Red Sea vs SC Aquariums

[Wakeavenger]

Good morning reefers.

I am new to the hobby just started six months ago with saltwater. Made a lot of mistakes. I went to petco to purchase a fish tank and they sold me on a canister filter, and a 60 gallon tall aquarium. So now I want to upgrade and get the proper filtration I need. I am also having problems with nitrates and from I'm reading its from the canister being a nitrate factory.
I just attended reef-a-palooza, and it seemed like they have some really good deals. Long story short I can't decide between a 120 gallon sc aquariums tank with a width of 48" or a Red Sea reefer 525xl with a width of 60". They would both be around the same price fully installed with skimmer, pump, rock, water, and lights. The difference is SC is offering wave makers. Red Sea is offering $500 in livestock and supplements from their line.
The Red Sea is nicer and a easier sell to the wife. The SC is better components. Does anyone have any experience with either aquarium. Is the build/quality the same for these tanks. How about the customer service?

Thank you

 

[Ron Reefman]

Not that I want to make life harder on you, but take a look at the CADlight Artisan 125 as well. I had a hard time picking between it and the Red Sea Reefer which are both 59". I ended up with the CADlight because I liked the open cabinet space, it was less expensive and it came with a DC pump and a skimmer that the Red Sea didn't. I wasn't sure I'd like the euro brace, but now that I have it I wouldn't switch back. I have a rim to set stuff on when I'm working in the tank and it made having a screen top a piece of cake!

The extra cabinet and the 50g cube is a display refugium that I made.