely want an mp40. With a controller, I do not have one (I don't feel I have a huge need for one) but make sure you research the difference between the Neptune and the reef keeper I BELIEVE the reef keeper is becoming out dated due to an old operating system... that be an issue if it's true.

 

[Mistersponge]

An mp10 is too small if you go with a vortech, you'd definitely want an mp40. With a controller, I do not have one (I don't feel I have a huge need for one) but make sure you research the difference between the Neptune and the reef keeper I BELIEVE the reef keeper is becoming out dated due to an old operating system... that be an issue if it's true.

I'll certainly read more about the reef keeper, but currently leaning towards the apex. My big wonder is if TWO opposing MP10's rival one MP40 for SPS flow

 

[TreyK]

In a 90 gallon my opinion is two mp10s alone will not be enough flow for an SPS dom. tank. I would go with two MP40's if you want to go the ecotech route.

 

[Mistersponge]

In a 90 gallon my opinion is two mp10s alone will not be enough flow for an SPS dom. tank. I would go with two MP40's if you want to go the ecotech route.

Thank you TreyK, I'm leaning that way along with two Radion XR15W Pros.

 

[Mistersponge]

Worked on my plumbing tonight, herbie is in with the 1" as siphon and .5" as emergency. Tomorrow I'm gonna work on running 3/4 pvc around the back of the stand for a return. Anyone recommend going 1"? I think 3/4 should be sufficient. I also cut out the chamber one divider and moved the baffles over a smidge.

 

[Fudz Cwerner]

Any updates or review on your tank? My friend is looking for a new tank. He currently has the small Red Sea Max, so the "turnkey" package of the SCA's really is appealing to him. I would love to here about what people think of their 90+ gallon packages.

 

[Mistersponge]

Shoot I'm way behind on this. So I ended up tearing out the plumbing pictured above. I enlarged the stock half inch hole to 3/4 and am using that as the main siphon for the herbie. I ran 3/4 up the back of the tank which reduces to a 1/2 tee and 1/2 locline. 3/4 locline appeared way too bulky for me. My return is an eheim 1262 with a ball plumbed in to throttle the beast back and quiet the overflow. It is very obvious that the limiting factor with this tank is the small size of the overflow itself. With the eheim fully flowing there is a waterfall sound from the overflow as it is forced through the teeth. Here are some pictures before painting the return black.

 

[Mistersponge]

Ended up going with the 16k maxspect r4zor and 150 gyre. The gyre is way too powerful and I currently only have it on 10% due to the sand dunes it creates. I am liking the sca302 skimmer that came with the tank. The sump is great and I have some spare room on the right for tools and testing equip. I have an apex controlling everything including feeding and running the avast ATO. I would like to add two dos units to soon automate water changes and dosing once my element usage increases. Currently I have two 55g brutes in the basement, one with a barrel tender running the Rodi bucket and one with mixed water for manual water changes.

 

[Fudz Cwerner]

Thanks for the quick reply. Looks like things are going well. So would you recommend the tank to others? Looks like the tank and stand quality are up to par. The reviews on the SCa-302 skimmer all seem pretty good. Did you have to use a different return pump?

 

[Mistersponge]

Yes, the tank is great for the money. The solid stand is sturdy and has a nice finish. I chose not to use the included canopy, gotta show off the rimless. The skimmers fine, and I wanted a 3/4 output return pump when I did the plumbing.

 

[Mistersponge]

So yesterday while visiting a local lfs I saw green Cactus Pavona frags for $10. I thought why not, let's see how this thing looks in the tank. While dipping it I saw a couple small worms come out of it, followed by a couple dying pods. Then I noticed some claws.... I couldn't believe it... A crab was alive inside of the frag. After hours of research it turned out to be a gall crab. Everything I read said it's a harmless symbiotic crab, but I'm still keeping my eye on it. Last night I noticed there are actually two noted by the arrows in the picture.

 

[postshawn]

I'm looking into buying one of these. I thought someone said it came with a canopy but SCAquariums told me they don't come with or have canopies for this model and that the stand only comes in black. Did you get a canopy with this setup? Does it match the stand?